Now that the Paris 2024 Olympics are underway, we’re dreaming of lighting the torch in Tampa Bay. Picture this: Snoop Dogg running along the Riverwalk, and LeBron James riding aboard Jose Gaspar’s pirate ship, carrying the stars and stripes during a typical July thunderstorm.
It got us thinking, what would the Games look like in TBAY?
Opening Ceremony
Call us the Statue of Liberty, because we’re getting this one from France.
Just like last week’s Opening Ceremony along the River Seine, we’d take this one to the Hillsborough River. We’ve seen it before — just ask the Lightning, the Bucs, and Tom Brady.
Gymnastics
We’re heading to the Tampa Convention Center. Its main ballroom can hold 2,000+ people, plus its downtown location is perfect for one of the most popular spectator sports at the Olympics.
Golf
This is a hard choice. Our litany of courses offer a vast range of historical significance, but we’re going with Rogers Park.
The course was built by Black caddies in 1952 during the segregation era. Described by Golf Digest as “one of America’s most historic golf courses,” it provided Black golfers with a space to play the game while they were prohibited from doing so elsewhere.
Athletics
Raymond James Stadium is the obvious choice here, but we’re thinking outside the box. Seeing as Los Angeles is already the confirmed host for 2028, and Brisbane, Australia, is hosting in 2032, we’re headed into the future. The USF Bulls will have completed their new stadium by the time the next hosting slot opens.
Groundbreaking on USF’s new stadium is set for fall 2024.
Photo via USF
Beach volleyball
Take your pick. We’re thinking St. Pete Beach would be a perfect option — with The Don CeSar as a stunning pink palatial backdrop.
Marathon
This is a fun one. We mapped out a route which goes past several of Tampa Bay’s most iconic landmarks. The Historic Gas Plant District would serve as the starting line, which will soon have a shiny new baseball stadium.
From there, runners will head out to the Burg’s waterfront, past The Dalí Museum and the St. Pete Pier. Bay views will accompany runners up to the Gandy Bridge — closed to vehicle traffic, of course — before crossing over to Tampa.
A hop, skip, and jump up Bayshore Boulevard, and through downtown Tampa will bring runners to the finish line outside Armature Works. The total distance? 26.2 miles.
Spectators could gather along the St. Pete Pier to watch aquatic excellence unfold.
Photo via the City of St. Petersburg
Triathlon
With ongoing issues surrounding the River Seine’s water quality at this year’s Games, we have a solution. The waters around the St. Pete Pier are perfect for a dip — just ask the ~2,400 people in the “St. Pete Pier Open Water Swim” Facebook group.
Basketball
While the likelihood of an NBA team expanding to the Tampa Bay area anytime soon seems low, an Olympics in TBAY could be our chance for the world’s best to hoop out. Amalie Arena would work for this one.
Rowing
We can envision thousands of fans lined along the Courtney Campbell Causeway to watch rowers navigate the waters of Old Tampa Bay.
Closing Ceremony
Two words: Florida. Sunset.
Is there a more fitting place to end the festivities than looking out on a kaleidoscopic sky over the Gulf of Mexico? Add in some pirate ships + a few fireworks, and the Games are complete.
For ongoing coverage of the Olympics from Paris, our friends at 10 Tampa Bay have got you covered.
