After all the highs and lows of recent sporting events, attention now turns to the Paris Olympics 2024 — which is set to be a thrilling, history-making spectacle.

Paris 2024, as it’s officially branded, is scheduled to take place from 26 July — the date of the opening ceremony — to 11 August 2024, with some competitions starting on 24 July (the men’s football and rugby). The stage is set for some enthralling action, where we’ll witness world-class athleticism, the breaking of World Records, and major celebrations of inclusivity and diversity. The motto for the 2024 Summer Olympics is ‘Games wide open’, and that theme will be felt throughout the events. The Paris Organising Committee has also committed to ensuring that the Games are the most environmentally responsible Olympics ever.

Instagram: @Paris2024

This will be the third time Paris has hosted the modern Summer Olympics, making it the second city to have hosted three Olympiads, the other being London (in 1908, 1948, and 2012).

Here’s where, what, when, who and how to watch Paris 2024…

WHERE

Paris is the main host city, but there are events for the football tournament being held at 6 other cities spread across France, (Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille), sailing taking place in Marseille, and surfing held at the Teahupo’o site in Tahiti.

There will be a total of 35 venues, with fourteen sites hosting 24 Olympic sports located within 10km of the Olympic Village. The other locations around Paris that will host the Games include les Yvelines, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-et-Marne and Seine-Saint-Denis.

The Stade de France, built to host the 1998 football World Cup, will be pressed into action as the main Olympic venue.

WHEN

The schedule

The Olympics will run from July 26 to August 11, 2024. Some of the key dates for Paris 2024 include:

  • The opening ceremony: July 26, 19.30 (CEST) held along the River Seine
    This will be a unique, open-air event, marking the first time the Olympic Opening Ceremony is held outside a stadium. The ceremony will feature a parade of athletes on boats, celebrating the rich history and culture of Paris​, and is expected to last more than three hours.
  • The swimming competitions: July 27 – August 4
    Expect fierce competition in the pool, with heats and finals for various styles and distances.
  • The athletics: August 2 – 11, featuring track and field events
    This includes the marquee track and field events.
  • The gymnastics: July 27 – August 6, including artistic, rhythmic, and trampoline events
    This includes artistic, rhythmic, and trampoline gymnastics.
  • The closing ceremony: August 11, highlighted by the women’s marathon
    In a significant move towards gender equality, the women’s marathon will be the final event, replacing the men’s as the traditional closing event of the Games.​​
Source: Paris 2024/ITN Archive

Head here for the full calendar.

WHAT & WHO TO WATCH

Potential record breakers for Britain

Team GB is poised to make history across several disciplines. After taking home 64 medals from Tokyo in 2020, the UK’s top athletes have set their target to bring home at least 50 in this year’s Games…

Gymnastics: Six-time Olympic medallist Max Whitlock OBE aims to add to his incredible tally, and defend his titles on the pommel horse. He announced earlier this year that Paris will be his last Olympic Games.

Newcomers Jake Jarman, Harry Hepworth, Luke Whitehouse and Alice Kinsella will be making their Olympic debuts this summer, and also hope to shine.

Athletics: Dina Asher-Smith in sprint events and Laura Muir in middle-distance running are strong contenders for setting new records. As the fastest British woman in history, Dina is a top contender in the 100m and 200m sprints. Her speed and technique have the potential to break European and Olympic records.

Competing in the 1500m and 800m, Laura has been a dominant force in middle-distance running. Her consistent performances and competitive spirit make her a strong candidate for setting new records​.

Double World Champion Josh Kerr is another track star to watch. He’s expected to face tough competition from Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the current World Record holder for the indoor 1500m.

Cycling: The British cycling team, traditionally strong, will look to dominate once again with stars like Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny leading the charge​.

Swimming: Renowned for his dominance in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, Adam Peaty holds the world records in both events and is aiming to lower these times further at the Paris Games.

BMX racing: Beth Shriever comes into Paris 2024 with a good chance of defending the gold medal she won four years ago.

Mountain biking: 24-year-old Tom Pidcock has aspirations to defend his Tokyo gold medal.

RELATED: Levelling the playing field

The Paris Olympics will be a grand stage for athletes who exemplify diversity, inclusivity, and remarkable talent, reflecting the evolving values of the global sports community. This iteration of the Games is not just about breaking records but also about breaking barriers and stereotypes.

