The 2024 Summer Olympics is an upcoming international multi-sport event scheduled to take place from July 26 (the date of the opening ceremony) to August 11, 2024 in France. Paris is the main host city, with events held at 16 other cities spread across Metropolitan France, plus one subsite in Tahiti.

Having previously hosted in 1900 and 1924, Paris will become the second city to host the Summer Olympics three times and these will be the sixth Olympic Games hosted by France (three Summer Olympics and three Winter Olympics).

The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 19:30 CET on July 26, 2024. Rather than holding the opening ceremony in an athletics stadium as is customary, the parade of nations will be conducted as a boat parade along the Seine from Pont d’Austerlitz to Pont d’Iéna, and the official protocol will take place at Place du Trocadéro in a temporary “mini-stadium”. The ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics will be directed by Thomas Jolly. A crowd of 600,000 people is expected. Around 100,000 people will be able to watch it from the bank of the river when the other 500,000 will be in the street.

Most of the Olympic events will be held in the city of Paris and its metropolitan region, including the neighboring cities of Saint-Denis, Le Bourget, Nanterre, Versailles, and Vaires-sur-Marne.

Others cities include: Bordeaux, Décines-Charpieu (Lyon), Nantes, Nice and Saint-Étienne, Lille, Marseille, Teahupo’o.

The Paris 2024 project is based on 95% of existing sites, for an announced budget of 6.6 billion euros. The new constructions are an aquatic center to be built next to the Stade de France, an indoor arena for basketball and wrestling, and the Olympic village in Dugny.

The programme of the 2024 Summer Olympics will feature 329 events in 32 sports, including five new sports: surfing, skateboarding, rock climbing, 3x3 basketball and breakdance.

Paris’ iconic landmarks are being transformed into sporting arenas to offer spectators an unparalleled experience and provide an outstanding backdrop for sporting prowess. This unique concept guides our masterplan for the 35 venues

Games sites:

• Le château de Versailles: Equestrian
• Aquatic center: Diving, Water Polo, Artisting Swimming
• Champ de Mars Arena: Judo and wrestling
• Eiffel Tower Stadium: Beach volleyball
• Place de la Concorde: basketball. Breaking, skateboarding, cycling BMX freestyle
• Parc des Princes: football
• Stade de France: athletic and rugby
• Stade Roland-Garros: tennis and boxe
• Trocadero: cycling and athletic

Come and join the Alliance Française de Chicago for events around the Olympic theme!:

• Cafe conversation: come to talk and exchange about the Olympic and your favorite sports
• Wine Olympic: come test your wine proficiency with this wine competition just three days before the Opening Ceremony
• Watch party: don’t miss the Opening parade on the Seine by coming at the Alliance’s ceremony watch party

*Credit for image: Kevinrzk/Instagram