The anticipation for the upcoming Olympics in Italy has been unexpectedly muted, as captured in the commentary by Torbjørn Heggem, a Norwegian athlete based near the Olympic venues. Heggem noted a distinct lack of excitement in Italy, where media coverage was largely centered on football rather than the Olympic Games set to commence. This notable absence of Olympic fervor highlights the differing priorities and the current socio-political context of both Italy and Norway.

In Norway, news coverage has been dominated by various domestic issues, including high-profile individual news items such as those involving Jeffrey Epstein and the Norwegian royal family. This focus contrasts with the typically widespread enthusiasm and national pride that usually accompany the Olympic Games. The article suggests that while the Olympics are indeed around the corner, the expected emotional engagement from both the press and public seems notably absent this time around, which is a departure from previous Olympic experiences.

As the Paris Olympics in 2024 represent the first to be hosted on European soil since the London Games twelve years ago, there’s an underlying optimism expressed about the potential future of global sports. This sentiment emerges in light of past Olympics and World Cups held in countries with authoritarian regimes, where sports events often served to divert attention from critical human rights issues. Hence, the upcoming Paris Games are viewed as a hopeful return to a more critical and reflective engagement with international sports, fostering connections that transcend beyond mere athletic competition.