One of Team GB’s biggest stars at the Paris Olympics, Charlotte Dujardin, has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics for allegedly mistreating a horse.

The 39-year-old dressage star is said to be devastated after the footage, which happened four years ago, was reported to the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).

Senior figures at British Equestrian are also said to be in shock at the news. Multiple sources have confirmed it is an animal welfare issue, with a Dutch website said to have gone to the sport’s governing body in recent days.

Dujardin, who is a three-time Olympic gold dressage medallist, has admitted to making “an error of judgment” during a coaching session. She has decided to pull out of all competition while the FEI investigates the incident.

Full story:

And that’s just about us done for the day. Do join us again bright and early tomorrow as the Olympic action gets under way in men’s football and rugby sevens, and stay on site for more news and reaction from today’s events.

It’s not all carefree festivities. The security strategy is such that central Paris is experiencing a militarisation not seen since the second world war, as Angelique Chrisafis and Daniel Boffey report:

There are 44,000 metal barriers on the streets of the French capital, channelling people in exasperating cul-de-sacs. Access to the banks of the Seine, where about 326,000 spectators will witness athletes being carried down the river on about 80 boats on Friday evening, has been closed off to those without a QR code proving residence or some other right to be there.

The activist group, Saccage 2024, which is opposed to the games on environmental grounds, described Paris 2024 as the first ever “QR code Olympic Games” and one which could set a worrying precedent for future major events. “As many parts of the city are blocked for the Games and especially for their opening ceremony, many people and local businesses lose their most basic rights, like walking on public roads,” they said.

Let’s look ahead to tomorrow because, having feasted on explainers and day by day guides for the past few days, actual Olympic sport is happening. Highlights include the start of the men’s football tournament with a tasty looking encounter between Argentina and Morocco, and Spain taking on Uzbekistan.

France, Antoine Dupont and all, open their men’s rugby sevens campaign against the USA before facing Uruguay in the evening while Australia are in action against Samoa then Kenya.

Thanks Luke. Evening/afternoon everyone. I think it’s fair to say few people would have had Charlotte Dujardin down on their Olympic controversy bingo card, but here we are. And here’s a precis of her decorated career:

Charlotte Dujardin was the golden girl of British equestrian who went from sporting unknown to Olympic champion in barely a year. But six medals and three Olympics into her remarkable journey, Dujardin’s world has fallen apart.

The 39-year-old’s withdrawal from the Paris Olympics has come barely a week before she was due to compete after a video emerged from four years ago showing her making what she described as “an error of judgment” during a coaching session.

That’s all from me: Tom Davies is now stepping into the breach.

A human rights law firm has accused the International Olympic Committee of negligence after releasing a dossier of 17 Russian and Belarusian athletes due to compete at Paris, who it said had shown support for the war in Ukraine in breach of Olympic rules.

Global Rights Compliance, based in London and Kyiv, said the athletes had either liked social media posts supporting the invasion of Ukraine, competed in pro-war competitions or were members of military-linked sports clubs.

Those clever photographers are out in force across France, as pre-Games excitement continues to build:

Among today’s must-read pieces is Alexandra Topping’s excellent Olympics explainer: all you need to know about Paris 2024, but were afraid to ask …

Via Charlotte Dujardin’s official website, here is some background information on the rider who has won six Olympic medals: three Golds, one Silver, one Bronze.

“Born in Enfield, Charlotte was brought up in Hertfordshire and started riding as a two-year old. By 16 years old, Charlotte, with the devoted backing and support of her family, had won the Horse of the Year Show competition four times and was a winner at Hickstead on three occasions. After further encouragement from her trainer, Debbie Thomas, Charlotte took up dressage with a horse bought from her grandmother’s inheritance.

“In February 2007, she had some lessons with Carl Hester, and after 10 days at his yard covering for a staff member who was on holiday, he offered her a job as a groom at his yard in Newent, Gloucestershire, where she has since remained.

“From the start, Charlotte was asked to bring on the novice Dutch Warmblood gelding Valegro, owned by Carl and Roly Luard, with the intention of that horse being ridden by Carl. However, after competing in their first dressage Grand Prix event in 2011, the combination became part of the successful team, who won gold in a European Dressage Championships competition at Rotterdam and thus began their meteoric rise.”

