Olympics Surfing 2024
Surfing gives fans the chance to bet on the Olympics. Bookmakers across the world spend a long time preparing for the Olympics too. The Olympics happen every four years, and although it doesn’t come close to the total betting income that is generated by the World Cup, it helps to bring new people into the fold who would otherwise not have thought about placing a bet.
Some of the top sports that generate a lot of attention at the Olympics include tennis and even football. These two sports generate more attention than any of the other games combined. With that being said, a new sport is quickly taking hold: surfing.
Olympic Surfing is Making Waves in Sports Betting
If you look at countries where surfing is very popular, such as in Australia, it’s clear to see that it has a huge market. Despite being a very recent addition to the Olympic Games, sites such as AussieBet offer a breakdown of the best betting sites to sign up with for new punters, including platforms like PlayUp which already offer odds for Olympic surfing. Free bets are often highly sought-after during the Olympics too, as they give people who might not be experienced with betting, the chance to try it out.
Even though the waves can impact the result and people might not be used to the climate of the country that’s hosting the Olympics, the odds for each competition are calculated by experts who consider all the key factors for the event. Olympians like Jack Robinson are very consistent, and the odds reflect that.
2024 Olympics Medal Winners
Less High-Profile Sports are Attracting Punters
Sports such as surfing are also going a long way when it comes to attracting less high-profile punters. Bookies tend to have dedicated followers, and sports fans who follow surfing will have a good idea who is going to perform well on the day too. Bookies use the same information that fans have access to, to determine the probability of someone winning. From past performances to the odds that are being offered on other sites, it’s clear to see that a lot goes into sports betting odds, especially at busy times, such as during the Olympics.
Bookies also tend to have their hands full too, as they don’t just have to offer the best odds for sports such as surfing, that fans often have a lot of knowledge on. They also have to compete with other bookies within the sector. With the Olympics being a worldwide event, it’s evident to see that a lot goes on behind the scenes. It’s an exciting time for the world of sports too, with athletes from around the world competing in events that only happen once every four years.
With so much hype regarding Olympic surfing right now, it’s safe to say that there are some exciting times ahead, as teams clamber to try to win that prestigious gold medal that for some, has been elusive for several years.
Quick Facts About Surfing in the Paris 2024 Olympics:
Tahiti's Selection: Tahiti's Teahupo’o was chosen for its icconic, challenging waves, making it the ideal location for Olympic surfing.
Competition Window: The surfing competition will be held from July 27 to August 5, 2024, with a four-day event window and six days of training beforehand.
Top Competitors: Notable surfers include Carissa Moore (USA), five-time World Champion, and Gabriel Medina (BRA), three-time World Champion, both aiming for gold.
Competition Format: The event begins with eight heats of three athletes. Winners progress directly, while others face elimination rounds.
Scoring System: Surfers are scored on wave difficulty, commitment, and time spent inside the barrel, with the best two waves counting towards the final score.
Surfing’s Olympic Journey: Surfing’s inclusion in the Olympics was a 27-year effort, chronicled in the documentary "The Impossible Wave."
Global Representation: 48 surfers from 21 nations will compete, with several countries making their Olympic surfing debut.
Finals Day 2024
On the final day of the 2024 Olympic surfing competition at Teahupo’o in Tahiti, the men's finals saw an intense showdown. Local Tahitian Kauli Vaast won the gold medal, defeating Australia's Jack Robinson in the final. Robinson took home the silver medal. In the bronze medal match, Brazil’s Gabriel Medina triumphed over Peru’s Alonso Correa, securing the third spot on the podium. With no defending medallists from Tokyo 2020 in the semi-finals, Paris 2024 introduced an entirely new set of Olympic surfing champions.