Here's all you need to know about the Paris 2024 Olympics: dates, venues, the opening ceremony, new sports, and security concerns. The Paris 2024 Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.
The games will be held across 35 venues in Paris, Ile-de-France, mainland France, and overseas. Notable venues include the Eiffel Tower Stadium for beach volleyball, Parc des Princes for soccer, Roland Garros Stadium for boxing and tennis, Stade de France for athletics and rugby sevens, and Teahupo'o in Tahiti for surfing.
New sports debuting at the Paris 2024 Olympics include Breaking, a form of competitive breakdancing. Karate, which debuted at Tokyo 2020, and baseball-softball will not be featured in Paris but are set to return in Los Angeles 2028.
The opening ceremony on July 26 will begin at 7.30pm (1730 GMT) with a river parade along the Seine, culminating at the Eiffel Tower. Approximately 300,000 spectators are expected along the riverbanks.
Security concerns, heightened by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, have led to a significant security presence during the Games. Over 45,000 French police and security forces, along with additional international support, will secure Paris. The opening ceremony will be protected by 35,000 security agents and military personnel.
Russia and Belarusian athletes are allowed to participate as neutrals, without flags or anthems, following the invasion of Ukraine. They are excluded from team competitions and the opening parade. The Russian Olympic Committee has compensated 245 athletes who did not meet the criteria for participation.
