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Paris Olympics opening ceremony brings Games to life along the Seine

Police boats patrol the Seine river in Paris, France, ahead of the opening ceremony.

Welcome to our live coverage of the opening ceremony for the Olympics, where we’ll bring you all the colour, pomp and star power along the banks of the Seine. Follow the action.

Guts, glory and gold medals: Jess Fox returns to the Olympics a champion

As the days tick down until she hits the water, the catharsis and emotion from her first gold medal three years ago is still fresh in the reigning C1 champion’s mind.

Set your alarms: These are the events you must not miss

With Paris eight hours behind most of us in Australia, it’s tough to know what to watch and when. Here’s a day-by-day guide to the events you can’t afford to miss.

Olympics venues index

How the Eiffel Tower became the world’s most spectacular stadium

From beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower to equestrian at Versailles, Paris 2024 will be staged at some of the world’s most famous landmarks. This is your ultimate guide to the Olympic venues.

Eddie Jim

French impressions: Australia’s athletes as you’ve never seen them before

From five-time Olympian Melissa Wu, to rising track star Torrie Lewis, our Olympians and Paralympians are heading to Paris with mighty ambitions. These are their stories.

Why this champion will be a TV celebrity without swimming a lap in Paris

Australians are about to get to know Ellie Cole from their lounge rooms during the Olympics.

Australians are about to get to know Ellie Cole, Australia’s most decorated Paralympian.

Webster in Paris
Olympics

‘You running a story on that?’ Kevin Durant bats away dumbest question

The hottest ticket in town on Thursday wasn’t a sporting event but the traditional pre-Olympics media opportunity with Team USA.

France’s train network sabotaged in arson attack ahead of opening ceremony

Travellers face delays at the Gare de Montparnasse station in Paris.

The high-speed network was targeted by vandals in a series of coordinated actions that brought major disruptions to some of the country’s busiest rail lines ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Berejiklian defends conduct after losing court challenge

Berejiklian defends conduct after losing court challenge

The former premier  lost her court bid to overturn damning findings made against her by the state’s corruption watchdog.

‘The world is in meltdown’: Inside the front lines of the CrowdStrike outage

It was at about 3.30pm on an otherwise and uneventful quiet Friday that Ashwin Pal’s phone began blowing up.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump

The nickname Trump hopes will tarnish Harris

There are 100 days to go until the US election, and it’s going to get even uglier. Hell, it’s only the future of the free world.

Bruce Wolpe
Bruce Wolpe

Senior fellow at the US Studies Centre and former political staffer

Chased out of Sydney, could Cathy Freeman’s great rival light the Olympic cauldron?

Cathy Freeman (left) and Marie-Jose Perec after Perec's gold medal in the 400m at the 1996 Olympics.

French president Emmannuel Macron fuelled speculation that Marie-Jose Perec could make an Olympic comeback 24 years after she caused an international storm by fleeing the Sydney Games.

Wrecking ball Leniu offers a glimpse of the future: Robinson

Roosters coach Trent Robinson is counting on a big impact from the three-time premiership winner.

Australia, Canada and NZ call for immediate ceasefire to end ‘catastrophic suffering’ in Gaza

“There is simply nowhere else for civilians to go,” New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (left), Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau say.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined with his New Zealand and Canada counterparts to call for the ceasefire. The leaders said they were committed to a two-state solution to achieve lasting peace in the region.

Bolt’s ultimatum: I’ll quit if James Murdoch wins succession battle

Andrew Bolt and James Murdoch homepage composite

The high-profile conservative columnist says he’ll walk if James Murdoch takes over News Corp.

Opinion
Trade wars

China Shock 2.0 could upend the world economy

Forget free trade: Beijing aims to demolish its rivals and achieve monopolistic hegemony across entire industries, seeing trade as ideological warfare against democracies.

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
Recipe collection
French

40 fantastique French recipes for the Paris Olympics (and beyond)

​Pissaladiere

These classique recipes will see you through some great late nights on the couch − bonsoir, late-night croque-monsieur toasties and bonjour, early morning crepes.

Inside Out 2 becomes the biggest animated movie in history

Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler) welcomes new emotion Anxiety (Maya Hawke) in Inside Out 2.

Inside Out 2 has broken two major records since its release but a Disney film is still beating it at the box office.

Review
Sydney

Is the ramen at this popular global chain worth waiting over an hour in line for?

Mensho Tokyo has outposts in the US, Thailand, India, China and Melbourne. Now it’s Sydney’s turn to experience the deep, long flavour of ramen master Tomoharu Shono’s unusual noodle dishes.

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Australian swimming coach Michael Palfrey at training on Thursday in Paris.
Exclusive
Paris 2024

Swimming coach spared axe over helping Korean rival – months after he was told not to

An email obtained by this masthead reveals that Australian coaches, including Michael Palfrey, were warned four months ago about links to foreign athletes.

Caitlin Foord has had the best chances for the Matildas so far.

As it happened: Matildas lose 3-0 to Germany; Australia’s men’s rugby 7s advance to semi-finals

The Matildas’ Paris Olympics campaign has gotten off to the worst possible start with a 3-0 thrashing by Germany, as Australia’s men’s rugby 7s side advance to the semi-finals against Fiji.

