Olympics

The United States already secured a major victory ahead of the 2024 Olympics -- the International Olympic Committee just announced the Winter Games will be returning to Salt Lake City in 2034!!!

Fresh off approving the first-ever Esport Olympics, the IOC shared even more important news at its yearly get-together on Wednesday ... where it revealed future host cities of the international competition.

Salt Lake City is no stranger to hosting the Winter Olympics -- the city welcomed these same games in 2002, the last time the Olympics were held on U.S. soil.

Team Australia's 2024 Summer Olympics experience isn't off to a hot start -- BMX star Logan Martin revealed their van was broken into ... and his wallet and backpack were jacked.

The gold medalist detailed the cruel act to his half-million Instagram followers from Belgium on Wednesday ... showing the passenger side window of the team's van completely shattered, with law enforcement on scene to check things out.

"Crazy start to the trip," Martin said.

The Paris Games got a good omen ahead of their official kick-off this week ... the moon rose perfectly inside one of the Olympic rings that had been set up on the Eiffel Tower!!

Check out these stunning images from France -- as the moon crawled into the night sky ... it couldn't have taken a better path for one lucky photographer who happened to be at the iconic monument at just the right time.

Not only did the orb cross through the center ring -- it created some other amazing visuals as it danced around the Games' symbol.

Team USA's starting Olympics flag bearer lineup is set ... two days after the Americans picked LeBron James to be the male one -- they announced Coco Gauff will be the female one.

The two will hold the Stars and Stripes high and proud at the Games' opening ceremony festivities on Friday in France ... and when the tennis star learned of the honor on Wednesday, she was pumped.

After some initial shock, she told TODAY she had "no words, honestly."

Celine Dion is set to return to stage, George Clooney is getting behind Kamala Harris and Tiger Woods is showing off some gnarly scars ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

On "TMZ Live" Harvey and Charles have all the details on Celine's big return to music, now that she's set to perform at Friday's opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics.

The 2024 Paris Olympics kick off in three days, but the International Olympic Committee just invested in an entirely new field of competition -- announcing the creation of the Olympic Esports Games!

The IOC held a vote to officially create the Esports Olympics at its 142nd session on Tuesday ... with seemingly no one opposing the move.

This vote comes on the heels of the IOC and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announcing a joint partnership to host the inaugural tournament in Saudi Arabia in 2025.

Olympic athletes are provided with top-notch protection as soon as they arrive in Paris ... 'cause this year's welcome packages come decked-out with condoms for all!!

Canadian sailor Sarah Douglas -- who holds the country's best individual performance in the sport -- shared her discovery in a TikTok video showing off her Olympic Village room.

Douglas went through a goodie bag that was already waiting for her on her bed ... and it's filled with cool stuff -- including a cell phone, water bottles and a toiletry bag.

Celine Dion will perform Friday at the opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, and organizers have opened the vault for her ... TMZ has learned.

The icon touched down in Paris Monday, and sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ, she is getting ready to take the stage Friday.

Our sources say she will be paid handsomely ... $2 million!!! By the way, that's for just ONE song!

Snoop Dogg is blazing up in a brand new way ... getting picked to carry the Olympic torch ahead of the opening ceremony at the 2024 Paris Games!!

The legendary rapper will be one of the last torchbearers to participate in the traditional relay before it reaches its final landing spot at the Eiffel Tower on Friday.

Snoop will carry the flame through Saint-Denis, the town's mayor said on social media ... and he'll be alongside French rapper MC Solaar and actress Laetitia Casta, according to reports.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray just announced he's calling it a career after the 2024 Paris Olympics ... saying he's officially retiring from tennis tournaments following the Games.

Murray -- who will be repping Great Britain in a few days -- shared the news on social media on Tuesday ... setting the expiration date on his 19-year career.

Murray was most recently forced to withdraw from the singles competition at Wimbledon after his recovery from a spinal cyst procedure took longer than anticipated. He did participate in a doubles match with his brother, Jamie Murray, but the duo was eliminated in the first round.

The Olympic gold medal that Clyde Drexler won as a part of the famed 1992 "Dream Team" can now be all yours ... and while you don't have to be a baller like The Glide to get your hands on it -- ya better have some deep pockets!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the piece of basketball history just hit the block at Goldin Auctions on Monday -- and with a starting bid of $250,000, it's expected to fetch a small fortune when the final gavel comes down.

Unclear why Drexler parted ways with the piece -- but he did fill out a letter of authenticity back in April proclaiming he had no intentions of fighting to get the prize back at any point in the future. He also stated in the LOA that he'll never seek a reproduction of it through the U.S. Olympic Committee.

The medal is now being sold by a consigner.

Simone Biles didn't let the time difference stop her from wishing her husband a happy birthday ... dedicating a mushy social media post to NFL player Jonathan Owens amid preparations for the Paris Olympics.

"Happy happy birthday to my husband, best friend, confidant and party goer ❤️," the 27-year-old gymnast said on Instagram minutes ago.

"Thanks for being the calm to my storm! I love you with all my heart and I can’t wait to see what this year brings! Let’s do it big baby💋😘✨"

Kamala Harris is now the Democratic front-runner to face Donald Trump -- but in her first public remarks since President Biden bowed out ... she kept the focus on young people.

The Vice President addressed the media Monday -- which was already penciled in as part of a college athletes event at the White House -- and while she's already acknowledged she's honored to have JB's backing after he dropped out ... she elaborated just a bit further here.

Kamala -- speaking from the south lawn -- didn't really offer up her formal pitch to the American people on why she's the right one to make a run for the White House ... but she did shout out the Prez for doing the right thing and exiting the race.

Athletes will be capable of doing all the banging they please at the Paris Olympics ... 'cause some star competitors just proved their cardboard beds can handle a ton of force -- and they don't fall apart!!

Tom Daley -- the youngest European diving champion -- and Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan got into their Olympic Village rooms over the weekend ... and were quick to test out the myth about their sleeping arrangements being not-so-sex friendly.

Daley showed how the cardboard bed frame is set up with a mattress and Paris Olympics-themed blanket ... and to prove all the "anti-sex" rumors to be bogus, the 30-year-old gold medalist stood up on it and pounded away with his feet before assuming several positions.

LeBron James can add yet another accomplishment to his extensive résumé -- the Lakers superstar was just revealed as a flag bearer for the 2024 Paris Olympics ... becoming the first Team USA men's basketball player to receive the honor.

King James -- who was nominated by Stephen Curry and the rest of the national team -- got word of the selection on Monday ... and he said it's something he isn't taking lightly.

"It's special in the fact that you get an opportunity to represent your country in another fashion," Bron said.

Bella Hadid's readying for legal battle with Adidas ... with sources telling us she's hired legal counsel to take on the athleticwear giant.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Bella's retained lawyers to take action against Adidas for their lack of public accountability -- basically, saying she feels they spearheaded a cruel and damaging campaign.

Our sources say she's upset the company would put out a campaign that would associate anyone with a tragedy like the Munich Massacre at the 1972 Olympics ... with violence running in contrast to BH's own views.