PARIS (AP) — Athletes made some of their final preparations for the Paris Olympics on Thursday, the eve of the official start of the Games. Soccer and rugby action continued, while archery and handball competitions got underway.
Simone Biles and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team practiced their routines ahead of qualifying this weekend. They will look to reclaim gold with Russia ineligible to take part in team sports.
Reigning women’s soccer champion Canada beat New Zealand in the wake of a drone scandal that made headlines earlier in the week. The U.S. men won their rugby sevens opener, while Denmark, Brazil, South Korea and the Netherlands were victorious in handball.
A stand-in boxer waits to walk into the arena during rehearsals ahead of the boxing event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher) 
Gabriel Medina, of Brazil, performs an aerial move as he surfs during a training day ahead the 2024 Summer Olympics surfing competition Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Teahupo’o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) 
Ana Gros, of Slovenia, left, controls the ball against Denmark during their preliminary handball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga) 
Viktoria Wolffhardt, of Austria, practices ahead of the women’s C1 competition of the canoe slalom at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) 
Players take part in a table tennis training session at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/ Petros Giannakouris) 
A view of the volleyball court at the South Paris Arena is pictured during a training session of Turkey’s team at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) 
Turkey’s Cansu Ozbay controls the ball during a volleyball training session, at South Paris Arena, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) 
A member of the Peru Team carries a boat ahead of the rowing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) 
China’s Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan take part in a diving training session, at the Olympic Aquatics Centre ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) 
Samoa’s Vaa Apelu Maliko retains the ball despite the efforts of Kenya’s Vincent Onyala, left and Kenya’s Nygel Pettersan Amaitsa, during the men’s Rugby Sevens Pool B match between Samoa and Kenya at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) 
South Africa’s Boipelo Awuah gets acquainted with the street skateboarding course during a women’s practice session ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) 
Suni Lee of the United States practices during a gymnastics training session at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) 
Germany’s Svenja Mueller warms up before a beach volleyball practice in Eiffel Tower Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) 
Britain’s Grace Reid takes part in a diving training session, at the Olympic Aquatics Centre ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) 
Japan’s Aoba Fujino, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the women’s Group C match between Spain and Japan, at La Beaujoire Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Nantes, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) 
Taylor Fritz of the United States returns a shot during a practice session ahead of the tennis competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) 
Australia’s Jim Colley and Shaun Connor sail during a men’s 49er practice race at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) 
Germany players sing the German national anthem before the start of the women’s Group B soccer match between Germany and Australia at the Velodrome stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Shooting events are the only ones happening on Friday, with most of the city occupied with the opening ceremony taking place on the Seine River.