IOC 33rd Summer Olympic Games 2024 – Paris, France 17th Day

IOC 33rd Summer Olympic Games 2024 – Paris, France 17th Day

Athletics : Women – Marathon
Gold – Sifan Hassan – Netherlands
02 hrs 22 min 55 sec Olympic Record
Silver – Tigst Assefa – Ethiopia
02 hrs 22 min 58 sec
Bronze – Hellen Obiri – Kenya
02 hrs 23 min 10 sec Personal Best
80 competitors completed the distance 11 others did not finish

Basketball :
Women – Consolation Final
Australia bt Belgium 85 – 81

Women – Championship Final
USA bt France 67 – 66

Cycling Track :
Women – Sprint
Gold – New Zealand,
Silver – Germany,
Bronze – Great Britain

Men – Keirin
Gold – Netherlands,
Silver – Australia
Bronze – Australia

Handball :
Men – Consolation Final
Spain bt Slovenia 23 – 22

Championship Final
Denmark bt Germany 28 – 15
Gold – Denmark,
Silver – Germany,
Bronze – Spain

Modern Pentathlon :
Women – Individual
Gold – Michele Gulyas – Hungary
1461 Points World Record
Silver – Elodie Clouvel – France
1452 Points
Bronze – Seungmin Seong – South Korea
1441 Points

Volleyball :
Women – Championship Final
Italy bt USA 3 – 0

Gold – Italy,
Silver – USA,
Bronze – Brazil

Water Polo : Men – Consolation Final

USA bt Hungary 11 – 08

Men – Championship Final
Serbia bt Croatia 13 – 11

Gold – Serbia,
Silver – Croatia,
Bronze – USA

91 nations were included in the final medal tally. The positions of the final medal tally was only decided after the last contest was completed.

The International Olympic Committee together with the caring Organising Committee of the Olympic Games of Paris 2024 had organised a mentoring service for the benefit of participating athletes, officiating technical officials & volunteers at the Athletes Village over 03 days. Many venerable religious dignitaries had been especially invited to conduct these valuable mental health sessions with a view to assist all who were interested to attend & participate in this much appreciated venture. The Chief Sanga Nayake of Paris & the Chief Prelate of the International Buddhist Centre in Le Bourget, France – the Most Venerable Parawahera Chandarathana Nayaka Thero was among the many such very important & distinguished religious dignitaries who were from many participating nations who were involved. The vast and invaluable experiences, skills & practices were used as a much solicited endeavour for those who were willing to seek their advice in addressing many & varied practical solutions for their personal & worrying concerns. The Venerable Parawahera Chandarathana Sangha Nayake Thero has been residing in France for over 40 years, providing many invaluable religious, social and community service programmes to residents in France & Sri Lanka, designed to assist & promote harmony amongst residents in both those countries as well as worldwide Theravada Buddhist religious activities. Two other disciples of the High Priest, Kandavinne Rahula Thero ( from the Bibile area ) as well as Kahaththewela Sugathasiri Thero ( from the Bandarawela area ) are resident monks at this temple. They are also pursuing higher studies & assisting the religious activities conducted by the institute. They are following in the path of the Incumbent High Priest, who is a scholarly monk, having obtained his very high educational qualifications in France. On inquiry, it was intimated to us that about 200 multinational people are involved in the Dayaka Sabha of the International Buddhist Centre in Paris. Most of them from countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Sri Lanka & many other nations have contributed to the many infrastructure / real estate facilities available at this Buddhist Centre. The many daily, weekly, monthly, annual & periodical religious & social programmes / activities organised & conducted by the temple are well attended & much appreciated as we observed. The 05 member media team accredited by the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka were provided board & lodging at this institution, guided & secured throughout 18 days in Paris. Venerable Parawahera Chandarathana Thero, Dakshina Bodhinayake & Nuwan Udara Karunaratne had made these arrangement with the consent of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.

Haritha Perera in Paris, France facilitated by the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka Photos courtesy Kaushalya Danthanarayana