Games wide open! The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics are here—so, expect to hear the roar of that slogan in the weeks again. There’s simply no way to quantify, or perhaps, prepare for, the already-electrifying energy infiltrating the host city and the largest Olympic ceremony ever. Despite the Games’ 300,000 spectator capacity, Paris is expected to receive around 15 million visitors, including 2 million from abroad, in the coming weeks.
Along with the spectator capacity, though, the Olympic Committee’s goal is to show off the iconic offerings of France, while also pushing the message of a “more responsible, more inclusive, and more spectacular than ever before.” With sustainability in mind, 95% of the venues are already existing or temporary, and all sites are powered by renewable energy. And the anticipation is palpable, as Paris has proved their forward-looking approach to being an Olympic host in the past: Women athletes were involved for the first time ever at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games, and this year, 50 percent of the athletes are women, making Paris the first host to achieve gender equality in Games history.
Paris has planned for the Olympics for years now, but to prove just how ready the city is, Paris’ Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently jumped into the Seine, where marathon swimming and triathlons are planned to be held. The activity has been banned for over 100 years, but Paris Olympic organizers promised a major waterway clean-up, and to their report, a $1.5 billion investment. At the Opening Ceremony, the first ever held in a city center, 160 boats will carry 10,500 athletes toward Eiffel Tower, where (in case you’ve missed them) gigantic Olympic rings are proudly displayed on the facade. Once the Games begin, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing, which all debuted at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will be among the 32 sports in the Games—as well as one new addition: breaking (aka breakdancing).
Below, we outline everything you need to know ahead of this major event—from when the Games kick off, to how to buy tickets (or watch from home), and, of course, everything you should be doing if you’re in Paris. Consider this your all-in-one Paris 2024 Summer Olympics guide.
When are the Olympics?
The 2024 Olympic Games will begin on July 24, with non-medal competitions. Then, from July 26 to August 11, the 10,500 athletes will compete in 329 medal events. Due to the addition of an extra day of swimming (a change from previous years) there will now be competitions in 3 highly anticipated sports around the globe, taking place in a very short window: Artistic gymnastics, swimming, and track and field will all be held on the same days of August 3 and 4.
For the complete and most up-to-date Olympic schedule, visit the Olympics website.
Where are the Olympics?
Ouì, ouì— Parìs! Lots of buzz has circulated around the city’s plans for the Olympics infrastructure since the city won the rights to host the game seven years ago. There will be 45 sporting events across 35 competition venues in Paris and its neighboring cities—including Versailles, Le Bourget, Nanterre, Vaires-sur-Marne, and Saint-Denis. Two new permanent sport venues, Port de La Chapelle Area in the 18th arrondissement and the Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, were specifically built for the upcoming Summer Games. A total of 20 out of the 35 venues being used as Olympic Games locations are in and around central Paris. Though there’s one sport you won’t be catching if you’re headed to Europe: For surfing’s second appearance in the Games, the competition will be held at Tahiti’s Teahupo’o. The event will be the farthest medal competition from a host city in history.
