The long-awaited opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is about to begin. Here are details of where to watch live and the schedule.
In an innovative twist, around 10,500 athletes will parade in more than 90 boats down the River Seine, covering a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) course.
This parade will mark the beginning of the ceremony, breaking with the tradition of marching to a stadium.
- Where to watch the Olympic Opening Ceremony live?
- What time does the opening ceremony start?
- Where is the opening ceremony held?
- Who will perform at the opening ceremony?
- What happens if it rains during the opening ceremony?
In the United States, the ceremony will be broadcast on NBC and available on the Peacock and NBC Olympic platforms: NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app and the NBC Olympics app.
A preview will air on NBC at noon, with live coverage beginning at 10:30 a.m. Pacific and 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
What time does the opening ceremony start?
The opening ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. Pacific and 1:30 p.m. Eastern. It will last more than 3 hours.
Where is the opening ceremony held?
The inaugural parade will begin at the Pont d’Austerlitz, near the Jardin des Plantes, and follow the course of the Seine from east to west.
During the tour, the boat will pass by two islands in the centre of Paris and under several bridges and footbridges. Athletes on board the boats will be able to see several Olympic venues, such as the Parc Urbane La Concorde (3X3 basketball, breaking, BMX freestyle, skateboarding), Invalides (archery, athletics, marathon finish, road cycling, time trial) and the Grand Palais (fencing, taekwondo).
The parade will conclude on the Pont d’Iena, which connects the Eiffel Tower to the Trocadéro district. The ceremony will end at the Trocadéro, where French President Emmanuel Macron will give the opening speech.
Some 220,000 invited spectators are expected to fill the upper tiers on the banks of the Seine, while another 104,000 paying ticket holders will enjoy the view from the lower bank of the river and around the Trocadéro square.
In addition, those in Paris who did not get tickets will be able to watch the ceremony on 80 giant screens installed throughout the city.
Who will perform at the opening ceremony?
In addition to the athletes who will participate in the parade, 3,000 dancers, artists and other athletes will contribute to the opening and closing ceremonies.
While most of the headliners are being kept under wraps, there is speculation that Celine Dion and Lady Gaga could perform, NBC News reports.
What happens if it rains during the opening ceremony?
Spectators and athletes could get wet, as there is no roof over the Seine. According to the latest weather forecast from Meteo-France, there is a slight chance of rain.
Cloudy skies are expected from midday, with light rain in the morning. Although the weather could improve in the afternoon, showers were warned to occur in the Paris region in the evening.
Despite the rain, the ceremony will go on as planned.