Olympics competitors must stay completely silent in one sport or face severe punishment at Paris 2024

One sport at the Paris 2024 Olympics requires its competitors to stay completely silent - or face a punishment.

The Olympics officially gets underway on Friday evening with the opening ceremony in Paris, although some events have already begun due to timing constraints.

Fans will see a full house at the Stade de France once the athletics schedule gets underway, while the Paris La Defense Arena will create a loud atmosphere for the swimming and diving events.

There is one sport, though, that must be completed under total silence.

The sport in question is equestrian, a horse-back sport which features three disciplines - dressage, showjumping and eventing.

It has come under the microscope in recent days after a video emerged of Team GB medal hope Charlotte Dujardin whipping a horse. Dujardin has withdrawn from the Olympics and apologised for what she described as a 'serious error of judgement'.

Once the action does get underway, though, there is a rule that riders must adhere to - silence.

The reason why is down to the horses and the intricate skill that it takes to perform in each of the three equestrian events to a high standard, particularly when it comes to the jumping element.

Back in 1932, Swedish rider Bertil Sandstrom helped his team to win gold in the team dressage event, but was pushed back to last in the standings after it was found that he clicked to his horse - something he denied. The Swedish team, however, did get a silver medal despite the punishment.

There are different ways to score equestrian, with the eventing discipline scored by how many penalty points a rider doesn't or does receive.

Dressage, meanwhile, is based on the movements of the horse and the rider, while in showjumping, the rider and horse with the least penalties and whom has completed the course in the minimum time will be declared as the winners.