What You Need To Know About The 2024 Summer Olympics
Written by Theressa Jabbour
Thumbnail & Banner Photo by Paris 2024
The landscapes of France are stunning in the summer. A little getaway in Paris or a swim in the French Riviera is quite the tantalising suggestion for those who can afford it. Now what if I told you that you could holiday in France and watch the Olympics at the same time. France is certainly a popular tourist destination on its own, and the added appeal of the Olympic Games will have tourists itching to be there.
The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris, France, from the 26th of July until the 11th of August. Paris is the main host city, with events also taking place in 63 other towns. Amongst them, Versailles will host the equestrian competitions and the pentathlon, and Ile-Saint-Denis will host part of the Olympic Village, where athletes will reside. Colombes will host the field hockey tournament at the historic venue of the 1924 Olympic games: The Yves du Manoir stadium. Nice will host several football matches, while the overseas territory of Tahiti will host the surfing competition. French towns from north to south, as well as overseas territories, will play a part in this historic event, offering unique experiences to athletes, officials and attendees. Some of France’s iconic landmarks will provide a stunning backdrop to the 2024 Olympic Games, giving both athletes and visitors the chance to explore touristic sites. The Château de Versailles, the Grand Palais and the Eiffel Tower will all be within exploring distance of various tournaments, uniting both sports and culture in one neat trip. Both male and female representatives from 206 countries will compete in the 2024 Olympics, with France having the highest number of athletes, 434, and 24 countries having as few as one.
If you’re thinking of planning a trip or simply want to learn more about the 2024 Olympic Games, this article will provide you with a brief overview of the event.
The History:
Photo by Paris 2024
Officially named the XXXIII Olympiad, these games will signify the third time in history France has hosted the Summer Olympics, making it the second country to ever do so. France previously hosted the Games of the II Olympiad in 1900 and the Games of the VIII Olympiad in 1924, with the 2024 games marking the centennial of the first time France hosted the Olympics. The bidding process began in 2015 with five candidates: Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Paris and Rome. After several withdrawals, in 2017 the International Olympic Committee awarded Paris the 2024 games, with Los Angeles being awarded the 2028 bid.
The Ceremonies:
The Olympic Games are not complete without the opening and closing ceremonies, and France is not one to shy away from grandeur. For the first time ever, the opening ceremony for these Summer Olympics is set to take place outside of a stadium. On the 26th of July, in a parade spanning 6 km, the athletes will cross the Seine in boats, moving through the centre of Paris and ending in front of the Trocadéro. Boasting sections of free admission, the ceremony will continue with athletes and performers sharing the stage. The closing ceremony will wrap up Paris 2024 on the 11th of August at Stade de France. If you’d like to know more, save the date and watch them live.
The Venues:
Photo by Paris 2024
The Paris 2024 Games will aim to promote France's rich cultural heritage at venues all over the country. To name a few, in the capital city of Paris, badminton and rhythmic gymnastics will be taking place at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena, and Parc de Princes, the home of Paris Saint Germain, will host football. Tennis and boxing are set to take place at the Roland-Garros Stadium, while beach volleyball will be played at Eiffel Tower Stadium. In the Ile-de-France region, the Palace of Versailles will stage equestrian and pentathlon events. The Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium will host the canoe sprint, rowing and canoe slalom events, while track cycling will take place at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome. Other regions in France are also set to host football tournaments at notable stadiums. In Bordeaux, the Bordeaux Stadium will be used and in Lyon, the Lyon Stadium, home of the Olympique Lyonnais. Marseille has Olympique de Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome, and Nantes offers the Stade de la Beaujoire, belonging to FC Nantes. Nice features the Nice Stadium, home of the football club OCG Nice, while in Saint-Etienne, the tournament will take place at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, where AS Saint-Etienne football club plays. Handball and basketball are set to be played at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium, while Tahiti hosts surfing and the Marseille Marina hosts sailing.
The Sports:
Paris 2024 encompasses the 28 core Olympic sports, as well as four additional sports proposed by the organising committee. These four additional sports were decided as part of the initiative proposed in the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Agenda 2020 for gender-balanced and youth-centred games. Breaking, a form of dance, and skateboarding will take place at Place de la Concorde. Sport climbing will take place at Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue and surfing will be hosted in the city of Teahupo’o on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia. Read further for a concise look at the schedule of events or check out the Competition schedule for the Olympic Games - Paris 2024.
Schedule of Events:
Archery: July 25 to August 4
Artistic Gymnastics: July 27 to August 5
Artistic Swimming: August 5 to 10
Athletics: August 1 to 11
Badminton: July 27 to August 5
Basketball: July 27 to August 11
Basketball 3×3: July 30 to August 5
Beach Volleyball: July 27 to August 11
Photo by Paris 2024
BMX Freestyle: July 30 to 31
BMX Racing: August 1 to 2
Boxing: July 27 to August 10
Breaking: August 9 to 10
Canoe Slalom: July 27 to August 5
Canoe Sprint: August 6 to 10
Cycling Track: August 5 to 11
Diving: July 27 to August 10
Equestrian: July 27 to August 6
Fencing: July 27 to August 4
Football: July 24 to August 10
Photo by Paris 2024
Golf: August 1 to 10
Handball: July 25 to August 11
Hockey: July 27 to August 9
Judo: July 27 to August 3
Marathon Swimming: August 8 to 9
Modern Pentathlon: August 8 to 11
Mountain Biking: July 28 to 29
Rhythmic Gymnastics: August 8 to 10
Road Cycling: July 27 to August 4
Rowing: July 27 to August 3
Rugby: July 24 to 30
Sailing: July 28 to August 8
Shooting: July 27 to August 5
Skateboarding: July 27 to August 7
Sport Climbing: August 5 to 10
Surfing: July 27 to 30
Swimming: July 27 to August 4
Table Tennis: July 27 to August 10
Taekwondo: August 7 to 10
Tennis: July 27 to August 4
Trampoline: August 2
Triathlon: July 30 to August 5
Volleyball: July 27 to August 11
Water Polo: July 27 to August 11
Weightlifting: August 7 to 11
Wrestling: August 5 to 11
With a variety of sporting events and sightseeing avenues to explore, Paris 2024 is hosting a historic Summer Olympics that anyone can enjoy. For information about tickets, visit the official ticketing website. If you’re planning to watch from home, tune in on CBC - Canada's Olympic Network.