We are less than 50 days away from more than 10,000 athletes from 206 countries sailing along the Seine River, announcing the start of the 30th edition of the Summer Olympic Games. This will be the largest sporting event, featuring the first opening ceremony outside of a stadium.
The essential facts you need to know are that there will be 206 countries represented and a total of 10,500 athletes competing in 32 sports and 45 disciplines. The Olympic Games begin on July 26 and end on August 11 in Paris, with 15 different Olympic venues. The motto is “Citrus, Altius, Fortius – Communiter,” which in English means “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.”
CURIOUS NUMBERS
The estimated cost of the Olympic Games is €9,181,587,528, which is three billion less than the cost of the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.
This year, a total of 329 medal events will be contested, the second highest number of competitions in any Olympic Games, 10 fewer than in Tokyo.
The surfing events will take place on the island of Tahiti, in French Polynesia. That island and the main venue in Paris are separated by a total of 15,715 kilometers. This is the farthest distance from a host city that an Olympic medal event has ever been contested.
For the first time in history, the opening ceremony will not be held in a stadium. In Paris 2024, it will take place along the Seine River, with up to 300,000 spectators expected to watch the inaugural ceremony.
According to the IOC, 50% of all athletes participating will be women. Paris 2024 will be the first Games to have an equal number of male and female participants. In 1900, the first Games with women had a participation rate of just 2.2%.
DATES TO REMENBER
The opening ceremony will be on July 26 and the closing ceremony on August 11. Swimming events will take place from July 27 to August 4, gymnastics from July 27 to August 10, tennis from August 2 to August 4, and athletics from August 1 to August 11.
ATHLETES TO WATCH
The battle in the 800-meter freestyle between Summer McIntosh and Katie Ledecky will be legendary as the three-time Olympic champion Ledecky defends her throne in Paris.
Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade is the current Olympic vault champion and won her second world title in October. She is undoubtedly an athlete to watch in these Games.
Victor Wembanyama will play his first Olympic Games with France and will be one of the stars to watch in basketball.
In tennis, there are many names to follow, one of them being Carlos Alcaraz, who will compete in his first Olympic Games. Alongside Rafa Nadal, he could secure a medal for Spain in men’s doubles.
NEW SPORT AND ALMOST NEW SPORTS
Breakdancing, a central piece of hip-hop culture for decades, will make its debut in Paris with stars like Víctor Montalvo and Sunny Choi. A total of 16 participants per gender will face off in head-to-head battles.
BMX, surfing, skateboarding, climbing, and 3×3 basketball are the sports that premiered in Tokyo and will return in Paris. Look out for stars like British BMX rider Charlotte Worthington, skateboarder Jagger Eaton, climber Sam Watson, and 3×3 basketball player Canyon Barry.
