Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Dates, competition schedule, big names, new sports and more
The countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is well and truly on as the French capital prepares to take centre-stage for the Greatest Show on Earth.
The City of Love will be transformed into the City of Sport for what promises to be a feast of thrills and spills under the most intense spotlight.
For there is surely no greater honour for elite athletes than representing your country with the eyes of the world watching. It’s little wonder, then, that competition for medals is so fierce.
Take to any of the steps on the podium and you have forever etched your name into the history books – and, as such, the privilege and prestige of hosting this group of sporting icons is immense.
Awarded in 2017, 2024 will mark the third time Paris has hosted the Games, joining London as the only other three-time host city. The French capital first staged the Olympic Games in 1900 and then again in 1924.
And there could hardly be a more fitting location. Fans tuning in from around the world will be able to marvel as some of the greatest athletes go toe-to-toe across 32 different sports in front of a Parisian backdrop.
Officially billed as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, it is not to be missed.
When are the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
However, the Games technically start on July 24 with preliminaries in football and rugby 7s, with the official curtain-raiser at the opening ceremony two days later.
When is the opening ceremony at Paris 2024?
The opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place on July 26, 2024.
It will break with tradition as athletes will travel on boats along a 6km stretch of the River Seine, rather than parade around the major stadium. Some 600,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony.
Who will be the biggest stars at Paris 2024?
Katie Ledecky of United States is seen on the podium after winning the Women’s 1500m Freestyle final on day five of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Image credit: Getty Images
Katie Ledecky (USA, swimming)
If the American wins three gold medals in the pool, she will be the most successful woman in Olympics history. Ledecky has won seven titles across London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 – will she claim any more?
Dina Asher-Smith (Team GB, athletics)
Steph Curry (USA, basketball)
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr will lead the men’s United States side, so it feels reasonable to assume there’s a good chance Curry, who is one of the most famous faces in basketball, will be there.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Rafael Nadal of Spain pose for a photograph at the net before theit match on Court Philippe Chatrier during the singles Quarter Final match at the 2022 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 31st 2022 in Paris,
Image credit: Getty Images
Rafael Nadal (Spain, tennis)
The Spaniard has two Olympic gold medals to his name already after winning the singles title in 2008 and the doubles in 2016. His physical ailments are well documented so his participation is far from a sure thing, but given the tournament will take place on the red clay of Roland-Garros, he might fancy one last crack at it. Time will tell.
Novak Djokovic (Serbia, tennis)
…one can’t simply mention Nadal without acknowledging Djokovic. We all know the Serbian has a propensity for acquiring records and titles. One that is missing from his resume is an Olympic gold medal, so you can bet he’ll be in Paris next year.
Sky Brown (Team GB, skateboarding)
World champion at just 14, can Britain’s youngest Olympic medallist climb atop the podium in Paris?
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Image credit: Getty Images
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica, athletics)
The Jamaican is widely considered the best female sprinter of all time, having won three Olympic gold medals, four silvers and a bronze. She also has 10 World Championship golds to her name. Fraser-Pryce will be 37 by the time the 2024 Games gets underway, so it will likely be her last.
Rory McIlroy (Ireland, golf)
Golf returned to the Olympics in 2016 and has been well received by the game’s best male and female players. In the absence of Tiger Woods, there is no name bigger than Rory McIlroy. Hailing from Northern Ireland, he suited up for Ireland last time around in Tokyo so expect him to do the same again in Paris.
Teddy Riner (France, judo)
After a record-extending 11th world title in 2023, the heavyweight judo star is aiming for success on home turf as he chases a third individual Olympic gold in Paris. He only managed bronze in Tokyo, but was part of a victorious mixed team event.
Faith Kipyegon (Kenya, athletics)
Going for a hat-trick of 1500m Olympic titles, who would bet against Faith Kipyegon? Her preparations in the year leading up to Paris have included setting new world records over 1500m and 5000m, as well as taking five seconds off the women’s mile world record.
Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia, cycling)
He may be hurting from another defeat at the Tour de France, but expect the Slovenian to be in the mix in the road race and time trial in Paris.
What are the new sports at Paris 2024?
Paris 2024 is including four sports not usually on the Olympic programme: breaking, sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing.
However the last three of those were also on the schedule at Tokyo 2020, with breaking (aka break dancing) the newest sport to the Olympic programme.
Dates and schedule of Paris 2024 sports
- 3×3 basketball (Jul 30 – Aug 5)
- Archery (Jul 25, Jul 28 – Aug 4)
- Athletics (Aug 1-11)
- Artistic gymnastics (Jul 27 – Aug 1, Aug 3-5)
- Artistic swimming (Aug 5-7, Aug 9-10)
- Badminton (Jul 27 – Aug 5)
- Basketball (Jul 27 – Aug 4, Aug 6-11)
- Beach volleyball (Jul 27 – Aug 10)
- BMX freestyle (Jul 30-31)
- BMX racing (Aug 1-2)
- Boxing (Jul 27- Aug 4, Aug 6-10)
- Breaking (Aug 9-10)
- Canoe slalom (Jul 27 – Aug 1, Aug 3-5)
- Canoe sprint (Aug 6-10)
- Cycling road (Jul 27, Aug 3-4)
- Cycling track (Aug 5-11)
- Diving (Jul 27, Jul 29, Jul 31, Aug 2, Aug 5-10)
- Equestrian (Jul 27 – Aug 6)
- Fencing (Jul 27 – Aug 4)
- Football (Jul 24-25, Jul 27-28, Jul 30-31, Aug 2-3, Aug 5-6, Aug 8-10)
- Golf (Aug 1-4, Aug 7-10)
- Handball (Jul 25, Jul 27 – Aug 4, Aug 6-11)
- Hockey (Jul 27 – Aug 9)
- Judo (Jul 27 – Aug 3)
- Marathon swimming (Aug 8-9)
- Modern pentathlon (Aug 8-11)
- Mountain bike (Jul 28-29)
- Rhythmic gymnastics (Aug 8-10)
- Rowing (Jul 27 – Aug 3)
- Rugby 7s (Jul 24-25, Jul 27-30)
- Sailing (Jul 28 – Aug 8)
- Shooting (Jul 27 – Aug 5)
- Skateboarding (Jul 27-28, Aug 6-7)
- Sport climbing (Aug 5-10)
- Surfing (Jul 27-30)
- Swimming (Jul 27 – Aug 4)
- Table tennis (July 27 – Aug 10)
- Taekwondo (Jul 7-10)
- Tennis (Jul 27 – Aug 4)
- Trampoline gymnastics (Aug 2)
- Triathlon (Jul 30-31, Aug 5)
- Volleyball (Jul 27 – Aug 11)
- Water polo (Jul 27 – Aug 11)
- Weightlifting (Aug 7-11)
- Wrestling (Aug 5-11)
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