Why Simone Biles Skipped the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony
Simone Biles and the rest of the U.S. gymnastics team chose to forgo the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony to conserve their energy for their upcoming competitions.
Saving Energy for Competitions
On July 26, as athletes paraded on boats along the River Seine, Simone Biles’ mother, Nellie Biles, spoke with TODAY’s Hoda Kotb, confirming her daughter’s absence from the opening ceremony. “The first competition is Sunday, which is the women’s qualifier, and, of course, she needs to rest up before that competition,” Nellie Biles explained.
Connecting Virtually
Despite not attending in person, Simone Biles managed to join the festivities virtually. She FaceTimed with Hoda Kotb and Snoop Dogg during the ceremony. “Oh, we got her!” Hoda exclaimed when the call connected. “Girl! Your family is slaying it in the rain!” Snoop Dogg added his enthusiastic greeting, “What up, girl!”
Tradition of Skipping the Ceremony
The decision for the U.S. gymnastics team to skip the opening ceremony is not unprecedented. According to NBC News, the U.S. gymnastics team has traditionally avoided the opening ceremony due to its physically demanding nature. In May, USA Gymnastics CEO Li Li Leung explained during a news conference that the ceremony’s length can be taxing, as athletes may have to stand for up to nine hours. However, athletes are ultimately allowed to decide for themselves if they wish to attend.
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Simone Biles’ Return to the Olympics
Simone Biles, a star of the U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team, is back for her third Olympic Games. In a July 17 interview with Hoda Kotb on TODAY, Biles discussed her return to the Olympics following her experience with the twisties at the Tokyo Games. “I would say the only thing I have to prove is to myself that I can get out there and do it again,” she said. “I think we’re going to get the job done. I feel really confident.”
Skipping the opening ceremony allowed Biles and her teammates to stay focused and rested for their events, aiming to bring their best performances to the Paris 2024 Olympics.