“Charlotte has also never been far away from the Honours list and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours both for services to equestrianism. She was also voted the Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year in 2014 and BT Sport’s Action Woman of the Year 2014; the first dressage rider to win these titles.”

Via PA Media, extra information here on the breaking Dujardin news:

Speaking recently, Dujardin said she was “not even thinking” about eclipsing Laura Kenny’s medals record, saying: “For me, it’s all about going there and having fun and enjoying it, because otherwise I think it can very easily be taken away, all of the fun, with the pressure and expectations that everyone tells you should be feeling.”

Olympic and equestrian authorities have taken an increasingly strict line against alleged improprieties relating to the treatment of animals in recent years.

During the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021 - at which Dujardin won a bronze medal - a German modern pentathlon coach was thrown out for punching a horse.

The incident initiated a major overhaul of the sport, resulting in the equestrian element being removed completely, and replaced by an obstacle course for the first time in Paris.

It sounds like something from the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: the curious case of the royal family, the Italian confectioner and one of the most dramatic moments in Olympic history. A mystery that has finally been solved, thanks to a retired civil servant and King Charles.

The video Dujardin refers to has not, as far as I can see, appeared on social media. Presumably it has been supplied to the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, as mentioned in Dujardin’s statement, but has not been leaked or shared beyond that. The forthcoming investigation will no doubt shed light on what Dujardin is alleged to have done.

In 2021 in Tokyo, Dujardin became Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian by clinching bronze in the individual dressage. She was soon overtaken by the cyclist Laura Kenny later in the Games, however:

The Guardian’s Sean Ingle, meanwhile, spoke to Dujardin back in 2014:

“‘I have to tell you two that there is no other girl that rides like this young lady.’ I was like: ‘Oh my god the Queen has just said that!’”

Dujardin also spoke to the Guardian in 2018:

Three years ago in Tokyo, the Australian swim team had their most successful Olympics. Nine gold, three silver and eight bronze medals in the pool, plus a bronze in the open water swimming, delivered the Dolphins a haul that surpassed the prior record that had stood since the 1956 Games in Melbourne.

The triumph in Tokyo left Australia second in the swimming medal tally, behind only perennial rivals the United States. At last year’s world championships, the team went one better, topping the table with a remarkable 13 golds.

All of which means the Australian squad arrive in Paris this week with the weight of expectations on their shoulders. If the Australian Olympic team are going to better their best overall Games record (17 gold medals, in Athens and Tokyo), it will be built off the back of strong performances in the pool.

Seriously big breaking news about Charlotte Dujardin. She had a chance to surpass Laura Kenny as Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian at what would have been her fourth Games.

The snappers have been busy at Roland Garros. Here’s Heather Watson, Jack Draper, Katie Boulter and Andy Murray in training for the tennis competition.

Last but not least, here is IOC member Princess Anne, looking suitably thrilled to be attending the 142nd IOC session before the Paris Games.

Carlos Alcaraz, who hopefully had a well-earned rest after thrashing Novak Djokovic in the men’s final at Wimbledon nine days ago, has been having a hit at Roland Garros … where he won the French Open men’s singles title a last month, too.

In the late hours of the final Friday before the Olympic Games begin in Paris, a young waiter named Anatole closed up his brasserie for the night in the shadow of the Sainte‑Chapelle by the Seine. Under regular circumstances, the area would be flooded with tourists and potential customers crossing over the river to catch a glimpse of the famed Cathédrale Notre-Dame, but this time the brasserie and the surrounding area were completely empty. In the rare absence of humans, dozens of rats roamed the streets all night.

All eyes are on Paris this week for the start of the 2024 Olympics, and the 460 Australians selected to represent their country on sport’s greatest stage. The athletes’ excitement, radiating from behind a microphone on the evening news or on playful social media reels, is intoxicating.

But many will find it hard to watch. There may be hundreds going, but there are hundreds more who feel they could – or should – be there. Instead, this group of “almost Olympians” are left waiting in the queue outside Australian sport’s most exclusive club, whose doors have long since closed.

At Tokyo 2020 there was dismay among UK Olympics lovers when the BBC provided a much more restricted offering than in London 2012 and Rio 2016 after the rights to the Olympics were sold to a US pay-TV company. These days, Warner Bros Discovery holds the main Olympics rights in the UK, with the BBC sub-licencing from the broadcaster.

