The 2024 Olympic Games are scheduled to begin on Friday with men’s soccer and rugby sevens.

Before the games wrap up on Aug. 11, 32 sports will be showcased.

The tradition of the Olympic Games dates back to 776 BC in Olympia, Greece to honor Greek god Zeus. They would last around six months and included sports like wrestling, boxing, long jump, javelin, discus and chariot racing. There were also similar artistic games for music, theater, singing and poetry.

The Olympics were banned and considered a pagan festival in 393 AD by Emperor Theodosius I after the Greek Orthodox church became prevalent in Greek society.

The modern games were revived in Athens, Greece in 1896 and were first televised in 1936, making them more accessible than they had ever been.

Broadcasting the events eradicated the out-groups of people without access to watching them and introduced more fluid and diverse viewership. The last two summer games each attracted over 3 billion viewers, according to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) official reporting.

We sent our reporter Dakota Bruton out to the streets of Nashville to ask locals and visitors what Olympic events they are most looking forward to.

Tricia Bowling

Louisville

“I like the track and field and gymnastics.”

Mark Bowling

Louisville

“I like track and field and I normally watch basketball. I mainly watch the 3 on 3 women’s team. A girl made it from Louisville, Hailey Van Lith. She used to play in Louisville before she transferred to LSU, I try to keep up with it.”

Art Turner

Columbus

“No particular thing. I like the whole thing.”

Rodney Tucker

Bloomington

“I particularly like the track and field events.”

Angie Tucker

Bloomington

“I like diving.”

William Franklin

Brown County

“Gladiator fights. They should bring it back. The only Olympic game worth watching is putting the two presidential candidates in a pit with pointy sticks.”