The greatest sporting spectacle on Earth will soon be with us – where nations unite in the most unique competitive spirit. Step forward, the 2024 Olympic Games.
The Excitement of a Summer Olympics
An Olympic summer is unmatched in excitement. It is a time when the sporting globe pauses in awe; when track and field legends return to familiar hunting grounds, and when the unknown emerging heroes of tomorrow find a platform on which personal endeavour and national pride unite.
It’s also the time when, as amazed onlookers, we discover an unexpected love of Taekwondo, Dressage, and Handball during the Olympic Games Paris 2024!
Paris 2024 Olympics Host City
Paris is set to host the Olympics for the third time, although the French capital has had to wait 100 years exactly for the Games to return.
The roster of events is somewhat different to when the iconic rings last landed there and, indeed, there are significant changes even to what we saw in Tokyo three years ago, with climbing, skateboarding, surfing and breakdancing all making their debut.
Their inclusion is to satisfy the call for sports that resonate more with youth culture, creativity, and athletic prowess, and a world watches to witness their impact during the Summer Games.
Venues and Events of the Paris Olympics
While the Stade de France serves as the central hub – hosting the final ceremony, all track and field competitions and the Rugby Sevens competition – a variety of events (such as soccer, sailing and handball) are scheduled in locations across the Greater Paris area, including the picturesque Versailles.
Venues include the Yves de Manoir Stadium, which will play host to field hockey; Paris La Défense Arena, which will see all aquatics events; Porte de La Chapelle Arena, featuring badminton and gymnastics; while Arena Paris Nord offers boxing and the modern pentathlon.
Roland Garros will cater, predictably, for tennis (plus some boxing), the aforementioned Versailles presents volleyball, table tennis, handball and weightlifting, while the Accor Arena sees gymnastics and basketball events.
Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
Football at the Parc des Princes will officially get the 2024 Games underway on July 24th – albeit two days before the opening ceremony – and seven other club stadiums including Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux will showcase the world’s favourite game.
Two days later, the opening ceremony commences along the River Seine – the first time ever that the official unveiling has been performed outside of a stadium.
Athletes and performers will be paraded in boats through central Paris, as onlookers gather along the riverbanks to celebrate the 2024 Games. This distinctive ceremony will allow an unprecedented number of spectators to experience the Olympic Opening Ceremony live.
Key Events and Dates at the 2024 Olympics
It won’t be until August 2nd that the track and field athletics events begin, and to many, the Olympics truly hit their stride over the middle weekend of August 3rd and 4th, with finals in 15 pursuits, including the 100m, plus tennis, athletics, golf, gymnastics and swimming.
Yet, it will be the penultimate day of August 10th that mostly promises an abundance of anticipation with a full 21 categories coming to a rapid conclusion, including basketball, football (soccer), golf, athletics and beach volleyball.
Closing Ceremony for Paris 2024
All too soon though the talk will be of what has gone before, as the closing ceremony brings down almost three weeks of gripping action, and the very first preparations begin, in earnest, for Los Angeles, in 2028.
August 11th August 10 will see the dramatic and performance-led Closing Ceremony at the Trocadéro, which will also offer a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower, and mark the end of the Summer Games.
It promises to be yet another great spectacle with the eyes of the world not just on some of the most talented sports people on the planet, but Paris itself, during the 2024 Olympics.
Also see: The Olympic Games: A Historical Journey
