Margaret Simmons, left, battles for second as Grace Stark took first in the 100 meter hurdle heat at the 2024 Holloway Pro Classic Friday evening, July 19, 2024 at the James G Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Fl. Florida’s own Anna Hall competed in just one jump of the long jump Friday night. She is competing in the Heptathlon in the Summer Olympics in Paris. Jasmine Moore competed in the triple jump and will be competing in Paris this summer also along with Grant. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2024
Syndication: Ocala StarBanner
(Vatican City) — Pope Francis expressed hope that the Olympic and Paralympic Games provide the opportunity for warring nations to respect an ancient Greek tradition and establish a truce for the duration of the games. Pope Francis was speaking at the recitation of the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, where he recalled that this week the Paris Olympic Games will begin, followed by the Paralympic Games. He noted that “sport also has great social power, capable of peacefully uniting people from different cultures.” The tradition of the “Olympic Truce” originally aimed to allow safe participation in the ancient Olympic Games for all athletes and spectators from Greek city-states who were constantly in conflict with each other. Pope Francis also said “[may] the athletes, with their sporting testimony, be messengers of peace and valuable models for the young.”
