Tag: Olympia

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Michael Phelps Visits Golf at the 2024 Olympics

Michael Phelps at the Olympic golf tournament in 2024. (Image: Twitter/@olympicgolf)
Michael Phelps at the Olympic golf tournament in 2024. (Image: Twitter/@olympicgolf)

Seeing Michael Phelps at the 2024 Olympics is no big surprise. Seeing Michael Phelps at the Olympic golf tournament is perhaps more of a surprise. The record-breaking swimmer’s passion for golf is well known.

The Olympic golf tournament 2024 live

2024 Olympics: Michael Phelps at the Golf Tournament

During his visit to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, he is not spending his time exclusively in the Aquatic Centre, which he has probably seen more than enough of in his life, but is also enjoying the fresh air outside on the golf course at Le Golf National.

Michael Phelps has long been an avid golfer and also an enthusiastic golf fan, having followed Tier Woods live at Augusta National when he won the Masters in 2019, for example. Since ending his active career after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, he has had all the more time to devote to this other sport. But even before that, he was excellent with the club. Proof A: This incredible putt from 48 metres at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2012.

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Highlights Tours

2024 Olympics: These Golfers Will Be the Flag Bearers in Paris

The Olympic flag bearers from the golf course. (Photo: Getty)
The Olympic flag bearers from the golf course. (Photo: Getty)

The flag bearers of the countries participating in the Olympic Games have a special honor. They represent their country at the opening ceremony and at the closing ceremony by carrying the respective flag. The flag bearers were either chosen by their respective National Olympic Committee or by the athletes themselves. For two countries, a golfer was chosen: Fabrizio Zanotti and Ines Laklalech. The 41-year-old has been a professional golfer for over 20 years and will carry the Paraguayan flag alongside rower Alejandra Alonso. Ines Laklalech will be the flag bearer for Morocco together with rider Yessin Rahmouni. Laklalech plays on the Ladies European Tour and won the Ladies Open de France in 2022.

Key Role for Fabrizio Zanotti at the 2024 Olympics

The selected athletes will have the honour of presenting their country’s flag twice in front of the whole world. Firstly at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on 26 July 2024 and a second time at the closing ceremony on 11 August 2024. For the first time, there will not be the usual march of the nations into a stadium. The opening ceremony will take place in the centre of Paris and on the Seine with a finale at the Eiffel Tower.

Fabrizio Zanotti is the only golfer from Paraguay to take part in the 2024 Olympic Games. With his participation in 2016 and 2021, he already brings double the experience to the competition. He has also competed in several national and continental championships, has major experience and has won several times on the DP World Tour. He celebrated one of his two victories on the tour in Munich at the BMW International Open.

Ines Laklalech became pro in 2021 after earning her tour card for the LET via the LET Q-School. In her rookie season, she achieved four top 10 finishes before winning in France. This made her the first golfer not only from Morocco but from North America to win on the LET.

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Live

Olympics: International Golf Federation Reacts to Dutch Golfers Being Booted Out

The IGF publishes a statement regarding Dutch golfers at the Olympic Games 2024. (image: Getty)
The IGF publishes a statement regarding Dutch golfers at the Olympic Games 2024. (image: Getty)

The International Golf Federation (IGF) has reacted indignantly and with complete incomprehension to the decision of the Dutch National Olympic Committee (NOCNSF ) not to include golfers Joost Luiten, Darius van Driel and Dewi Weber in the Oranje team for the Olympic Games in Paris in August due to their alleged lack of competitiveness and medal prospects.

“Unfair and Unneccessary” – International Golf Federation Offers Statement to Dutch Olympics Discussion

This was “unfair” and “unnecessary”; “extensive arguments and data” from the Dutch Golf Federation had been overlooked, according to the IGF: “Dewi Weber, Joost Luiten and Darius Van Driel all earned the right to compete in the Olympic golf competition at Paris 2024 based on their impressive play over the two-year qualifying period. However, the NOC*NSF created an additional – and, in the opinion of the IGF, unnecessary – criterion that prevented the selection of these three qualified athletes,” it said in a statement.

And further: “The IGF is confident that the data and supporting information provided to the NOC*NSF by the Netherlands Golf Federation clearly demonstrated how these three athletes all have the ability to contend for a top-eight finish in the Olympic golf competition.”
If the withdrawal remains, Anne van Dahm will be the only one playing for golf medals for Oranje.The men’s tournament at Le Golf National will take place from 1 to 4 August, while the women’s tournament will be held from 7 to 10 August.