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Tonight, the world will watch as the Paris Olympics begin with opening ceremonies kicking off at 7:30 p.m. CET. The host country plans a unique celebration that marks 100 years since the reinvention of the modern Olympic games in Paris. This night has always been one of our favorite family traditions; we love to watch performances, the Olympic torch, and the parade of countries.
Coming so close to the July Fourth holiday this year, it feels like an extra patriotic buzz is in the air, with everyone ready to cheer on the athletes of some of our favorite sports and others we rarely get access to see.
Arkansas Athletes to watch at the Paris Olympics
The University of Arkansas sent 36 current and former Razorbacks to the Olympic trials in multiple sports, and they will continue to represent their home state over the next three weeks. Let’s cheer them on, as well as other Olympians with Arkansas connections.
This is an excellent time to connect your children with sports they love and share the back story of some of these athletes, where they came from, where they went to college, and how they represent their country and home state on a world stage.
Follow all of Team USA, stay updated and tally the results.
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- Amber Anning | Great Britain | Track & Field
- Chris Bailey | USA | Track & Field
- Romaine Beckford | Jamaica | Track & Field
- Tailyah Brooks | USA | Track & Field
- Brittany Brown | USA | Track & Field
- Janeek Brown | Jamaica | Track & Field
- Kaylyn Brown | USA | Track & Field
- Ryan Crouser | USA | Track & Field (shotput)
- Gabbi Cunningham | USA | Track & Field
- Nico Echavarria | Columbia | Golf
- Maria Fassi | Mexico | Golf
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- Rachel Glenn | USA | Track & Field
- Jeff Henderson | USA | Track & Field
- Jaydon Hibbert | Jamaica | Track & Field
- Nikki Hiltz | USA | Track & Field
- Anna Hopkin | Great Britain | Swimming
- Isabella Isaksen | USA | Track & Field
- Sanu Jallow | Gambia | Track & Field
- Jarrion Lawson | USA | Track & Field (long jump)
- Shamier Little | USA | Track & Field
- Gaby Lopez | Mexico | Golf
- Shafiqua Maloney | St. Vincent & The Grenadines | Track & Field
- Carey McLeod | Jamaica | Track & Field
- Sandi Morris | USA | Track & Field
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- Ackera Nugent | Jamaica | Track & Field
- Ayden Owens-Delerme | Puerto Rico | Track & Field
- Wayne Pinnock | Jamaica | Track & Field
- Nickisha Pryce | Jamaica | Track & Field
- Joscelyn Roberson | USA | Gymnastics
- Cindy Sember | UK | Track & Field
- Tina Sutej | Slovenia | Track & Field
- Roje Stona | Jamaica | Track & Field
- Isabella Whitaker | USA | Track & Field
- Natasha Wodak | Canada | Track and Field
- Amy Begley | USA | Track & Field COACH
- Stanley Redwine | USA | Track & Field COACH
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Did we miss someone you are cheering for?
Parisian dinner ideas to enjoy the Olympics at home
One way to celebrate and create new memories is to share meals that submerge you in the culture. While you may be willing to go all in and cook the Parisian way, many recipes we often use resemble everyday Parisian dinners. Another option is Olympics Saturdays, where you catch up on DVR events from the week or invite another family to play games and eat together.
The Olympics are a universally celebrated time and often a fun way to bring together co-workers for a potluck or provide an entertaining afternoon break for comraderies.
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- Check out a French cookbook from the library and choose a few recipes to try
- Ham and cheese croissant casserole – the croque monsieur is one of the main dishes you can order at any café around Paris. This casserole is an easy breakfast you can make the night before or serve for dinner with a side salad
- Baked ham and cheese sliders – we often eat these with leftover ham, but they are an easy recipe to make with lunch meat and Swiss cheese slices to keep them authentically Parisian. Make a sweet mustard sauce to dip them in or brush over the top in their last minutes of baking.
