The 2024 Summer Olympic Games begin this week in Paris! Officially running from Friday, July 26 through Sunday, August 11. 32 sports are being played with 329 gold medals to be awarded. The only new sport to debut at this Olympiad is breaking, otherwise known as breakdancing. This style of dance originated in the ‘70s and has gone on to become a competitive sport with international competitions and world championships. Dancers will face off in one-on-one battles showcasing their style, creativity, and improvisational skills. Other new events added to the sport competitions include kayak cross and kiteboarding, plus the return of skateboard, surfing, sport climbing, and 3x3 basketball that featured for the first time in the Tokyo Olympics.
To help commemorate this XXXIII Olympiad we’ve compiled a short list of interesting reads and movies to watch covering inspirational stories, sport controversies, art related to the Olympics, and of course, the history of the games. We also have Olympics and sport related materials on display on the 3rd floor end stacks to check out and you can always find more materials covering the Olympic games by browsing our catalog here.
Igniting the flame: America's first olympic team / Jim Reisler. (796.48 R94)
Chariots of fire / Warner Bros. Pictures. (DVD)
Gold: a novel / Chris Cleave. (Fic Cleave)
Olympic visions: images of the games through history / Mike O'Mahony. (796.48 O542)
The boys in the boat: nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics / Daniel James Brown. (797.123 B877 Available in print, CD Audiobook, eBook, and Large Print)
Olympia / Taylor Downing. (791.43 D751)
Foxcatcher / Sony Pictures Classics. (DVD - Movie based on the book)
