The greatest and most popular celebration of sport, right at the heart of Paris. Paris last hosted the Games in 1924. A century later, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are back for what will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience – widespread celebration, moments of sporting greatness, infused with a spirit of togetherness and unity.
On 26 July 2024, a truly spectacular Opening Ceremony will mean the eyes of the world are on the city, proudly promoting the values of Olympism. The ambitious project, the result of intensive collaboration between hundreds of stakeholders, will bring joy to Parisians, Île-de-France residents and tourists alike.
This Opening Ceremony will mark the history of the Games. For the first time ever, rather than being contained in one stadium, it will take place at the heart of the capital. The athletes will be carried past the grand quays and under the iconic bridges of the Seine in a majestic flotilla of boats – and the ceremony will be accessible to all.
The choice to launch the Paris Games on the Seine is a bold one and part of a long-term strategy. Building on the opening of the embankments to pedestrians in 2016, the idea is to continue reconnecting Parisians and local residents with the river, opening up more opportunities to engage in sport by the water or simply take walks to admire the surroundings. The Olympic and Paralympic GamesParis 2024 will mark the beginning of a new chapter in this story, with swimming in the Seine itself.
View the video and first images of this exciting project here!
‘Rest assured, the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will be nothing short of magical. Its staging will be groundbreaking. It will be a ceremony for the people, open to one and all. It will show the world the very best of France. A party like no other… and the world is invited!,” says Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024
The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will not only be an opportunity to promote the City of Light, its heritage and all its novelties, innovations and new sustainable modes of transport, but also to promote the richness of tourism in France’s other cities and overseas territories, through sailing events in Marseille and surfing in Tahiti.
France: a host country for major international sporting events
What could be more significant than a major sporting event to highlight the international influence and tourist appeal of a country? France is preparing to channel its vibrant energy into hosting three major events in the space of 18 months. In addition to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, France will have the pleasure of hosting:
- The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Courchevel and Méribel (6-19 February 2023), which will unite the world’s best skiers and their supporters, at the same time as highlighting France’s mountain destinations and the quality of what they can offer as host stations.
- The Rugby World Cup France 2023 (8 September–28 October 2023), one of the most-watched sporting events in the world, will unite 20 nations from South Africa to Argentina, from Ireland to Japan. This great celebration will be an opportunity for the nine French host destinations – Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Paris Saint-Denis, Saint-Etienne and Toulouse – and all regions of France to showcase their heritage, gastronomy and art de Vivre, which chime with the values of rugby around culture and celebration.
