The Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
History is in the making: the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will be held outside traditional sports venues. Like several sporting competitions that will take place in different parts of the city, this Opening Ceremony will draw on the natural backdrops of several emblematic sites along the Seine.
When and where does the opening ceremony take place?
The ceremony kicks off at 8:24 pm on Friday, July 26, 2024. Exceptionally, the parade of national delegations will take place aboard specially prepared boats, equipped with cameras to offer viewers an immersive experience alongside the athletes. Sailing from east to west across Paris, the 10,500 athletes will parade through a spectacular environment that will showcase their performances for sixteen days. The six-kilometer route, involving some 150 boats, will end in front of the Trocadéro, where the final part of the shows and ceremonies will take place.
Is the ceremony open to all?
For the first time ever, the opening ceremony will be open to all and free of charge. Spectators will be able to enjoy the upper quays free of charge, while tickets will be required for access to the lower quays, between the Pont d’Austerlitz and the Pont d’Iéna. Thanks to this initiative, at least 600,000 people will have the opportunity to take part in the festivities along the quays and bridges of Paris, ten times more than in a conventional stadium for the Olympic Games. With 80 giant screens and exceptional sound quality, the magical atmosphere of this extraordinary spectacle will spread throughout the capital. As a result, the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games will become the largest Olympic ceremony ever seen anywhere in the world. Parisians, Dyionisiens, Franciliens and spectators from all over France and the world are warmly invited to join the party.
Who are the main players?
At the heart of the show, it’s the athletes who will be the real protagonists. Paris 2024 is innovating by placing the parade of delegations at the opening, and throughout the ceremony, the athletes will be closely linked to the artistic performances, demonstrating Paris 2024’s commitment to organizing Games centered on the athletes, for the athletes.
What is the route of the opening ceremony?
The river show will follow the course of the Seine over a distance of 6 km. Following the river, it will pass around the two Paris islands, Ile Saint-Louis and Ile de la Cité, passing under eight to ten bridges and footbridges, which will become stages for various shows.
Aboard their boats, the athletes will have the opportunity to admire some of the Games’ emblematic sites, such as the Place de la Concorde, the Invalides esplanade and the majestic Grand Palais, before finally reaching the Pont d’Iéna, where the procession will conclude in front of the Trocadéro and its official grandstand. This grand finale will represent a fusion of protocol and spectacle, creating an unforgettable moment for all participants and spectators alike.
One hundred years after the 1924 Olympic Games, Paris 2024 aspires to offer Games designed for athletes and celebrating the union between sport and culture, all in the capital’s iconic venues. A historic event not to be missed!