The Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony will not take place in a stadium this time. Instead, dozens of boats will carry thousands of athletes and performers on a 6 km floating parade along the River Seine. This year, new additions to the lineup include breakdancing, skateboarding, surfing, and sports climbing.
A total of 117 athletes will compete in 69 medal events across 16 sports: archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and tennis.
The parade of boats will depart from the Austerlitz Bridge, sail past the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, and conclude near the Eiffel Tower. The procession will pass under notable bridges such as the Pont des Arts and Pont Neuf, showcasing many of Paris’ iconic landmarks. The lineup of artists performing at the opening ceremony remains a closely guarded secret.
When and where to watch?
The opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics will commence on July 26 at 07.30 pm IST. The ceremony will be live-streamed on Jio Cinema in India, with Sports18 holding the broadcast rights.
Among the athletes to watch are Neeraj Chopra, who will defend his gold medal in the men’s javelin throw, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Mirabai Chanu.