Destination Paris

The finale of Paris Destination features plenty of finals. François Picard's panel reviews iconic moments from the past fortnight, including the swimming marathons showcasing the River Seine as the centerpiece of Paris 2024. What will Los Angeles look like in four years' time? Our guest in this final edition, LA City Council president Paul Krekorian. One icon many Parisians want to keep... that levitating Olympic cauldron. So, after the closing ceremonies, should it stay or should it go?

Inside the experience of a maiden Olympics: US skateboarder Minna Stess, 18, is our guest in this edition of Destination Paris. Noah Lyles is the favorite in the men's 200 metres as the athletics portion of the Games heads into the home stretch. Plus, arguably the toughest of marathons is happening in the Seine: we dive into the trials and tribulations of the 10km long-distance swim.

Table tennis powerhouses China are through in the men's team event to the semis, as are French national darlings, the Lebrun brothers. Why does Korean taekwondo and no longer Japanese karate feature at the Olympics? Taekwondo is one of those sports where Moscow would have raked in the medals. We ask about a Games without the Russian flag.

Mondo mania grips the Paris Olympics. After smashing his own world record, Selina Sykes tell us just how high Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis can go. Also, it's the 1980s craze that never went away. We tell you how much pins at these Olympics are worth.

With a bitter taste in his mouth, British breaststroke legend Adam Peaty calls China's swimming performances "very suspicious" and blasts WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, for a "lack of transparency." Meanwhile, the French organisers have eased off calling these Games carbon neutral, but they are winning plaudits for resisting the temptation to build white elephant stadiums that fall into disrepair after the closing ceremonies. Plus, we put the spotlight on what many consider the world's oldest sport. And to think that some wanted wrestling out of the Olympics.

In a historic first, Cindy Ngamba has guaranteed herself at least a bronze medal in boxing. She hails from Cameroon, but because of discrimination against LGBT people in the central African nation, she's competing under the banner of the Olympic Refugee Team. It's the third time the delegation has competed at an Olympic Games. Never before has it won a medal. François Picard is joined by The Daily Beast's Craig Copetas and FRANCE 24's James Vasina in the studio, with Jean-Emile Jammine and Selina Sykes live on the ground.

Staging the opening ceremonies on the Seine wasn't the only bold move by the Paris 2024 organisers. Famous Paris landmarks have hosted or acted as a backdrop for many events. In the case of cycling, it's both. The men's road race went three times up the hill at Montmartre with packed crowds before a finish in front of the Eiffel Tower at Trocadéro. François Picard is joined by FRANCE 24's Jean-Emile Jammine, Leo McGuinn and Selina Sykes, as well as The Daily Beast's Craig Copetas, to debrief all the action of another day of stunning sporting achievements in Paris.

A scandal has engulfed the boxing at the Paris Olympics, after an Algerian female boxer who previously failed a gender eligibility test for last year's World Boxing Championships stopped her opponent after 46 seconds. Italian boxer Angela Carini abruptly withdrew from the match against Algeria's Imane Khelif. The incident has gone viral on social media, where the likes of J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk are decrying Olympic organisers. 

Nothing says Paris like the beaches of Teahupo'o. The Daily Beast's Craig Copetas tells François Picard why organisers picked Tahiti over Biarritz in southwestern France for the surf competition. Also, three cheers for the 45,000 volunteers providing guidance and good cheer to spectators and athletes alike. Plus, Yusuf Dikec deserves the gold medal for nonchalance. The 51-year-old Turkish silver medallist in the 10-metre air pistol mixed team event has attained cult status with his casual, old school approach to shooting, what with his hand in his pocket and regular prescription glasses.

To the relief of Olympics organisers, the triathlon finally took place this Wednesday in Paris's River Seine, days after the water failed a pollution test. The women triathletes went first, diving into the Seine at the historic Alexandre III bridge. It was France's Cassandre Beaugrand who won the women's gold, while Team GB's Alex Yee took home the men's title.