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

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.

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager since 2015, has announced that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

In a shocking video posted on the team’s Instagram page, Klopp let his fans know that he was “running out of energy”.

“I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team. I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take”, Klopp intimated in the interview.

Fans flooded the comment section to express their shock and extend their gratitude to him.

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers forward and minority owner of Liverpool, took to X to thank Klopp.

“You are one helluva manager and you’ll never be forgotten and more importantly YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE!! The Reds will miss you!!”

Addressing fans and teammates, team captain, Virgil Van Dijk, said, “Let’s make the rest of the season a special one so he (Klopp) can have the farewell that he definitely deserves.”