Sam Short after his 400m freestyle victory last year at the world championships in Fukuoka.

They were the last Aussies to go 1-2 in the same race. They think it could happen again – with a world record

Sam Short and Elijah Winnington are Australia’s big gold medal hopes in the opening event of the swimming program. And it might take a world record to win it.

United State’s men’s team Kevin Durant, right, and Stephen Curry attend a press conference on Thursday.
Webster in Paris
Paris 2024

‘You running a story on that?’ Kevin Durant bats away dumbest question

The hottest ticket in town on Thursday wasn’t a sporting event but the traditional pre-Olympics media opportunity with Team USA.

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NRL 2024

Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses and Will Penisini have uncertain futures due to contractual clauses.

The $1.25m contract black holes hurting battling NRL clubs

The true cost of moving on an unwanted NRL player has been revealed as Parramatta seek a different strategy for future contract negotiations.

Tarryn Aiken of the Roosters and Nita Maynard ahead of their NRLW season opener in Newcastle on Thursday night.

Your 2024 NRLW guide: Team to beat, player to watch and rookie on the rise

Here’s your guide to the 2024 NRLW season before the first match gets under way between the Knights and the Roosters in Newcastle on Thursday night.

Sydney

The jury heard Carroll had met Benjamin Parkes and Robert Sloan while living in motels around Liverpool.
Exclusive
Courts

The hidden microphones that caught a plot to get away with murder

Najma Carroll had been a gifted HSC student and rising sports star. Before she died, she put her trust in the wrong people.

Exclusive
Development

Revealed: Plan for new offices at Glebe Island - but no homes

An excerpt of the Port Authority of NSW’s Bays Port Plan, marked “final draft for consultation”, obtained by the Herald.

A political stoush has erupted over the future of Sydney’s Bays West precinct, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying housing was a better option.

Paramedic banned over ‘Netflix and chill’ misconduct with teen

The Victorian coroner investigated the death of a Wemba Wemba girl who was under state care when she took her own life in 2021.

A paramedic made unwanted sexual advances towards a teenager, claiming he was led on by the term “Netflix and chill”.

Liverpool Council prepares for legal siege after damning report

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun.

Liverpool Council has called for every copy of a damning investigative report to be deleted, as it prepares for broad legal action.

‘Anti-competitive’: Calls mount to break corporate live music domination

Grammy nominated musician Jess Cerro has backed calls for an ACCC review.

Australian musicians are calling for authorities to investigate the market power of major corporate players like Live Nation.

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WEEKEND READS

Maxwell, sitting between members of her legal team, makes a sketch of the court artist.

The intense stare-down between a courtroom sketch artist and Ghislaine Maxwell

One day, in a strange power move that left me frozen in my seat, Maxwell decided she would start drawing the courtroom sketch artist while the sketch artist was drawing her. Then she started drawing me.

Tailgating a tailgater: should I follow my instincts?

Let’s cut to the chase, says our Modern Guru.

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Australian swimming coach Michael Palfrey at training on Thursday in Paris.
Exclusive
Paris 2024

Swimming coach spared axe over helping Korean rival – months after he was told not to

An email obtained by this masthead reveals that Australian coaches, including Michael Palfrey, were warned four months ago about links to foreign athletes.

The Matildas were comprehensively beaten by Germany in their opening pool match.
Updated
Paris 2024

The Matildas wanted a dream start to the Games. It was a 90-minute nightmare

Australia arrived in France with ambitions of a deep run into the Olympic tournament. Against Germany, it was the worst possible start.

NRL rookie-of-the-year contenders: Sua Fa’alogo, Blaize Talagi and Ethan Strange.

Something Parramatta might actually win? If Blaize Talagi is not crowned NRL’s top rookie, who will be?

Two of the leading NRL rookie-of-the-year candidates are set to face off on Friday night. Who wins this year’s first-year gong?

Left: Sam Short after his 400m freestyle victory last year at the world championships in Fukuoka. Right: Elijah Winnington celebrates his 400m freestyle final win during the Australian swimming trials at Brisbane Aquatic Centre in June.

They were the last Aussies to go 1-2 in the same race. They think it could happen again – with a world record

Sam Short and Elijah Winnington are Australia’s big gold medal hopes in the opening event of the swimming program. And it might take a world record to win it.

Cameron Munster will spearhead the Storm’s finals charge.

‘These old legs are coming to an end’: Munster set for double hip surgery

Cameron Munster returns from a lengthy injury lay-off for ladder leaders Melbourne – but confirmed he will require double hip surgery at the end of the year.

The coffin of David Morrow is taken into St Brigid’s Catholic Church in Coogee.

‘One of the best broadcasters this country will see’: Sporting greats farewell David Morrow

The longtime radio and television veteran was farewelled on the same day competition begun in Paris - with a new tribute announced in his honour.

Somewhere underneath all his teammates is Panthers match-winner Nathan Cleary.

Panthers confident of fan support as English teams snap up Vegas tickets

The Panthers remain confident they will be the best-supported club in Las Vegas.

Racing

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