Simone Biles, LeBron James and Sha’Carri Richardson may have gotten the biggest spotlights before the Olympics began, but Stephen – the pommel horse nerd who helped the U.S Men’s Gymnastics team swing a bronze medal – is likely to get a big boost after the torch is extinguished.
A glasses deal is practically a sure thing. A cameo in the next “Superman” film is a must. And a pharmaceutical ad for any number of eye ailments? Sign him up.
That’s what’s so thrilling about the Olympics. People you’ve never heard of become instant celebrities.
To make sure the “real” celebs aren’t short-changed, the Paris Games (and NBC in particular) have been giving great seats to all sorts of movie and sports stars. Every night there’s a crowd check where folks like Tom Cruise (and ex Nicole Kidman) are in the building.
More than other Olympics, the 2024 games are bent on celebrating the folks in the stands. NBC has its stable of stars serving as commentators (thank you, Colin Jost; thank you, Snoop Dogg), even though they have less to say than the experts who should be calling the sports.
The opening ceremonies had so many non-French people carrying the torch it was like someone tossed out a sign-up list at Universal studios.
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