At Paris 2024 the howls may be even louder because of the friendlier timezone, and people’s desire to watch their preferred events as they unfold throughout the day. So how can you get your Olympics fix, and why can’t you watch all of the action?

Argentina v Morocco, at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne, will be one of the curtain-raisers in the men’s football at 14.00 tomorrow. The two nations have never previously met at an Olympic Games, according to our preview.

Julian Álvarez of Manchester City is the only Premier League-based player in Argentina’s squad. The reigning Fifa world champions also have the former City defender Nicolas Otamendi (now of Benfica) in their ranks.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi, meanwhile, captains Morocco.

Oh, Spain v Uzbekistan also kicks off at 14.00 tomorrow, to see who wins that. The Spanish squad is a bit light on genuine star quality but that is only to be expected. Alex Baena, of Villarreal, will perhaps be the most notable name on show at Parc des Princes.

“Dearest Andy,” emails Jane of the soon-to-retire Murray.

“You are the epitome of hope, pride, loyalty, guts, bravery, resilience, love - the list goes on. From thousands of miles away, there is a voice that sings praise and admiration for you. You are a legend, always and forever.”

A few things you may wish to bookmark in preparation: the full schedule of Olympic events, starting with football and rugby sevens tomorrow afternoon. Plus our very own results page and medal table.

Meanwhile, in shameless self-promotion, last week’s The Spin was about Great Britain winning Olympic Gold in Paris in 1900. Cricket will be back at the Olympics in LA in 2028:

It was all pretty village, in truth: the British team was a cobbled-together touring side otherwise known as the Devon & Somerset Wanderers … and many of those participating in sporting events at the 1900 Paris Exposition were unaware they had taken part in Olympic events. It wasn’t until 1912 that the event was upgraded to Olympic status. It’s a good tale.

Would anyone like to email me with an ode to Andy Murray? Please crack on.

Formula One’s Oscar Piastri went for one word:

We mentioned the incredibly talented France scrum-half, Antoine Dupont, earlier today. Dupont hopes to lead the hosts to glory in the rugby sevens in the coming days. Here is a story from Reuters on what Alan Gilpin, World Rugby CEO, says is sevens’ “coming of age moment”:

Rugby sevens is hoping to seize the spotlight in Paris after making its Olympic debut in Rio in 2016 and having its sophomore showing at the Tokyo Games, World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said on Tuesday.

The Olympic rugby sevens competition will take place at the Stade de France, venue of last year’s men’s Rugby World Cup final and France’s largest stadium.

“This is the coming of age moment really for Sevens and we’ve always known the Olympic platform can be incredible,” Gilpin said. “We know that sevens is a form of the game that excites new audiences, it’s easier to understand, it brings people into the game and this next week is going to shine a light on it that we’ve never had before.

“It’s a huge opportunity for us … We’ve seen it in previous Games. In places where rugby is not watched traditionally, we’ll get some great audiences and we’ve got to work hard then as a sport to keep those people excited.”

The sevens is among a handful of events beginning on July 24, before Friday’s opening ceremony, and IOC associate director, David Luckes, urged the sport to make the most of its early start.

“Tomorrow is the most important day, because competition begins,” Luckes said. “It’s a very, very important moment, for the organising committee to switch from the planning mode to the delivery mode. That’s where we create the excitement and the buzz for the spectators.”

France’s Antoine Dupont has been in the headlines ahead of the Games, displaying versatility by moving between the 15-a-side game and sevens in recent months. The scrum-half helped his club Toulouse win the Champions Cup final in May, then drove France to victory in the season-ending grand final in sevens a week later.

The former France wing, Vincent Clerc, said the game owed much to his compatriot: “Sevens rugby will take advantage of Antoine’s image,” Clerc said. “He has a desire to promote sevens rugby and to show that an Olympic medal in rugby is as important as a World Cup or a European Cup. Antoine carries this message well.”

Thanks Michael and hello everyone.

Luke McLaughlin will take over the blog now. Enjoy the rest of your day.

Kanak Jha is no stranger to the Olympics, having represented the United States in table tennis at both the Rio and Tokyo Games, but the path to Paris has been his most challenging.

