Any big venture has its detractors and cannot be undertaken without creating uncertainty, unease, and discomfort for some.

The Olympic Games are probably the biggest logistical undertaking confined to a limited geographical area, and hence it was understandable that some Parisians were less than enamoured over its impending arrival in the City of Lights.

The impurities in the Seine, the river that runs through the French Capital, the various restrictions to movement, the security arrangements, and the huge influx of visitors from around the globe were concerns that plagued the average citizen.

The sabotaging of the French rail network and the bomb threat at an airport on the Swiss border added to the anxiety.

But Friday night’s unprecedented opening ceremony – which dragged into the early hours of Saturday in India – staged not just in a stadium but throughout the host city, put Paris in the best light in front of the whole world. The procession of national contingents on the river, the showcasing of French culture, ingenuity, and hard work, and their love and respect for sporting greats not just their own made it worth missing sleep for.

The focus has now shifted to the sporting arenas, where the best athletes in the world will aim to outdo each other to bring laurels to their country. But the inauguration reminded us of what the Olympics are all about at the foundation level – bringing countries around the world together and celebrating the best that humanity can achieve. Not everyone who gets to the Olympics expects to get on the podium, but the experience is something that won’t be forgotten in a hurry, and who knows, they may be in the mix for honours at future Games.  

India – at least the ruling establishment – hopes to host the Olympic Games in 12 years’ time, but for that, apart from the organisational and logistical mountains that need to be moved, the athletes need to excel and climb up in the medal tally.

Need to improve

Seven podium finishes in Tokyo three years ago were unprecedented riches, but the most populous country in the world – it was the second-largest in 2021 – ended 48th on the points table. Hopes are always high, buttressed by India surpassing the 100-medal mark at last year’s Hangzhou Asian Games, but the level at the Olympics is just another ball game.

India is far from being among the big hitters in Olympic sport, and the margins at this level are often minuscule. India’s biggest contingent this time is in shooting, and one shot slightly off centre can be the difference between a medal and nothing.

Athletes toil tirelessly for years for their chance under the sun, and institutional and government support has improved over the years, to the extent that it’s now an envy of several other countries. The inundation of awards and rewards for a notable achievement, not necessarily a medal, can often scarcely be believed.

All this also puts a lot of pressure on the competitors and prevents them from being at their best when the stakes are at their highest. The two Indian pairs in the qualification rounds of the 10m air rifle mixed team event faltered when matching the scores they had managed in the recent past would have, in all likelihood, taken them into medal contention.

But one has to feel for those flying the flag at the Olympics. These opportunities come once in four years – three in this instance – and athletes have to make such an effort just to be there. Once on the big stage, they can revel in their status as Olympians, but the pressure to deliver when the eyes of the whole world are on them – which may not be the case in the qualification events – makes it all the more difficult.

That’s what makes the achievements of Olympic icons such as Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson, Usain Bolt, and Michael Phelps such outliers. They were the ones with a target on their backs but instead of freezing on the big day, they embraced the occasion and reached for the stars.

The story of Simone Biles, who has returned to the top after struggling with her mental health at Tokyo and playing her part in bringing a sex offender, who preyed on young female gymnasts, to justice is a particularly inspiring one. Biles is one of the greatest ever in her sport and one of the icons of the Olympic games, and all eyes will be on her when the gymnastics competitions begin.

Indian prospects

One Indian athlete at these Games who knows the feeling of being among the red-hot favourites is discus thrower Neeraj Chopra. The Olympic champion has won almost everything there is to win since he made history in Tokyo, and is again on the shortlist. But the man from Haryana seems composed, taking everything in his stride and having his sight firmly on the big prize. Not distracted by all the talk about his perceived inability to breach the 90m mark, Chopra is aware of the maxim that ‘you don’t have to run faster than a cheetah, but just faster than the other competitors.’

The badminton men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have broken the hegemony of East and Southeast Asians and clinched some of the top titles on the circuit. They starred as India did the unimaginable, winning the Thomas Cup, and also rose to the No.1 world ranking. They seem destined to finish on the podium and the top step is also not beyond them. But the competition is stiff and matches often go down to the wire.

Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has been beset with injuries in the recent past, but if she is anywhere close to her best, the Manipur athlete, who returned from Tokyo with a silver, will be in the reckoning for another medal.

There are several others from whom a lot is expected. Boxer Nikhat Zareen is one of the best in her weight category, while nobody will begrudge women wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat – who braved a lot of adversity outside the mat – and Antim Panghal – who has struggled with injuries for a considerable period – if they reach the podium.

Hockey is another sport where India have to be at their best to be challenging for medals, but having these many athletes being spoken of in the context of medals proves that Indian sport has definitely taken a step forward in recent times.