The Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony: What to expect
The Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony starts at 19:30 CEST on Friday 26 July, with the three-hour spectacle set to take the world on a journey through Parisian history and architecture.
The parade will take place along the River Seine, with Thomas Jolly – a French theatre director and actor – overseeing proceedings as the artistic director.
Jolly has remained tight-lipped about certain aspects of the ceremony, but we know the parade will travel west for six kilometres along the river, passing iconic landmarks including the Notre-Dame and the Louvre.
Ceremonies choreographer Maud Le Pladec has promised dancers on every bridge, while costume director Daphne Burki has worked with a team of designers to create 3,000 costumes for the dancers and artists that will feature across the four Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies.
The Parade of Nations will also swap the track for the river, with around 100 boats set to carry an estimated 10,500 athletes.
Flagbearers including Coco Gauff and Tom Daley will proudly fly their nation’s flag on the boats as the parade arrives at the Trocadero – the esplanade near the Eiffel Tower.
And it’s there where the final protocols will take place and the Olympic cauldron will be lit, all making for a unique Opening Ceremony, where one of the most celebrated cities in the world is placed front and centre.
Paris 2024: How to watch the Opening Ceremony live
You will be able to watch every moment from the Paris 2024 Olympics live thanks to the Official Olympic Media Rights Holders.