Don't just watch the Olympics, get into the game

Good morning, I'm Will Richmond at The Providence Journal and this is the Daily Briefing.

The Olympics are in full swing now.

With Friday's opening ceremony ushering in the games, I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities during the next two weeks to be glued to the couch to watch all the competition. But what if you want to do more than watch?

Maybe watching Katie Ledecky has inspired you to hit the pool and start swimming. Will watching the track and field competition lead to a run around your local high school track?

Maybe you want to get into something a little more obscure. Then The Journal's Jack Perry can help.

From surfing and sailing to fencing and rowing, and, oh yeah, breakdancing, Jack has the details on where you can go to possibly start your Olympic dreams.

• While most election years are filled with people seeking to return to office there are those that decide they are done with the role.

Between the House and the Senate, eight incumbents won't be returning to the State House. In this week's Political Scene, The Journal's Katherine Gregg caught up with five from the group to look back at their careers and their highlights from their time in office.

• If you see people jumping from helicopters next weekend in the Exeter area there's no need to panic, LeapFest is back. Journal contributor Frank Lennon previews the RI National Guard's annual event in this week's Veteran's Voice.

• Missed out on the 2024 Newport Folk Festival or are you already missing it? Savana Dunning has a recap from the day , along with a look at the surprises that closed out the show .

• In June we asked for your help to determine Rhode Island's best beach, now we need your assistance again. This time we want to know what Rhode Island's favorite summer event is. From festivals to fairs, live music to food, there are plenty to choose from. You can vote in round 1 of our bracket until Wednesday at 9 p.m.

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RHODY RANKS

Every day we receive emails ranking Rhode Island. While the work behind the ranks may be dubious, they can be fun. Each day I'll share where Rhody Ranks from one of the latest emails.

What if you could choose the ultimate resting place for your ashes?

Choice Mutual , an insurance agency specializing in final expense life insurance, sought to answer this question by surveying 3,000 people, asking them hypothetically where they would have their ashes spread if there were no restrictions. In Rhode Island, the top choice is Block Island, followed by Narragansett Bay and Brown Stadium.

TODAY'S WEATHER

🌧️ Mostly cloudy, breezy and cooler with a couple of showers. Highs in the mid-70s.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Don't just watch the Olympics, get into the game