The 2024 Paris Olympics are set to ignite the world’s passion for sports once again, with a full slate of events that promise excitement and drama. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the dates, ceremonies, key events, and how to watch the Games.

Opening and Closing Ceremonies

The 2024 Summer Olympics will officially open on Friday, July 26, with an unprecedented ceremony on the Seine River in Paris. Unlike traditional stadium events, this ceremony will feature athletes parading in boats along the river, beginning at 7:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. Eastern in the U.S. and 10:30 a.m. on the West Coast).

This unique opening will involve 94 boats covering a nearly four-mile route, with around 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees participating. The event will also see the attendance of approximately 120 heads of state, royals, and other leaders. The closing ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, August 11, at 2 p.m. Eastern in the Stade de France. This event will include a parade of flags and athletes, along with various victory ceremonies, and is expected to last around three hours.

Key Event Schedules

1. Gymnastics: Artistic gymnastics events will take place from July 27 to August 1, and again from August 3 to 5. Rhythmic gymnastics, a female-only event, is scheduled for August 8 to 10. Trampoline gymnastics will occur on August 2, starting with women’s qualifications and finals, followed by men’s qualifications and finals on the same day. In artistic gymnastics, women will compete in beam, vault, uneven bars, and floor exercise, with stars like U.S. gymnast Simone Biles expected to shine. Men’s artistic gymnastics includes six apparatus: rings, vault, pommel horse, horizontal bar, parallel bars, and floor exercise, along with two additional events testing overall skill. Rhythmic gymnastics will feature individual all-around and group all-around women, showcasing routines with balls, hoops, clubs, and ribbons.
2. Soccer (Football): Soccer events, listed as football, commenced before the official opening ceremony on July 26 due to the extensive schedule. Matches will occur almost daily throughout the Games, with detailed listings and results available online.
3. Other Sports: Preliminary rounds in archery, soccer, handball, and rugby started on July 24, two days before the opening ceremony. Swimming events will dominate the first week of the Games from July 27 to August 4, while track and field events will run from August 1 to August 11. The marathon will traditionally close the athletic events.

Broadcast and Livestream Information

For those eager to follow the action, the Olympics will be broadcast both live and tape-delayed on various platforms. NBC and Telemundo will offer at least nine hours of daily coverage from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Additional coverage will be available on USA Network, Golf Channel, CNBC, and E!. Peacock will livestream events, including the opening and closing ceremonies and every Olympic basketball game. A comprehensive schedule is accessible online, ensuring fans won’t miss a moment of the 2024 Paris Olympics. With this guide, you’re all set to enjoy the thrilling spectacles and inspiring performances that the Paris Games have to offer.