The Law Offices of Robert B. Buchanan - July 2024

Paris 2024: Not Your Grandfather’s Olympics Game Changing From the country that gave us Napoleon, escargot, and high-fashion runways, this news should come as no surprise: The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will break the mold. Organizers have missed no opportunity to put a distinctly French stamp on this international event, as TikTok personality one37pm pointed out in a video. Venues, ceremonies, medals, and mascots are all intended to highlight France’s unique architecture and history. The setting for the opening ceremonies will be the picturesque heart of Paris. The parade of athletes will be held on the River Seine, with each national delegation riding in boats fitted with cameras to project the athletes’ images on public screens. It may be hard for Paris to out-do opening ceremonies of the past, such as the four-hour extravaganza at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing or London’s 2012 Olympic opener featuring a Queen Elizabeth body double parachuting into Olympic Stadium from a helicopter. Nevertheless, in a significant first, admission for the

hundreds of thousands of expected spectators will be free, a gesture also likely to be remembered. Open-water swimming events will also be held in the Seine — a plan that alarmed fans who recall that the river flooded with untreated sewage as recently as last year after heavy rains overwhelmed the city’s old sewers. French officials say the city has dug a giant reservoir nearby to collect excess rainwater and prevent a recurrence. The Eiffel Tower will be a looming presence over a temporary arena built for beach volleyball and other events. The layout ensures that the nearly 1 billion expected TV viewers will get an eyeful of the iconic 135-year-old iron spire. The Eiffel Tower plays another pivotal role. Iron taken from its girders during renovations in the past century has been forged into the center of each Olympic medal in the shape of a hexagon (mimicking the rough outline of France on a map). While most Olympic mascots have been cuddly animal figures, France’s quirky mascots, the Phryges (pronounced fri-jee-uhs), are red, white, and blue cartoon characters modeled after a conical hat worn as a symbol of liberty during the French Revolution. It’s a brief reminder, lest viewers forget, that among all of its other distinctions, France is also one of the birthplaces of modern democracy.

Why Marriages End

The Most Common Causes of Divorce in Illinois

Just as no two marriages are alike, no two divorces are exactly alike, either. People get divorced for a variety of reasons. Either partner could commit serious grievances or offenses against the other, or they could have slowly drifted apart. Here are some of the most common reasons couples file for divorce in the state of Illinois. ADULTERY In Illinois, adultery is a Class A misdemeanor. According to 720 Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) 5/11-35, “a person commits adultery” when they have sexual intercourse with someone who is not their spouse. However, that person must either be married and aware that they are having intercourse with someone who is not their spouse or unmarried but aware that the person they are having intercourse with is . More than being illegal, adultery is also one of the most common reasons couples in Illinois end up getting divorced. It can be difficult to remain in a relationship with someone who has betrayed your trust physically and emotionally. SUBSTANCE ABUSE The abuse of drugs and alcohol is a serious problem in Illinois, which causes a great deal of suffering. According to research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the rate of drug use is

significantly higher among those who are divorced compared

to those who are married, lending

credence to the fact that substance abuse is correlated with

divorce. Alcoholism and drug addiction can lead to a litany of problems, whether physical, social, or economic, which naturally put a significant strain on marriages. FELONY CONVICTION

One of the common legal grounds for divorce in the state of Illinois is being convicted of a felony. Conviction understandably puts a great deal of strain on a marriage. From the crime itself to the time spent apart due to possible incarceration, the financial difficulties brought on by the loss of income, as well as legal fees and penalties, are a perfect recipe for an unhappy marriage.

2 — rbbfirm.com

Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator