The 2024 Olympic Games are just around the corner. Get ready for all the action—on the track, courts, fields, pools, and all the other events—with a guide that tells you everything you need to know about the global gathering in Paris.
How can I watch the Olympics?
In many ways and through many channels.
The day’s most popular events will be broadcast live on NBC in the morning and afternoon in the U.S. NBCUniversal says the Paris Games will have more hours of programming on NBC than any previous Olympic Games.
Mike Tirico will host two Olympics broadcasts each day, one during primetime in Paris (2-5 p.m. Eastern Time in the U.S.) and show live competitions in elite sports such as swimming and gymnastics. The other will air during primetime in the U.S. while Paris sleeps and will provide a curated overview of the day’s best action.
USA Network, E!, CNBC and GOLF Channel will also show live action and Olympic programming. Peacock will serve as the US streaming home. It will stream every sport, including all 329 medal events.
When will the 2024 Olympic Games start?
It starts on July 24th with eight men’s football matches and the preliminary round for rugby sevens. The following day, archery, women’s football, women’s handball and rugby sevens are on the programme, with the opening ceremony scheduled for July 26th.
How is the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris carried out?
The bold, daring plan will see some 10,000 athletes parade on more than 90 boats 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) down the Seine. The open-air ceremony will take place at sunset and is expected to last nearly four hours, transforming Paris and its landmarks into a giant stage.
Security concerns are an issue. French President Emmanuel Macron has said the ceremony could be moved to the Stade de France if the security threat is deemed too high. However, organizers are sticking to their plans for an outdoor event. Around 45,000 security personnel will be deployed, and the airspace and all airports within 150 kilometers of Paris will be closed for the event.
Some 220,000 invited and security-monitored spectators are expected to fill the upper tiers on the river bank, and another 100,000 paying spectators will watch from the lower river bank and around Plaza Trocadéro.
What is the schedule for the Olympic Games?
Swimming and gymnastics both begin on July 27. Swimming ends on August 4 and the last day for gymnastics is August 5. Athletics will be held from August 1 to 11.
The men’s basketball final will be on August 10, with the women’s championship the following day. The men’s football gold medal match will be on August 9 at the Parc des Princes, with the women’s final the next day at the same venue. The women’s singles tennis final will be on August 3 at Roland Garros, with the men’s singles championship on August 4.
What are the new Olympic sports in 2024?
Breakdancing is making its Olympic debut at the Paris Games and is another step by the International Olympic Committee to appeal to a younger audience. The judges evaluate the breakdance artists according to the so-called Trivium judging system. A five-member jury panel evaluates each breakdance artist according to the criteria of creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity and musicality.
Who should you keep an eye on at the Paris Olympics?
It will be a starry summer in the City of Lights.
Simone Biles is back and looking to add to her seven medals from two previous Olympic appearances. The American gymnast won silver and bronze in the balance beam in Tokyo despite withdrawing from several competitions for mental health reasons. She returned to the sport last year and won a record six all-around world titles.
US basketball star LeBron James is aiming for his third gold medal. The 39-year-old James averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds in 71 games for the Los Angeles Lakers in his 21st NBA season, making him the league’s top scorer.
Sha’Carri Richardson won the 100 meters at the US track trials, securing her place in what is sure to be a strong field for the race in Paris. Richardson also won the 100 meters at the 2021 trials, but the win was annulled because she tested positive for a chemical found in marijuana.
Noah Lyles, another American track and field star, will try to win gold in the men’s 100 meters, and Katie Ledecky is the face of the U.S. swim team, which is making its fourth Olympic appearance. Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and Spaniard Jon Rahm will compete at Le Golf National, and Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz — two Spanish tennis players who know how to win at Roland Garros — plan to compete in doubles in Paris.
Which country is expected to win the most gold medals?
According to sports betting provider BetMGM, the USA are the favorites to win the most Olympic gold medals at -500. The over/under odds are 39.5. The Americans are followed by China (+300, 33.5 over/under) and France (+8000, 26.5).
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
