The Paris Olympics 2024: Everything You Need To Know, From The Dates To The Drama
The games, the flame, the debates.
The Paris Olympics 2024 are getting closer. Considered the world's most popular sport event, the Olympic Games occur every four years, drawing athletes from around the world to compete in various disciplines.
This year, Paris is the host, for the first time in almost a century (the last Paris Olympics were in 1924), and 10,500 competitors are expected to compete across 32 sports. It's thought that 1 billion people will watch the event around the world, with 326,000 viewers there in person.
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From the where and whens to the latest debates and controversies, here's everything you need to know about the Paris Olympics 2024. While we'd never condone cheating, you might want to think of this as a 'cheat sheet' to the biggest sporting event of the year...
When Are The Paris Olympics 2024?
The Paris Olympics will take place between Friday 26 July and Sunday August 11, 2024. the Paralympics will run from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
There are ambitious plans for the Opening Ceremony on July 26, which is set to take place not inside a stadium but on a series of 160 boats along the River Seine. French President Emmanuel Macron has said that there are also Plans B and C in place.
Where Are The Paris Olympics 2024?
The Olympic Village is located in Seine-Saint-Denis, which is in the northeast of the city. Reportedly the size of 70 football pitches and split by the Seine, this will house 9,000 athletes. The Stade de France will play host to track and field events, as well as the Closing Ceremony.
Meanwhile, the Château de Versailles will provide a grand setting for equestrian and modern pentathlon events, while the River Seine is set to host the open-water swimming events. Roland Garros, home of the French open, will be the setting for tennis and boxing, while the Grand Palais will be the place to head for fencing and taekwondo.
What's The Drama With The Seine?
Anyone who's visited Paris will remember the joy of walking along the Seine, the scenic river that runs through the city. One of the most eagerly anticipated – yet troublesome – elements of the Paris Olympic Games 2024 is that open-water swimming events are set to be held in the river.
Bathing in the Seine been forbidden since 1923 because of pollution, but the city has spent around 1.4 billion euros in the last 10 years to clean it up and make it safe to swim in. This has proved a challenge for organisers, as pollution including E.coli bacteria has continued to show up in tests, but they remain insistent that the events will take place in the river.
What Are The New Sports To Know?
Surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing, all of which made their Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games, will return for Paris 2024. Sky Brown, who became Team GB's youngest ever Olympic medallist in Tokyo 2020, will be going for gold in skateboarding.
Breaking (aka break dancing) has been added to the programme and will make its debut at Paris 2024. There will be 16 'B-Boys' and 16 'B-Girls' taking part in solo battles.
What's The Debate Around The Uniform?
When Nike revealed its track and field uniforms for the US Olympic team, the brand sparked outrage on social media, with some claiming that the differences between the men's and women's options were sexist.
One men's option was a compression tank top and shorts that go down to the mid-thigh, while a women's option was a bodysuit with a pair of high-cut briefs. Critics included British track and field athlete Abigail Irozuru, who commented on social media: 'Was ANY female athlete consulted in this team kit?!?'
USA Track and Field said in a statement that uniform maker Nike consulted with several athletes while designing the uniforms. Others argued that the leotard is only one option out of various combinations.
Where's The Olympic Flame?
The Olympic flame was lit on 16 April during a ceremony at the archaeological site of Olympia in Greece, which is the birthplace of the ancient Games. It will travel through Greece (where it will be held by more than 550 torchbearers), before arriving in Athens and being handed over to the Paris 2024 organising committee on 26 April.
It will then spend a night in the French embassy before travelling to Marseille, France on a boat and making its way to Paris for the opening ceremony on 26 July.
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