The 2024 Paris Olympics will begin competitions on Wednesday, July 24, ahead of the Opening Ceremony on July 26.

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony will take place on July 26 and It will be the first Olympic Opening Ceremony held outside a stadium, with about 10,500 athletes parading through Paris on boats along the Seine.

Shujaa, Kenya’s national rugby sevens team, will be the first Kenyan team in action at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Here’s what you need to know and how you can catch them in action at the Stade de France.

Schedule and Matches

– Wednesday, July 24

  – Argentina vs Kenya (5 pm Kenyan time)

    – The Argentines, who topped last season’s World Sevens Series standings, will provide a significant challenge for Kenya, who played in the second-tier Challenger Series in 2024. Historically, Argentina has had the upper hand, but Shujaa must win to avoid early elimination.

  – Australia vs Samoa (8 pm Kenyan time)

    – Australia finished fourth in the World Series, making this another tough match. A positive result here could boost their confidence for the final group game.

What Else to Know

The rugby sevens ranking matches and finals will take place on July 27. Per International Olympic Committee rules, no medals are awarded and no athletes are eliminated before the opening ceremony.

Where to Watch

You can watch the matches live on SuperSport TV and KBC

Arsenal and Adidas have unveiled the club’s 2024/25 away kit, designed in collaboration with LABRUM London, the fashion brand by Sierra Leone-born Foday Dumbuya.

This new kit, primarily for away games, celebrates Arsenal’s connection to the Black diaspora.

The jersey features a black base with a hand-drawn zig-zag graphic symbolizing the flow and movement of people, inspired by African fabric patterns. The collar and shoulders are adorned with green and red stripes, representing pan-Africanism.

In addition to the jersey, Labrum and Adidas released a five-piece capsule collection including two jackets, a tee, a jumper, and track pants. Each item showcases a reworked Labrum London logo with the ‘Nomoli’ icon, symbolizing protection and prosperity from Sierra Leone’s Mende and Kissi tribes.

Dumbuya, who merges West African heritage with Western tailoring, has guided Labrum London to significant acclaim since its founding a decade ago.

This new Arsenal kit marks Labrum’s second collaboration with Adidas this summer, following the design of Sierra Leone’s Olympic uniforms for Paris 2024, continuing their partnership from the 2020 Olympics.

The Story Behind the Incident

Are you familiar with one of the most shocking moments in World Cup history? In the 2006 World Cup final, Zinedine Zidane, the French football legend, headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi. This act led to Zidane’s ejection from the match, ultimately marking a dramatic end to his illustrious career.

The Incident

The incident occurred during extra time, with the scores level at 1-1. Zidane, after an exchange of words with Materazzi, turned and headbutted him in the chest. This led to Zidane being shown a red card, and France subsequently lost the penalty shootout to Italy.

Zidane’s Explanation

Over the years, Zidane has been relatively reserved about the incident, but in various interviews, he shed light on what provoked him. According to Zidane, Materazzi made disparaging remarks about his sister. In a 2010 interview, Zidane explained that he would “rather die than apologize” for the headbutt because he felt deeply insulted.

Materazzi’s Perspective

Materazzi has also spoken about the incident, acknowledging the insult. He admitted to saying something offensive about Zidane’s sister but claimed that Zidane’s reaction was extreme and that the incident had overshadowed his own career achievements.

The Aftermath

The headbutt became one of the most talked-about moments in sports history. Zidane’s action was widely scrutinized, with many fans and pundits debating whether it tarnished his legacy. However, for many, Zidane remains one of football’s greatest players, and the incident is often viewed as a testament to his passionate nature on the field.

Zidane has since moved on to a successful coaching career, but the 2006 headbutt remains a memorable, if controversial, chapter in his story.