Like my imaginary big sister Amy Poehler, I love a good sports cry.

I cried when the Newcastle Knights won their premierships; when the Matildas won the quarter-final

shootout at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, and many times in between.

But, there’s no greater emotional rollercoaster than quadrennial global sporting fiesta that is the Olympic Games.

Exhibit A: Scrolling back through my Facebook feed to the Tokyo Olympics, I’d posted ‘Now I can cross “cried about steeplechase” off my 2021 bingo card’.

The Australian athlete Genevieve Gregson had torn her Achilles in the 3000m steeplechase.

And, it was her birthday!

So, you can only imagine how I felt discovering Gregson returned to the Olympics this year – in the MARATHON. Now I’m crying again.

I know I’m not the only person who feels like this.

As British historian Thomas Dixon wrote in 2016, “watching sport often goes hand-in-hand with a good cry”.

Dixon, who has also published a book about the history of weeping (which I’ve immediately added to my must-read list), compares the spectacle of modern sport to that of sermons or stage tragedies that moved our ancestors to tears.

So, set your alarms, grab some snacks, a warm blanket and a box of tissues – the Paris 2024 Olympics are here.

And, if you feel like getting out and about after a couple of weeks on the couch, here are a few events to add to your calendar:

• Kurri Curry & Arts Festival, Col Brown Rotary Park, 17 and 18 August. It’s being touted as a “culinary and creative extravaganza”, with art workshops, entertainment and of course – curry
• Our Bushland Festival, 6-8 September. Now in its third year, the Our Bushland Festival will run over three days, kicking off with a movie night at Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre on the Friday, followed by a spotlighting event on the Saturday and culminating in the festival at the beautiful Poppethead Park, Kitchener, on the Sunday, with bush walks, animal displays, markets, music and more
• Cessnock Women Connect’s women’s health and wellbeing expo, which has been rescheduled to Sunday 8 September. There will be a great variety of stalls, presentations and demonstrations from local health and wellbeing providers – the perfect way to launch your spring health kick

For more lifestyle stories:

• Matt and Brett: Plan for when things go wrong
• Peter Sleap awakens a need to help others
• Parking fine notices no longer a gift under your windscreen wiper

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