Why did Abhinav Bindra tap the wooden baton thrice before Ramita Jindal's final at the Paris Olympics 2024?
Abhinav Bindra was seen tapping a wooden baton just before the beginning of Ramita Jindal's final round in the Paris Olympics 2024 on Monday (July 29). It is a new trend in the Olympics and the tapping of wooden batons means that the event is about to begin. It is also a symbol for the audience to stop making noises ahead of the event.
According to the president of the organizing committee of the Paris Olympics 2024, Tony Estanguet, the wooden baton is called a 'brigadier’. It is a traditional practice in the French theatre and the baton is taped thrice to let the audience know that the play is about to begin and there should be silence all around. The ritual is introduced as a part of the Paris Olympics to showcase the French culture at the big event.
Not only Bindra, even Bob and Mike (the Bryan Brothers) also performed the ritual during the second round of the women’s singles tennis match between Donna Vekic and Coco Gauff. Legendary tennis player Billie Jean King also performed the ritual during the first-round doubles fixture between Rafael Nadal/Carlos Alcaraz and Andres Molteni/Maximo Gonzalez. In the upcoming days of the Olympics, the ritual is expected to be used more often and more sports personalities will be seen tapping the wooden baton.
Abhinav Bindra awarded Olympic Order
Abhinav Bindra has been in the news again for his services to the Olympics. He has been bestowed the highest award of the Olympics - the Olympic Order. it is an appreciation shown by the International Olympic Committee for its committed services towards maintaining the spirit of the Olympics.
The Olympic Order is awarded to the individuals who have showcased dedication to promoting the Olympic movement. The individuals who constantly work towards promoting the values and spirit of the Olympics get this award and the ritual has been followed since 1975.
Abhinav Bindra is known for his achievements in the Olympics. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bindra became the first individual player to win a gold medal for India in a 10-meter air rifle event, shooting a total of 700.5.
After his retirement, Bindra has constantly worked towards the welfare of athletes in India and across the globe. He has been involved with the TOP Scheme - one of India's most important policies for athletes. Bindra was also appointed to the IOC Athlete Commission in 2018 and his role was to work towards the betterment of athletes.