The 2024 Olympics kick off this week with opening ceremonies scheduled for Friday in Paris. Here’s a glimpse of what to expect over the next few weeks in Paris.
Competitions start before the Opening Ceremony
Although Friday is the official start of the Olympics, several sports will commence competing on Wednesday. Soccer and rugby, among others, will have events on Wednesday.
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Team USA’s men’s soccer team will kick off play on Wednesday against France, while the women’s team will play on Thursday against Zambia. Soccer is one of the sports that will continue throughout the Olympics.
What to anticipate from the Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony will be a unique experience. Instead of being held inside a stadium, Friday’s events will happen along the River Seine. Authorities mentioned that there will be a four-mile-long flotilla of nearly 90 boats carrying athletes from over 200 countries past thousands of spectators.
The Opening Ceremony begins at noon ET in the U.S, and will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock. NBC will re-air the Opening Ceremony for primetime viewers later in the evening.
LeBron James will be the U.S. flag bearer for Friday’s ceremonies.
Gender balance achieved for the first time
The International Olympic Committee stated that the 2024 Games will mark the first instance of an equal number of women and men participating. According to IOC data, over 10,000 athletes will be invited to this year’s Olympics.
There are also 331 medal events for the Olympics – 151 male events, 146 female events, and 20 mixed-gender competitions. Also, there will be new competitions in break dancing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing.
When is the Closing Ceremony?
Stade de France will host the Olympics’ Closing Ceremony on August 11, starting at 1 p.m. ET.
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Tracking medals
This summer, the U.S. aims to maintain its lead in the medal count. In the 2020 Tokyo Games, the U.S. topped all nations with 39 gold medals and 113 overall medals. China ranked second with 38 golds and 89 overall.
The U.S. has secured the most gold medals in the last three Summer Olympics and led the overall count in the last seven Summer Olympics.
How to watch
NBC retains exclusive rights to this year’s Olympics. The network will start primetime coverage each night at 7:30 p.m. ET. Due to the time difference, these events will be shown on a tape-delayed basis.
NBC notes that primetime coverage usually begins with a gold medal win from the day’s competition, showcasing a significant victory within the first 10 minutes of the program.
Those seeking live event coverage can find it on Peacock, as well as NBC’s cable platforms like USA Network, E!, CNBC, GOLF Channel, Telemundo, and Universo.
