A fun and unexpected celebrity will carry the Olympic flame during its final leg into the 2024 Paris Games Opening Ceremony. Snoop Dogg, the iconic rap star, dropped the news on his official X account on Tuesday, July 23, just three days before the Games kick off on Friday, July 26, in Paris, France.
“U Ready?” Snoop Dogg posted on his feed. “Paris 2024 Olympics ya digggg.”
U ready? 🥇 Paris 2024 Olympics ya digggg 👊🏿🔥 pic.twitter.com/OOIo2DRZSC
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) July 23, 2024
In case fans didn’t believe the news when they heard it, Mathieu Hanotin, Mayor of the Parisian suburb Saint-Denis, confirmed the news with his own X post, saying Snoop Dogg would make his way through the streets to help bring the Olympic Torch to the Stade de France Olympic Stadium.
In addition to his prestigious place in Olympic history, Snoop Dogg will join NBC (the Games’ official U.S. broadcaster) as part of the coverage team.
“The global megastar will be on-site in Paris to provide regular reports for the Olympic Primetime Show beginning July 26, 2024, on NBC and Peacock,” NBC said in a press release shared by People.
But how did a rap star get tapped to carry the Olympic Torch? The 52-year-old music legend is no stranger to media, and he told the press at a July 24 press conference call that his experience there and with sports makes him an ideal addition to the Olympic Coverage team.
“My preparation for prime time is me being me,” he said during the conference call. “Google me. Look me up, dog. I’ve done fighting a bit. I’ve done sporting events. This is what I do… What they’re going to find out is I know the sport. I know the angle. I know the conversations. Tune in so you can be a part of it.”
Molly Solomon, Executive Producer and President of NBC Olympics Production, provided backup for Snoop Dogg during the conference call. She shared her enthusiasm and confidence in having Snoop Dogg on the NBC Olympic Coverage team.
“His general love of the Olympics and respect for the athletes has been shining bright for months, and now here in the host city, I can’t wait for you to hear about his experiences so far in Paris,” Solomon said in the call. “We know that viewers can’t wait to see his daily adventures here in Paris.”
In fact, Snoop Dogg’s exciting preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics have already been shared on social media. Team USA posted a video on its official Instagram account featuring Snoop Dogg getting fitted with some official Team USA threads and bling.
View this post on Instagram
But there’s more to Snoop Dogg than just his style. He’s showing his sports’ substance by dropping into various Olympic practice facilities to meet Team USA athletes and watch them practice. His goal? To learn more about the individuals competing for Olympic glory and the sports they play.
“It’s going to be a great experience because the way I speak it, you tend to want to pay attention to it because it’s going to be something different,” he said. “and it’s going to be a little bit more insightful because I have spent time with these athletes and some of their family members as well.”
Snoop Dogg will only be the second American to carry the Olympic Torch in 2024. According to The Athletic, the other man is Jason Bonfig, a senior executive at Best Buy. Snoop Dog is not expected light the Olympic flame inside the stadium: the person’s identity has yet to be announced.
NBC’s 2024 Paris Olympic Games coverage begins at 1:30 p.m., Friday, July 26.
Before you watch, check out our list of 26 Team USA Athletes to Watch During the 2024 Paris Olympics.
How To Help
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation (USOPF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Team USA athletes on and off the field of play. As the fundraising arm of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the USOPF generates philanthropic support to empower Team USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being.
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Marie Rossiter is a contributing editor to Better Magazine. Her editing and writing career has spanned more than 20 years, during which time she has focused on breaking news and lifestyle content. She lives with her husband in the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio, area and is a recent empty nester with two adult daughters. In her free time, she loves to crochet, listen to music, visit Walt Disney World, and read. Some of her philanthropic connections include the American Red Cross, United Way, and local arts organizations.
