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The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are set to deliver a first of its kind Opening Ceremony, filled with unique elements and historic firsts. Taking place on July 26, 2024, this year’s Opening ceremony for the quadrennial event will move beyond the traditional setup of a stadium and will be spanned across the city.
A Ceremony Outside a Stadium
For the first time in Olympic Summer Games history, the Opening Ceremony will not be held in a stadium. Instead, Paris 2024 is bringing the ceremony to the city itself, centering the event along the Seine River. This choice not only highlights the beauty of Paris but also symbolizes the Games’ integration into the city’s life.
A Ceremony on the River
The parade of athletes will take place on the Seine, with each national delegation traveling on boats. These boats will be equipped with cameras, providing viewers around the world with an intimate look at the athletes. The parade will cover a 6-kilometer route, winding through the heart of Paris from east to west, and culminating at the Trocadéro. This scenic journey will showcase some of Paris’s most famous landmarks, offering a unique backdrop to the athletes’ grand entrance.
A Ceremony for the People
Another first for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony is its accessibility. The event will be open to a large audience, with eighty giant screens and strategically placed speakers ensuring that as many people as possible can partake in the experience. This inclusive approach will make it the largest Opening Ceremony in Olympic history, welcoming residents of Paris, visitors from across France, and international guests.
A Ceremony Designed for and by Athletes
The athletes will be at the heart of the ceremony, starting with the parade of athletes and continuing throughout the ceremony. The river parade will be a central feature of the ceremony, starting from the Austerlitz bridge near the Jardin des Plantes at 7:30 p.m. CET. The route will take the athletes around Île Saint Louis and Île de la Cité, passing under several iconic bridges and offering views of official Games venues such as Parc Urbain La Concorde, the Esplanade des Invalides, and the Grand Palais. The journey will end at the Trocadéro, where the final elements of the Opening Ceremony will unfold, marking the official start of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Hundreds of millions viewers
The average number of television and online viewers expected to watch the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Summer Games. The event will be broadcast all over the world.
94 Boats
The approximate number of boats in the parade fleet along the Seine as part of the first Opening Ceremony in the history of the Games for which a river will act as the primary stage. The delegations and performers will be among their passengers.
6 Kilometers
Length of the Parade route
10,500
Athletes representing 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and approximately 120 heads of state, sovereign and heads of the government will be in attendance.o;
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