- Sunbraid Sandwich – Tarte au Soleil are traditional savory pastries when hosting friends, and this take from the eclipse is a blend of ham and cheese presented with sun flair fun!
- Monte Cristo sandwiches are traditionally fried, but you can make this sandwich like loaded French toast and have an easy, “fancy” dinner on the table in no time. Layer ham and cheese like Swiss, Havarti, or Gruyere on regular sandwich bread. Double layer it so there are two layers of meat and cheese and three slices of bread. Make a simple egg and milk mixture to dip in and cook in a pan like French toast. Cut crosswise diagonally and dust with powdered sugar. For a traditional experience, serve with a side of raspberry or fig jam.
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- Beef stew and baguette – while a Beef Bourguignon is more traditional, it’s summer and way too hot to stand over a stove or oven. So, beef stew with meat chunks, carrots, potatoes, and tomato flavors can cook in the crockpot while you continue your summer fun.
- Slow Cooker Coq au vin – the traditional French method, prepared in the slow cooker to avoid summer temps. Serve with a side of mashed potatoes or Arkansas rice!
- Steak and Frites – this is most people’s favorite French recipe. Cook steaks and serve with a side of french fries. Or make garlic steak bites and serve them over fries. Steak and taters, do I need to convince you anymore?!?!
- Roasted chicken – a traditional cooking method for a spatchcock chicken is best. Serve with roasted vegetables.
- Cucumber Salad – thinly slice cucumbers, red onion and radishes. Mix plain Greek yogurt, red wine vinegar and fresh mint. Stir together and let sit in the fridge for an hour before serving. Or, make this favorite Arkansas summer staple or cucumber dip.
- French salad – top mixed greens with fresh peas and asparagus, thinly sliced red onion, golden raisins and a Dijon mustard vinaigrette.
- Quiche – French cuisine often puts anything in a tart shell, covered with eggs and calls it a quiche. These mini quiches are easy to assemble for a quick dinner or breakfast.
- French onion soup or French onion chicken are easy to pull off and always have a rich flavor.
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- Chocolate croissants two ways – Take crescent rolls and spread Nutella on the pastry dough before you roil it. It’s easiest to spread from the wide end to the point. Or, get a box of frozen puff pastry and spread Nutella on one piece of pastry. Place another piece of pastry on top and cut with a pizza cutter. Use a fork to press the edges together before baking. The bears in a blanket summer treat is a fun take on it as well.
- Don’t make this too hard; you can also find many of these treats at wholesale stores or your local grocery store – macaron cookies, eclairs, turnovers, rotisserie chicken, soups, salad kits, etc.
- Olympic rings cupcakes – bake cupcakes and ice with vanilla icing. Use fruity-colored circle cereal to place the Olympic rings on top.
- Olympic torch cupcakes – cook cupcakes in ice cream cones and ice with yellow frosting. Children love the twist on a traditional cupcake liner.
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Ways to celebrate Olympic athletes
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- Watch and cheer for them – pick an athlete or a couple of athletes to follow during the game. Use their experience to discuss sportsmanship and competition with your children and co-workers.
- Use this as a time to explore Parisian culture – learn about their traditions, check out books from the library or choose a read-aloud set in Paris.
- Learn French words – see what words you can replace around your home this week with a few French phrases.
- Hold a backyard Olympics gathering and wear red, white, and blue with a Parisian snack menu! Plan a few games and French snacks. Then end with water balloon relays!
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This exciting time only occurs every four years, and many of our youngest family members have no memories of the Olympics. Let’s make new memories and cheer on our favorite Arkansas Olympic Athletes!
The cover image captures Ackera Nugent and Janeek Brown in a 100-meter race. It was taken by Adriana Kitchen and provided by the University of Arkansas Athletic Department.
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[…] we reminisce about these cultural facets of Paris and celebrate our Arkansas athletes’ achievements, why not embrace a touch of Parisian flair right here at home? Join us on an Arkansas Bakeries Tour […]