The 24-year-old, the only male table tennis player representing the U.S. in Paris, was banned for a year by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) and used a GoFundMe campaign to help support his journey to the Paris Games.

Jha did not play until March after Usada banned him last year for accumulating three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period, but with the ban now behind him, he wants to focus on winning a medal and promoting table tennis in the U.S.

“I was out of the sport for 16 months, which was tough in a few ways. I’m a professional table tennis player, so financially being one of them,” Jha, who helped the US win team gold at the 2019 Pan Am Games, told a press conference on Tuesday.

His GoFundMe campaign has raised over $12,000, well short of his fundraising goal of $100,000 but still crucial financially in helping him get to Paris.

“Everything given from the GoFundMe was used to prepare as best as I can for the Paris Games,” he added. “And now hopefully I can represent all those who helped me out to the best of my ability here in Paris, and make history for us and win a medal.”

Jha mostly trains in Germany, where professional table tennis leagues are more established than back home. He hopes to raise awareness of the sport in the U.S. with his performances in Paris.

“The sport isn’t that mainstream in the States,” he said. “So I hope in the Olympic Games, and also other events, I can continue to influence some kids. Hopefully some kids watch the games here are inspired by it to pick up a racket.” Reuters

The latest in our Midas Touch series: how to snatch like weightlifter Emily Campbell.

Three key takeaways

• Work on your flexibility and strength by practising other lifts.

• Prioritise technique over a heavy load. “You need a good stance, good body positioning and good technique,” says Sawyer. “There is no point trying to lift heavy weights if you haven’t got the technical side first.”

• Don’t underestimate the power of your mind. As well as having a terrifically strong body, the best weightlifters have formidable strength of character. “You have to have a positive mental attitude,” says Sawyer. “Because at the end of the day, your coach can prepare you, but when you get out there with the barbell – you’re on your own.”

An email from Clive Rodgers, responding to my request yesterday of what would be the most British-scented scratch-and-sniff stamp.

While working within central government in the 90s I once commissioned scratch and sniff posters for use overseas on behalf of the FCO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]. They included cups of tea, English Roses, tarred rope and fish and chips!

Tarred rope?!

For context, the French post office have launched a baguette-fragranced scratch-and-sniff stamp.

Dave Haggerty, International Tennis Federation chief, on Murray’s announcement:

Sir Andy has lived and breathed the values of tennis throughout his long career, championing equality and helping to send the message that our sport is for everyone. We will of course remember his two Olympic golds; his grand slam wins and his never-say-die attitude on the court. We will also remember his Davis Cup victory with Great Britain in 2015, helping his team to the title for the first time since 1936.

While this wonderful chapter of his career is now drawing to a close, we know that Sir Andy’s love of tennis will see him continue to be involved in helping to grow and develop our sport globally.

Are you familiar with Pass notes, the Guardian’s daily irreverent explainer on all subjects, weird and wonderful?

Then you might enjoy this, by Alexandra Topping.

Regarding Murray’s announcement, Elsie Grover-Jones has been in touch:

Murray truly is a national treasure – not only did he become Britain’s first men’s Wimbledon champion in 77 years in 2013, but has become a figurehead for British tennis and an inspiration to many. Tim Henman said ahead of this year’s Wimbledon: “Andy has been an absolutely phenomenal role model in British tennis and raised the bar”.

Interesting that Emma Raducanu highlighted his Olympic triumph as his career highlight earlier this month: “The biggest stand-out for me was when he lost in the final here of Wimbledon then came back a month later and won the Olympics”.

After unfortunate injury struggles, Murray will look to add another Olympic medal to his collection in Paris. Regardless, he will be remembered as one of the best British tennis players.

The Olympic Games is regarded as the pinnacle of sport in so many fields, but it’s safe to say that for a few events, there are competitions elsewhere which take precedence. That is obviously the case in men’s football, where the Olympics plays second fiddle to other international tournaments, but also the case in golf, tennis, and cycling.

Tadej Pogacar, fresh from his Giro d’Italia and Tour de France double, has announced he will not be competing in Paris, due to fatigue. A real shame, because the winner of the Olympic male road race will always have an asterisk over his gold medal.

