PARIS (AP) — The Olympics have their own language, traditions and rules — ever-evolving ones. It can be a lot to grasp, so here, The Associated Press will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the Paris Games.

I thought it was the Paris Olympics. Why aren’t there so many events in… Paris?

Most events take place in or around Paris, but select competitions are scattered across France—or Tahiti. It’s not uncommon for host cities to look to venues outside municipal boundaries. There are a few reasons for this: space, adequate facilities for each discipline, a commitment to sustainability that has meant building just two new venues in Paris, and, in Tahiti’s case, the best place to get waves of patients with minimal impact.

What do the athletes get in the box along with their medals?

Gold, silver and bronze medal winners can save themselves the trouble of a trip to the gift shop. When the winners step onto the podium, they are presented with a long, thin packet containing the official Paris Olympics poster. They also receive a specially stuffed Olympic Phrygian to go with their corresponding medal.

So WHAT IS the Paris 2024 mascot?

This is the Olympic Phrygian, a triangular red giant that has puzzled some. It was designed to commemorate the Phrygian cap, a hat that was the symbol of the French Revolution. The Paralympic mascot is much the same, but with a prosthetic leg.

Why isn’t Russia in the Olympics?

The Russians were on thin ice at the Olympics even before the invasion of Ukraine. During the doping investigations, Russian athletes competed on the Russian Olympic Athletes team in Pyeongyang and as the Russian Olympic Committee in Tokyo and Beijing. After the invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee suspended the ROC for creating sports councils in eastern Ukraine – a violation of the Olympic Charter.

So who are the AINs?

Russia is not at the Olympics, but there are some Russian athletes. After Belarus and Russia were banned due to the war in Ukraine, the IOC allowed some athletes from those countries to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes, abbreviated as AIN, based on the French term. The winning AINs will not hear their country’s anthem or wear their colors. They are also not allowed to attend the opening ceremony.

Why are people so obsessed with pins?

Pins are currency, pins are memories, pins are life. Many countries, news organizations, brands, and even people have personalized pins — collar-sized but often worn down neckties, hats, jackets, etc. Pins are traded, used for swag, or simply enjoyed by fans, journalists, volunteers, and athletes.

When it comes to branding, what do the Olympic rings represent?

According to Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, the five interlocking rings “represent the five parts of the world now won to the cause of Olympism.” However, the colors of the rings do not correspond to any specific world region or continent.

What does ‘Repechage’ mean?

It means a second chance, but this is the first time Olympic track and field athletes will use it. Athletes competing in races from 200 meters to 1,500 meters and in hurdles can compete in a repechage round to qualify for the semifinals. Some other Olympic sports already use it.

What are the new Olympic events?

A number of events have been adjusted, but an entirely new sport has emerged: Breaking. There is also a new event under canoe slalom, cross-country skiing.

Wait, what’s the difference between a sport and an event?

Well, there are sports and then there are disciplines and then there are… events. There are 32 sports in this Olympics and there are 45 disciplines across them. Marathon swimming and springboard diving are very different disciplines but they both fall under the World Aquatics umbrella. And then across the 45 disciplines, there are 329 events that athletes can compete in.

Speaking of swimming: Why do people swim in the Seine River?

Sure, the swim portion of a triathlon is only 1.5 kilometers—the same distance Katie Ledecky swam to win her 12th Olympic medal. But can you imagine 50-plus people swimming 30 laps in a pool at the same time? Both triathlon and marathon swimming don’t use heats—all competitors start their swims at the same time, in open water. In this case, the body of water chosen was Paris’s famous—and at times infamous—Seine River. The location also helped triathletes transition relatively smoothly into the cycling leg of the race.

Why is the track purple in athletics competitions?

The track at the Stade de France, where the athletics events are held, is purple, a distinct departure from the typical rusty red. The Paris Games organizers wanted to stand out in more ways than one. According to Olympics.com, Paris 2024 organizers ordered a track in a unique color so viewers would remember it. They also worked with Olympic Broadcasting Services, who determined that the track color would help stand out the competitors.

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For more information on the Paris Olympics, visit https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games.

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