Beach Volleyball at the Paris Olympics 2024
The Paris Olympics will showcase beach volleyball as a thrilling Olympic discipline, featuring 48 teams and 92 athletes from 23 countries. Since its introduction as a demonstration sport in 1992 and a full Olympic discipline in 1996, beach volleyball has gained immense popularity. The United States and Brazil have dominated the podium for seven editions, making them the favorites in both men's and women's categories this time around. France will be represented by eight qualified athletes, including two pairs each for men and women.
The competition format begins with a group stage consisting of six groups of four pairs, where the top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, advance to the knockout rounds. The excitement builds as teams progress through the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the finals, culminating in a medal ceremony.
Beach volleyball matches are played outdoors on a sand court measuring 16 meters long and 8 meters wide. Teams of two compete in sets, with the first to reach 21 points winning a set. A unique aspect of beach volleyball is the unpredictable outdoor conditions—players must adapt to wind, sun, and rain, which can significantly influence gameplay. Each match lasts about 45 minutes, allowing for multiple matches in a day. Players switch sides every seven points to ensure fairness.
The rules differ from indoor volleyball, with no coaches or substitutes allowed on the court. Instead, matches are supervised by referees and lines judges. The net height varies between men's (2.34m) and women's (2.24m) matches, and a beach volleyball court must contain 10 tonnes of sand to cushion players' falls. The competition schedule is packed, with preliminary rounds starting from July 27 to August 3, leading up to the finals on August 9 and 10.
The 2024 Ballon d'Or: A Celebration of Football Excellence
The Ballon d'Or, awarded since 1956 by France Football, is the most prestigious individual accolade in football, recognizing the best players globally. The 2024 awards ceremony will take place on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. This year marks a new collaboration between Groupe Amaury, which owns France Football, and UEFA, as UEFA will no longer host its own European Footballer of the Year award.
The evaluation period for the Ballon d'Or has changed since 2022, focusing on individual performances and team results throughout a regular European season rather than the calendar year. This shift aims to enhance the fairness and relevance of the award. Alongside the men's Ballon d'Or, the Ballon d'Or féminin honors the best female footballer, while additional awards recognize young talents, goalkeepers, and strikers. Notably, 2024 will see the introduction of awards for the best male and female coaches.
Nominees for the prestigious awards will be announced on September 4, with performances from major tournaments like the European Championship, Copa América, and the Olympic Games influencing the selections. Voting rights are granted to journalists from countries within FIFA's top 100 rankings, ensuring a diverse and representative voting panel. In 2023, Lionel Messi secured his eighth Ballon d'Or, while Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d'Or féminin for the first time. With three German footballers among the contenders, the anticipation for the 2024 awards is already building.
