The Olympic Committee aims to showcase the iconic offerings of France while ensuring the Games are “more responsible, more inclusive, and more spectacular than ever before.” With sustainability in focus, 95% of the venues are either existing or temporary, and all sites are powered by renewable energy. Paris has a history of pioneering Olympic hosting, having introduced women athletes in the 1900 Paris Olympic Games. This year, Paris will be the first host to achieve gender equality, with 50% of the athletes being women.
The Opening Ceremony will make history by being the first ever held in a city center, featuring gigantic Olympic rings displayed on the Eiffel Tower overlooking the Seine, where athletes will be carried by a swarm of boats toward the Tower. Among the 32 sports featured in the Games, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing, which debuted at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will return, along with a new addition: breaking.
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When Are the Olympics?
The 2024 Olympic Games will begin on July 24 with non-medal competitions. From July 26 to August 11, over 10,000 athletes will compete in 329 medal events. Due to the addition of an extra day of swimming, there will be competitions in three highly anticipated sports around the globe: Artistic gymnastics, swimming, and track and field, all taking place on August 3 and 4.
For the complete and most up-to-date Olympic schedule, visit the Olympics website.
Where Are the Olympics?
The Games will be hosted in Paris, with 45 sporting events across 35 competition venues in Paris and neighboring cities such as Versailles, Le Bourget, Nanterre, Vaires-sur-Marne, and Saint-Denis. Two new permanent venues, the Port de La Chapelle Arena in the 18th arrondissement and the Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, were built specifically for the Games. Twenty out of the 35 venues are in and around central Paris. Surfing, however, will take place at Tahiti’s Teahupo’o, marking the farthest medal competition outside the host city in history.
The 15,000 athletes will reside in the newly constructed 2024 Paris Olympic Village, a 300,000 square meter project built sustainably between Saint-Denis, Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, and the Île Saint-Denis. After the Games, the village will be converted to residential living for locals.
Getting Tickets to the Paris Olympics
Tickets for several sports at the Paris Olympics 2024 are back on sale on a first-come, first-serve basis on the Olympics website. If tickets are temporarily unavailable, keep checking back for updates.
The Olympic Committee offers various travel packages, including one remaining package with a 2-night stay at 5-star accommodation Maison Albar Pont Neuf, access to one sporting event, travel arrangements, and attendance at the Opening Ceremony. This package, a “Best Seller,” starts at nearly $13,000.
VIP access Hospitality Packages are also available on the Olympics site, starting at around $100 USD for lounge access at individual competitions, and up to $13,000 USD for lounge access at the Opening Ceremony and a meet and greet with athletes.
Remember, all tickets must be purchased on the official ticketing website.
Where Is the Olympic Stadium?
The Stade de France, located in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis, will serve as the Olympic Stadium. It is the country’s largest stadium and has hosted major sporting events for three decades, including the Rugby World Cups and the World Athletics Championships.
Where to Stay in Paris
Saint-Denis is just a twenty-minute train ride from Paris’s city center. For a residential pace, consider the 10th arrondissement, home to Canal Saint-Martin with boat rides and trendy restaurants and bars. For sightseeing, the 1st and 2nd arrondissements in the city center are the most convenient, though expect crowds.
