The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will commence on Friday with an unprecedented opening ceremony that will highlight the city's iconic landmarks and showcase the world's best athletes.
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will make history on Friday with an opening ceremony that will take place outside a stadium for the first time. The ceremony will feature over 10,000 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) parading down the Seine River by boat.
Paris 2024: A Spectacular Opening Ceremony for the Summer Olympics
The Paris Olympics mark a return to normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the Tokyo Games to 2021. The opening ceremony will set the tone for the Games, highlighting the spirit of unity and camaraderie among athletes from around the world.
The parade will follow a 3.7-mile stretch of the Seine River, beginning at the Austerlitz Bridge and ending at the Iena Bridge. Along the way, the athletes will pass by iconic Parisian landmarks such as Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower.
Paris 2024: A Spectacular Opening Ceremony for the Summer Olympics
Approximately 10,500 athletes from 206 NOCs will participate in the ceremony. Over 90 boats will transport the athletes along the Seine, with spectators lining up to witness the event.
Around 220,000 invited and security-screened spectators are expected to fill the upper tiers of the Seine's banks, while an additional 104,000 paying spectators will watch from the lower riverside and the Trocadéro plaza.
Paris 2024: A Spectacular Opening Ceremony for the Summer Olympics
The opening ceremony will showcase the diversity of the Olympic movement, with athletes from all corners of the globe coming together in Paris. The largest NOCs will have their own boats, while smaller ones will share vessels.
U.S. Open winner Coco Gauff and NBA star LeBron James will lead Team USA as flag bearers in the opening ceremony. Gauff, who is making her Olympic debut, is the first American tennis player to carry the flag.
Live coverage of the opening ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC and will also stream on Peacock and NBC Olympic platforms.
The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony promises to be a memorable event, showcasing the beauty of Paris, the spirit of the Games, and the determination of the world's top athletes. It will be a moment to celebrate unity, diversity, and the pursuit of excellence in sports.