Here’s who else to keep your eyes on:

  • Simone Biles (USA, Gymnastics): Simone, widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, is returning to the Olympics after taking a break for mental health reasons. Her routines are noted for their difficulty and innovation, and she remains a symbol of resilience and mental health advocacy​.
  • Caster Semenya (South Africa, Athletics): Caster, a two-time Olympic champion, has faced significant challenges due to controversial regulations regarding testosterone levels in female athletes. Her participation continues to spark important discussions about gender, biology, and fairness in sport​.
  • Chelsie Giles (GB, Judo): Competing in the -52kg category, Chelsie is a rising star in judo. She won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics and is a strong contender for gold in Paris. Her success story is inspiring for young athletes, particularly women in combat sports​.
  • Ellie Simmonds (GB, Paralympics): Ellie, a multiple Paralympic gold medalist in swimming, is an advocate for disability rights and a role model for athletes with disabilities. Her participation in the Paralympics highlights the importance of inclusivity in sports.

 

British-Japanese skateboarder and surfer Sky Brown, who turned 16 on July 7, won a bronze medal at the 2o2o Summer Olympics.

5 TEENS TO WATCH

These are some of the top teen athletes injecting a bit of youthfulness into the Olympic Games:

1. Sky Brown, 16 (skateboarding) — Great Britain’s skateboarding prodigy Sky won bronze at only 13 years old, at skateboarding’s inaugural women’s park event at Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021).

2. Summer McIntosh,17 (swimming) — Canadian Summer McIntosh holds the world record in the women’s 400m individual medley.

Paris 2024 will feature the debut of breakdancing as an Olympic event.

3. Jeff Dunne (aka J-Attack), 16 (breaking) — since breaking’s Olympic inclusion was announced three years ago, Australian J-Attack made it his life’s goal to get to the Olympics.

4. Quan Hongchan, 17 (diving) — Quan, of the People’s Republic of China, dominates the sport of diving.

5. Hezly Rivera, 16, (gymnastics) — Hezly, from New Jersey,is the youngest gymnastics member of Team USA and at her first Olympic Games is set to compete in artistic gymnastics among a squad of Olympic greats.

INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY AT THE GAMES

Paris 2024 aims to set a new standard for inclusivity. The Games will feature the first-ever Olympic Opening Ceremony outside a stadium, allowing 220,000 people to attend for free.

Organisers have promoted the ceremony as “the most spectacular and accessible opening ceremony in Olympic history”, attracting an estimated 600,000 spectators — and exemplifying an overall goal for Paris 2024 to be a “people’s Olympics”.

Initiatives like dedicated transport services for visitors with disabilities and the introduction of exercise programs in French schools also reflect a commitment to broader social impact​.

SUSTAINABILITY AT PARIS 2024

Paris 2024 aims to achieve carbon neutrality, a first for the Olympics. The plan includes reducing carbon emissions through energy-efficient measures and renewable energy sources, and offsetting remaining emissions with carbon credits. The commitment involves careful planning of all stages of the event — from construction to operations and post-Games dismantling.

RELATED: Sustainability in sport: Reducing the impact of our stadiums

Existing venues are being repurposed to minimise the need for new construction. For new facilities, the emphasis is on using eco-friendly materials and techniques. The Olympic Village, for instance, will feature low-energy buildings with high sustainability standards, including green roofs and efficient water management systems.

Transportation and energy consumptions are also both a major focus of the sustainability plan. The Games will promote the use of public transport, cycling, and walking (an extensive network of public transit options will be enhanced), and energy consumption during the Olympics will be managed with a focus on efficiency and renewable sources. Venues will be powered by green energy, and efforts will be made to optimise energy use across all facilities.

EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMME: Urban Evolution: Our Future Cities

HOW TO WATCH

Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or a casual viewer, here’s how you can catch all the excitement and follow the action.

Major broadcasters around the world will provide comprehensive coverage of the Olympics, including the ITV News channel. And you can also follow all the action on the official Olympics website and app:

  • Olympics.com: The official website will feature live event streams, schedules, athlete profiles, and the latest news.
  • Olympics app: Available on iOS and Android, the app will provide live streaming, event alerts, medal counts, and real-time updates.

Follow on social media for real-time updates, behind-the-scenes content, and athlete interactions. Follow @Olympics and hashtags like #Paris2024 for live updates and highlights.

On YouTube, the official Olympics channel will feature event replays, highlights, and exclusive content.

For a detailed day-by-day competition schedule, visit the official Olympics website​: Paris Olympics.

Explore our programme, Global Gamechangers