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This story originally appeared in WIRED Italia. It has been translated from Italian.
The opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics is designed to be unlike any in years past. For starters, the festivities kicking off the 33rd edition of the Games won't be held in a stadium—they'll take place on a series of parade floats making their way through the French capital on the river Seine. The event is, according to Olympics organizers, meant to revolutionize the Games while “remaining accessible to a large audience.” Here’s what you need to know about the opening ceremony for the 2024 Paris Games, which begins at 1:30 pm ET Friday.
What’s New About the Opening Ceremony
For the first time in the history of the Summer Olympics, the opening ceremony will not be held inside a stadium. The choice made by the organization, in agreement with the city of Paris and the French government, is bold and unique, and opens up new avenues for sports competitions. The parade of athletes—some 10,500 people belonging to the more than 200 participating Olympic committees—will take place on the Seine, with boats for each delegation equipped with cameras to allow those watching on TV or streaming online to see the athletes up close. (Need to know how to watch the Summer Games? Look no further.)
The delegations will enter in the center of Paris. The parade will end its nearly 4-mile route in front of the Trocadéro, where the other elements of the ceremony and the final performances will take place. The Olympic brazier will not be installed on the Eiffel Tower, as organizers originally planned; instead, the Jardin des Tuileries will host the famous Olympic flame of the Paris 2024 Games. The athletes competing in the Games will be present onstage along with the performers, which will reportedly include Celine Dion and Lady Gaga.
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This year also marks the first time that the opening ceremony will be open to all and free of charge—well, almost. Spectators won't need to show a ticket to watch the parade form the upper platforms along the Seine. Those who want to stand on the lower docks, from the Austerlitz Bridge to the Iéna Bridge, will need a ticket, though. Everyone else should be able to follow the parade thanks to 80 giant screens and strategically placed speakers.
The Parade Route
The departure of the boat parade will take place from the Austerlitz Bridge next to the Jardin des Plantes at 7:30 pm local time, circling the two islands in the city center, Île Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité. The route will then continue under the eight bridges and 10 arches along the Seine's route. From the boats, the flag-bearers and athletes participating in the two-week event will be able to admire some of the official sites of the Games, such as La Concorde, the Esplanade des Invalides, the Grand Palais, and finally the Iéna Bridge, where the procession will stop in front of the Trocadéro for the final part of the ceremony.
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The Opening Ceremony By the Numbers
An estimated 1.5 billion spectators are expected to watch the Olympics opening ceremony, either from the parade route along the Seine or via TV or streaming. Approximately 94 boats will be part of the procession, each carrying participating delegations and the artists involved. All told, the boats will hold some 10,500 athletes from the 206 National Olympic Committees. Approximately 120 heads of state, monarchs, and government leaders are also expected to attend the ceremony.
