Can Paris match GB’s23 Olympic successes?
Mirror visits our athletes’ training camp for Games
BRITISH athletes will go for gold at this summer’s Paris Olympics, aiming to recapture the winning spirit of London 2012.
The Mirror joined Team GB chef de mission Mark England yesterday for a tour of our training camp in SaintGermain-en-Laye, around 12 miles west of the French capital.
Around 500,000 Games tickets have been sold to British fans, more than any nation apart from host France.
Mr England said: “The athletes will have so many family and friends here, just like in London 2012.
“Our team has the opportunity to do something special. This is the closest we will get to a home Games. It is very exciting for everybody.”
A host of venues will sit near French landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower for beach volleyball and Palace of Versailles for equestrian events.
In a twist, the opening ceremony will weave across Paris instead of being held in main venue the Stade de France.
The 3.7-mile route includes a parade of athletes on the Seine and ends at the Trocadero next to the Eiffel Tower.
Mr England added: “This will be an amazing and memorable Games.
“Our triathletes and marathon swimmers will be competing in the Seine. For fans back home, there will be wall-to-wall TV coverage. It will showcase all these places. We have world champions in our team.
“We do exceptionally well at the Olympics because we prioritise these Games. It will all come to a crescendo over 17 days this year.”
This year, we are expected to have more women competing than men in a team of around 350 athletes.
Britain’s track and field stars will use a new running track in SaintGermain-en-Laye. The site used to be the home of football team PSG.
In July, our fastest male and female runners Zharnel Hughes and Dina Asher-Smith will call it home.
The “Champagne capital” of Reims, 80 miles north west of Paris, will host swimming superstars Adam Peaty, Tom Dean and Duncan Scott.
Team GB is aiming for a top-five finish in the medal table again.
In Tokyo 2020, divers Tom Daley and Matthew scooped gold in the men’s synchronised 10 metre platform.
Team GB also won the Mixed Relay Triathlon while Keeley Hodgkinson took silver in the women’s 800m.
Team GB is hoping to beat the Tokyo haul of 22 gold, 21 silver, and 22 bronze medals. That final tally of 65 matched the haul of London and was only two fewer than Rio (2016).