The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are set to deliver a memorable spectacle, beginning with an unprecedented opening ceremony on Friday July 26. Breaking away from tradition, the opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympiad will be held outside a stadium for the first time, featuring the parade of athletes on boats along the Seine River. This historic three-hour event will showcase approximately 10,500 athletes competing across 329 events, offering a colourful river parade that may set new standards for future Olympic hosts.
The ceremony will commence at the Austerlitz Bridge and conclude at the Trocadéro, near the iconic Eiffel Tower and the Trocadéro Palace. Each national committee will have a boat navigating the nearly four-mile route. The Seine River, which underwent a $1.5 billion cleaning to remove harmful bacteria, will also host several swimming events, including the swimming leg of the triathlon and marathon swimming. To demonstrate the river’s safety, the City Mayor recently took a dip in its waters.
Athletes will don uniforms designed by top brands, with styles ranging from sporty to those reflecting cultural heritage. While specific details of the entertainment have been kept under wraps, the ceremony is expected to feature performances by renowned artists such as Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, and R&B singer Aya Nakamura. Ceremony Artistic Director Thomas Jolly will also contribute. Additionally, three Ghanaian artists—Sarkodie, King Promise, and Darko Vibes—are confirmed to perform at a special Ghana Day event within the African Fan Zone on August 10.
The event will be broadcast on approved media channels, with football, handball, and rugby competitions already underway. The first Olympic medals will be awarded on Saturday in the 10metre air rifle mixed team shooting event. New sports making their debut include breakdancing, alongside skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing, which were introduced in the 2020 Olympics, bringing the total number of sports to 45.
Among the standout athletes to watch are American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, basketball stars LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant, four-time Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles, five-time swimming champion Léon Marchand, Kenyan marathoner Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion, and 17-year-old Dominika Banvic, making his Olympic debut in breakdancing.
With these unique elements and high-profile participants, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games promise to be a groundbreaking and unforgettable event, celebrating athletic excellence and cultural diversity on a global stage.
