Merci, Paris: Final thoughts from the 2024 Olympic games.

I review Paris 2024 and the moments that made it memorable. I also discuss Team GB’s performance, the IOC and ponder what to expect from the LA games in 2028.

So, that’s it. 16 days of incredible action in Paris have come and gone. We saw world records fall, incredible performances and drama.

As ever when the Olympics ends, you’re left with a feeling of sadness.

You can’t turn on the tv at 8am in the morning and gorge yourself on sport and you miss the events that you never watch outside of an Olympics but are thoroughly entertained by.

You debate whether you have the time to participate in these lesser-known sports and then fantasise about visiting the hosts for your next holiday.

Paris passed these criteria, which in my mind, makes it a very successful Olympiad.

The Parisians showcased their city in all its glory. The opening ceremony along the Seine was a brave change from tradition. The cycling road races, marathon and triathlon passed stunning landmarks, the Grand Palais was home to taekwondo and beach volleyball took place under the Eiffel Tower.

But the performances of the host nation’s athletes were also critical to the success of the games.

Cometh Léon Marchand, who won three golds and one bronze in the pool to become the undisputed face of the games.

French judo legend Teddy Riner won two gold medals in Paris to add to his impressive career haul and who can forget that all-French podium in the men’s BMX racing.

For Team GB, it has also been a memorable Olympics. Great Britain surpassed their Tokyo total by winning 65 medals.

Granted there are those who will view not winning as many golds as a regression. But then you must consider that the country is still living in glow of London 2012.

This was the Olympics that saw the last of those legends - like Andy Murray and Tom Daly - retire. Helen Glover and Adam Peaty are also contemplating their futures.

But with-it, Great Britain will still be able to enjoy the likes of Tom Piddock and Alex Yee in the coming years.

Then, we have the new generation of Emma Finucane and Toby Roberts to look forward to. The British cycling and rowing teams also have recovered from past disappointments and could, in time, dominate again.

British Athletics have also had a good Olympics. It was their best performance since 1984 in Los Angeles.

Keely Hodgkinson stormed to 800m gold at the age of 22 and team GB won a medal in every relay race for the first time in an Olympic games.

Perhaps, there is disappointment that Josh Kerr, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson narrowly missed out on gold.

But that would be a disservice to the phenomenal performances of the USA’s Cole Hocker and Quincy Hall who denied them.

Or to Nafi Thiam, the generational athlete from Belgium who won her third straight Olympic heptathlon title.

Elsewhere on the track, Mondo Duplantis cemented himself as the greatest men’s high jumper in history after breaking the world record for a ninth time on route to the Olympic title.

Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands won the marathon after also taking bronze medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m days before.

For the United States, Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were the standout performers. They won multiple gold medals to help the USA dominate the Athletics schedule.

The USA’s great rivals Jamaica suffered a torturous time in Paris, only winning one gold medal in the men’s discus.

Hopefully, the Jamaican sprinters can recover quickly from this disappointment as this rivalry is so important for athletics.

In cycling, Dutch rider Harrie Lavreysen squashed all before him to win three golds in the velodrome.

We also saw the triumphant return of Simone Biles. Biles received extreme criticism after mental health issues plagued her performances in Tokyo.

However, she fought back to win three golds and a silver in one of the strongest Olympic gymnastics competitions in history.

American celebrities also made their mark in Paris. Snoop Dogg was never too far away from a venue in his role as ambassador for LA 2028.

Also, Tom Cruise spectacularly abseiled into the Stade de France at the closing ceremony before receiving the Olympic flag. It was the start of a brilliant segment that gave us a glimpse of what to expect from LA in four years’ time.

Like the best Olympic hosts, it will be LA’s responsibility to put a spin on this grand institution. It will be the Hollywood Olympics. Epic, loud, brash and promoting everything Americana!

New sports are due to arrive with the inclusion of flag football, baseball/softball, cricket, lacrosse and squash.

Breaking will make way after only one Olympics and there are still questions over boxing’s involvement.

The international boxing association (IBA) have been marred in accusations of corruption and bribery since Tokyo. This led to the international Olympic committee (IOC) taking control of the sport for Paris.

The controversy over Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting’s eligibility in the women’s tournament then reignited the row between both organisations.

Boxing’s inclusion in the LA games now rests upon the national governing bodies breaking away to form a new global organisation to run the sport.

Either way, it is imperative that amateur boxing survives, and the Olympics keeps providing the platform for the next generation of fighters.

Thomas Bach has been caught up in this row, but it isn’t thought of as the reason for him stepping down as the president of the IOC.

Whoever takes over will have to guide the Olympic movement through a few years of turbulence before the eyes of the world reach LA.

But for now, the IOC and Paris should be congratulated on delivering another entertaining and spectacular Olympic games.