The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony will be different than before

This year’s opening ceremony is also the first to be open to everyone and almost free. Spectators can watch the parade from the upper platforms along the Seine without showing a ticket. But those who want to stand on the lower quays (from Austerlitz Bridge to Jena Bridge) need to show a ticket. Everyone else can watch the parade through 80 giant screens and carefully placed speakers.

Parade route

At 7:30 pm local time, the parade will depart from the Austerlitz Bridge next to the Botanical Garden and circle the two islands in the city center, the Île Saint-Louis and the Île de la Cité. The parade will then follow the route of the Seine River, passing eight bridges and ten arches. The flag bearers and athletes participating in the two-week event will take a boat to see some of the official venues of the Olympic Games, such as the Place de la Concorde, the Place des Invalides, the Grand Palais, and finally reach the Pont d’Iéna, where the parade will stop in front of the Trocadero Square to complete the last part of the ceremony.

Opening Ceremony Data

An estimated 1.5 billion viewers will watch the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, either via the parade route along the Seine, or via television or streaming. Some 94 boats will take part in the parade, each carrying competing delegations and participating artists. In total, some 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees will be on board the boats. Some 120 heads of state, monarchs and government leaders are also expected to attend the Opening Ceremony.