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Firsts at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony
Get ready for an Olympics Opening Ceremony (and probably an Olympics Closing Ceremony) like no other as Paris welcomes the world.
As the City of Light prepares to host athletes from 206 countries around the world for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the organizing committee wanted to come up with an Opening Ceremony that was bold, original, and unique. And boy have they! Get ready for many firsts in what is sure to be a dazzling spectacle.
A parade on the Seine River
For the first time in the history of the Summer Olympic Games, the Opening Ceremony will not take place in a stadium. Instead, the entire ceremony, including the parade of athletes, will be held along the Seine in the heart of the city. The athletes and performers will float down six kilometers of the river on approximately 160 boats, giving those on board a glimpse of some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including Notre Dame, Place de la Concorde, the Grand Palais, Les Invalides, and more. The parade will come to an end at the Trocadéro for the ceremony’s grand finale.
Free and open to the public
In another first for the Opening Ceremony, hundreds of thousands of spectators will be able to attend the festivities along the banks of the Seine, most of them at absolutely no cost. Eighty giant screens will be placed strategically along the parade route, allowing everyone present to enjoy the show from every angle. The event will be open to all, including the residents of the city, the citizens of France, and visitors from around the world. The 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony will be the largest in history.
Athletes first
In another break from tradition, the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony will begin with the parade of athletes, and athletes will be on stage with all the performers. The Paris Games are committed to being by and for athletes first.
When is the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony?
The Opening Ceremony will be held on July 26, 2024. The entire ceremony will be available to stream live on Peacock.
Mark your calendars for what is sure to be one of the most memorable events in Olympics history — an Opening Ceremony coursing through the heart of the French capital. We can’t wait to see what they do for the Closing Ceremony!