Games wide open! That's the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics slogan, and you can expect to hear it more now that the Games is about to begin. With a 300,000 spectator capacity, the Olympic Committee's goal is to show off the iconic offerings of France, while ensuring the Games themselves are “more responsible, more inclusive, and more spectacular than ever before.” With sustainability in mind, 95 per cent of the venues are already existing or temporary, and all sites are powered by renewable energy. And the anticipation has been palpable, as Paris has proved their cutting-edge approach to being an Olympic host in the past: women athletes were involved for the first time ever at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games, and this year, 50 per cent of the athletes are women, making Paris the first host to achieve gender equality in Games history.
The Opening Ceremony will be the first ever held in a city centre, with gigantic Olympic rings now displayed on the Eiffel Tower overlooking the Seine, where a swarm of boats will carry athletes toward the Tower. Once the Games begin, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing, which all debuted at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will be among the 32 sports in the Games – as well as one new addition: breaking (aka breakdancing).
Below, we outline everything you need to know ahead of this major event – from when the Games kick off, to how to buy tickets (or watch from home), and, of course, everything you should be doing if you'll be in Paris. Consider this your all-in-one Paris 2024 Summer Olympics guide.
When are the Olympics?
The 2024 Olympic Games will begin on 24 July, with non-medal competitions. Then, from 26 July to 11 August, more than 10,000 athletes will compete in 329 medal events. Due to the addition of an extra day of swimming (a change from previous years) there will now be competitions in three highly anticipated sports around the globe, taking place in a very short window: artistic gymnastics, swimming, and track and field will all be held on the same days of 3 and 4 August.
For the complete and most up-to-date Olympic schedule, visit the Olympics website.
Where are the Olympics?
Ouì, ouì – Parìs! There's lots of buzz around the city's plans for the Olympics infrastructure since the city won the rights to host the game seven years ago. There will be 45 sporting events across 35 competition venues in Paris and its neighbouring cities – including Versailles, Le Bourget, Nanterre, Vaires-sur-Marne, and Saint-Denis. Two new permanent sports venues, Port de La Chapelle Area in the 18th arrondissement and the Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, were specifically built for the upcoming Summer Games. A total of 20 out of the 35 venues being used as Olympic Games locations are in and around central Paris. However there's one sport you won't be catching if you're headed to Europe: For surfing's second appearance in the Games, the competition will be held at Tahiti's Teahupo'o. The event will be the farthest medal competition outside of the host city in history.
The 15,000 athletes in Paris will be based in the newly constructed 2024 Paris Olympic Village, or “Athlete’s Village,” a 300,000 square meter project sustainably built 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
Though some sessions are fully sold out, tickets for several sports at the Paris Olympics 2024 are back on sale on a first-come, first-serve basis. Find them on the Olympics website. If you can't find tickets for something, keep checking back, as some sessions may just be temporarily unavailable. If you prefer an all-inclusive type of experience, the Olympic Committee has offered heaps of travel packages for attendees. Hurry, though – only a limited number of travel packages remain.
For VIP access, Hospitality Packages are also available on the Olympics site. Starting at around £72 for lounge access at individual competitions, they run up to £6,350 if you want to get into the lounge at the Opening Ceremony and watch the spectacle unfold down the Seine.
Keep in mind that ticket registration is strict at the Olympics, and all tickets must be purchased on the official ticketing website.
Where is the Olympic Stadium?
The Stade de France is the country’s largest stadium and has hosted its biggest sporting events for three decades, including the Rugby World Cups and the World Athletics Championships. It’s located in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis, and will rightfully transform into the Olympic Stadium this simmer.
Planning your trip to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
Where to stay in Paris
The country’s largest stadium is in Saint-Denis – a twenty-minute train ride from the city centre and just outside of the 18th and 19th arrondissements. No matter where you stay, you’ll be able to find your way around the City of Lights, but if you’re looking for a certain scene we have a few recommendations. If you’re looking for a more residential pace, this is the place for you. The 10th arrondissement is home to Canal Saint-Martin, where you’ll be able to take boat rides and find trendy restaurants and bars. If you're looking forward to sightseeing, the 1st and 2nd arrondissements are the city’s centre and the most convenient spot to base yourself (though do be prepared for crowds!).
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What to do in Paris
Paris is expecting 15 million visitors during the Olympics. If you’ve been looking to check some items off your bucket list, popular attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Musée d’Orsay will be open during this time – but saying there will be crowds is an understatement. For those looking for a sense of solitude amid the frenzy, take a stroll through the large, spacious Jardin des Tuileries, or visit the quieter Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
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Reservations are going to be difficult to land with the amount of people who will be attending the Games. The earlier you map out where you’d like to eat, the better. And you'll probably want to grab a bite before heading to the stadium, whose surrounding restaurants will surely be packed during the Games. If you decide to eat inside the Olympic Stadium, there will be over 60 concession stands available and mobile vendors to (hopefully) expedite orders.
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How to watch the Olympics from home
If you won't be watching the games in person, most streaming platforms will have the Olympics readily available to active subscribers. The BBC has extensive coverage planned for the duration of the Olympic Games, and you can catch some of the action on Euronews. To catch up on specific sports, check out BBC Iplayer.
When and where are the next Olympics?
The next Olympics will be the Winter Games hosted in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in February 2026. The next Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – right where the Superbowl was held this year.
When were the last Olympics?
The last Summer Olympic Games were held in Tokyo in 2021 after being postponed the year prior due to the Covid pandemic. Tokyo was the first host city to host the Summer Olympics twice, and 2021 was the first time the Olympic Games were held on an odd-numbered year.