It would be interesting to see where Andy Murray ranks his two Olympic gold medals alongside his three grand slam titles. Surely his two Wimbledon triumphs are top of the pile, although it is worth remembering that his 2012 victory took place in SW19, and it is not insignificant that Murray has chosen the Olympics as the final tournament of his career. I wonder if it would have been the case if Murray was able to compete at Wimbledon a few weeks back.

A useful explainer for our readers in the UK …

… and for those in Australia …

… while our full Olympic schedule is here, with previews, standings and filters on medals and sports. Definitely one to bookmark for the next few weeks.

While we’re on the rowing, you may have missed this excellent interview last week with Georgie Brayshaw.

Team GB had a bit of a shocker in the rowing last time out at Tokyo, we failed to claim a rowing gold for the first time since 1980, winning just one silver and one bronze to finish 14th on the rowing table in a sport we have previously dominated.

Sir Steve Redgrave has brighter hopes for Team GB in Paris.

“I think we’ll be the top rowing nation in Paris”, said the five-time Olympic rowing champion. “At the World Championships last year we got six gold medals and finished second on the medal table to the Netherlands (who also had six golds but more medals overall).

“We’re quite a predictable sport as the tradition is that 80 per cent of world champions go on to become Olympic champions. I expect that to be a bit less in Paris, but we’ve got to knock the Netherlands off their perch’

Explaining the Tokyo 2020 disappointment, Redgrave added: “Losing Jurgen Grobler, who had been men’s chief coach for a long period of time, and Paul Thompson, the best women’s coach, before the Tokyo Games was huge. As an administration we got ourselves a little bit lost. We got so caught up with the politics of change and bringing that change in, which did need to happen”.

Team GB are sending a 42-strong rowing squad to Paris 2024 with medal prospects littered throughout both male and female categories. Mum of three Helen Glover will grab most of the headlines in her pursuit of a third Olympic title after winning women’s pair gold with Heather Stanning in 2012 and 2016.

Enjoyed this on France’s 7ft4in basketball superstar.

Esteemed! Ha. Thanks Luke. Hello all. We are just one day away from the first events starting (men’s football and rugby sevens) before the opening ceremony on Friday. But Andy Murray’s announcement is the big news this morning. Let’s remind ourselves of his match point against Juan Martín del Potro to clinch the gold medal in 2016, to defend his 2012 triumph in London.

I’ll be back later for more – now handing over to my esteemed colleague Michael Butler for the next bit.

The spectacle of the Olympic Games opening ceremony could be overshadowed by the human drama in the White House after it was confirmed that Jill Biden will attend the event on the Seine.

It will be a first appearance on the world stage for the president’s wife since her husband withdrew from his re-election campaign over concerns about his deteriorating health.

Attention was focused on the inspirational Antoine Dupont at last year’s Rugby World Cup, when the hosts were knocked out by South Africa in the last eight.

The seemingly supernaturally talented France scrum-half missed this year’s Six Nations to focus on preparing for the Olympic rugby sevens. Can he lead his nation to glory this summer?

Here is Raphaël Jucobin:

“Paris has waited a century for the Olympic Games to return; it may take that long for rugby to witness another player like Antoine Dupont too.

“France’s chief orchestrator has it all: vision, pin-point ambidextrous kicking, speed of execution, evasive runs and a destructive physique, all of which have helped him dictate matches at will for club and country.”

In terms of an absolutely vintage Murray five-set tussle, this was a memorable live blog to write – a match that summed up Murray’s relentless fight, sense of theatre and remarkable skill:

Here’s a gallery of Murray’s two decades-plus competing at Wimbledon:

I can’t remember which year it was now, maybe 2004 when he was in the boys’ singles, but a friend suggested we watch the young British player (who neither of us had ever heard of) on a back court. As it turned out he had a pretty decent career …

It was all the way back in 2019, at the Australian Open, that someone got the wrong end of the stick in a spectacular way, and produced a video in which Murray’s fellow professionals retired him. He was experiencing injury issues at the time, but still, had no intention of walking away from the sport. Awkward.

I’ll probably need another coffee before attempting to write something meaningful about Andy Murray – the impact he’s had on the sport, the way he’s conducted himself, and the entertainment he’s given us all. He’s been magnificent, hasn’t he?

Please send me an email with your thoughts on Murray’s career. (Which, of course, isn’t over quite yet.)