Issue 12: The Paris Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympics served up a sincerely odd blend of elite athleticism and sheer spectacle, with antics that will be remembered just as fondly as the feats of strength and speed. It was brash, bold, occasionally bizarre, often beautiful and somehow the most French thing the world’s ever seen even when they weren’t trying.

The Games started and ended with a bang, as French metal band Gojira belted an ear-melting rendition of Ah! Ça Ira to kickstart what was certainly the horniest opening ceremony on record, before a flying-piano and swan-diving Tom Cruise closed things off.