Every four years the Olympics are the talk of the entire summer. People religiously watch as athletes’ dreams come true, and see the amazing things that the host city puts on for the spectators and athletes. This summer was no exception, with world class athletes performing at the peak of their powers and beautiful shows and performances put on by Paris. Of course, this also means celebrities flock to the event, with media covering every move.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the media showed viewers amazing celebrities opening their arms and wallets for athletes in terms of sponsoring teams financially and spreading awareness of the hard work and dedication it takes athletes to get to the games. However, there are some downsides to celebrity coverage. News outlets that took pictures and videos of celebrities doing nothing but sitting and watching a game, taking away from the beauty of the sports being played. Some celebrities stood out in their partnership with athletes and the games as a whole, while others did not deserve the coverage given to them.
Flava Flav: Yeah, Girlllll!
“Flavor Flav of Public Enemy” by kowarski (CC BY 2.0)
Although we learn many stories of triumph and people beating the odds, we also learn things that pull at our heartstrings. This Olympics, one of the things that people were sad to hear was the U.S. women’s water polo teams’ past lack of funds. When the women really got into trouble, captain Maggie Steffens, one of the best water polo players of all time, took to Instagram to talk about their situation, which included working multiple jobs to continue training, and try to draw attention to themselves. That is when one of the top rappers in the world, Flava Flav, decided to get involved. According to USA Water Polo, he signed a five-year contract, dedicating himself to the team, becoming their hype man, and winning over the hearts of millions of Americans. In this contract, he is sponsoring the team not just emotionally, but financially; this helps out the water polo team tremendously, since now they don’t have to focus on saving up a bunch of money to travel and compete, but rather focus on training, which can hopefully lead them to more medals.
In terms of Flava Flav, he has turned into the worlds’ biggest water polo cheerleader, coming to every game the team had at the Olympics. Not only that, he also dresses up! He wears an American flag inspired water polo cap, many gold chains, as well as a jersey that has USWWP (United States Womens’ Water Polo) on it.
As if Flava Flav couldn’t get any better, he also started to financially sponsor a young women’s discus thrower by the name Veronica Fraley. Fraley, after finishing 13 in discus, just nine centimeters away from making the final of the women’s discus competition at the age of 24, was told by her school that they did not follow through with the payment on her room and board that they said they would. Fraley, who attends Vanderbilt University, was not able to go back to Nashville from Paris to talk to the school officials, so she was going to lose her lease. She went on X to complain about this, saying that the University didn’t do what they said they were going to, and instead paid for new houses and cars for their lackluster football team. According to U.S. News & World Report, not even 24 hours later, Flava Flav and his team posted that they would pay for Fraley rent, claiming that she shouldn’t be stressing about money when she had to compete for Team USA the next day. With his love of the sport and athletes, Flava Flav is a celebrity the media should cover and viewers deserve to see.
Snoop Dogg: Playing with Players
By Diplomatic Security Service from Washington, D.C. at the Paris Olympics, Public Domain (CC0)
Snoop was consistently the best sport at the Olympics, trying everything and talking to everyone. He was incredibly sweet with athletes’ families, watching the sport, while also watching their families break down in joy after seeing their person get what they had worked so hard for. The moment of him cheering for swimmer Caleb Dressel in the stands with his wife and baby was a tearful moment.
Another thing Snoop Dogg did very well at these Olympic Games was going to every sport and hyping up every athlete that he saw. He went to everything, from equestrian, to gymnastics, to water polo, to soccer, to basketball. He went, smiled, laughed, and celebrated, and focused on the athletes.
Other things that Snoop Dogg participated in include, but are not limited to, swimming with the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, Michael Phelps, commentating a badminton game, wearing an equestrian outfit with his best friend Martha Stewart, serving as the torch bearer, and last, but not least, hilariously dressing up as Tony Lisa, who he claims is Mona Lisas’ brother.
It can be assumed that the athletes were pretty nervous before they competed, which speaks to Snoop’s character. He brought happiness and fun to the events and athletes, but also respected how far they have come to get to where they are.
Hollywoodization
Although we just went into a place that felt like Candyland while we were talking about Flava Flav and Snoop Dogg, we do have to address the negative aspects of celebrities in the Olympics.
Firstly, Tom Cruise went to a women’s gymnastics event, and was shown at least 100 times. It is a double-edged sword when it comes to this topic, since it is great that Cruise came to the Olympics to support fellow Americans, but the whole Top Gun action scene in the closing ceremonies does not align with the themes of the Paris Olympics. Cruise doing this creates a whole new area for argument, which is the growth of Hollywoodization in other countries and cities around the world. The Olympics this year were in Paris, not Los Angeles, so let the Hollywood actions and additions be saved for 2028, not in this Olympics.
Another annoying celebrity moment at the Olympics was during the opening ceremony, when the cast of Wicked came on the red carpet and were talking about their upcoming movie release at the Olympics. While the movie is highly anticipated, the general public should want to be celebrating the Olympians, and leave the celebration for the amazing lead actresses during the Grammys and Ocscars.
Focus on the Athletes
Overall, the Olympics is a very positive and joyous experience for all viewers and participants. When the 2028 games roll around, do not focus on the celebrity appearances, but the athletes who put blood, sweat, and tears into their sport. Praise the celebrities like Flava Flav and Snoop Dogg who are using their fame to highlight the athletic prowess of the event, and not their roles in past or upcoming films. Our athletes deserve to be the celebrities and highlights of the events.
