Paris 2024: The Countdown is On!

After 100 years, the wait is finally over! From 26 July 2024, Paris will be hosting the world’s biggest sporting event: the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This promises to be the biggest sporting event ever organised in France. Billions of television viewers worldwide and millions of spectators in France will watch 10, 500 athletes compete over 41 venues across Paris and France.

Paris’ iconic landmarks are being transformed into sporting arenas that will offer spectators an unparalleled experience, providing an outstanding backdrop for sporting prowess. 
The country pledges to put the values of sport at the centre of people’s lives and to prove that excellence can be achieved whilst championing sustainability.

Here is what you need to know ahead of the Games in la Belle France.

When do the Games take place?

The Games will take place in two phases: 

• The Olympic Games from 26 July 2024 until 11 August 2024.
• The Paralympic Games from 28 August 2024 until 8 September 2024. 

An exception to this: the handball and football tournaments, due to their extensive calendar of matches, will start on 24 July 2024.

Where do the Games take place?

Most events will be held in Paris but there will also be some taking place across the whole of France. Bordeaux, Lyon, Nantes, Saint Etienne, Nice, Marseille to name but a few iconic places. 

And a first, Tahiti with its exceptionally challenging and breathtaking Teahupoo’s wave, will provide the perfect backdrop to the surfing event. 

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How do I travel between venues?

Paris 2024 is committed to sustainable mobility to minimise the environmental impact of the Games. As such, all competition venues are accessible by public transportation, with an adapted transportation plan in place.

In Ile-de-France (Paris and surrounding areas), the easiest and safest way to travel around will be to use public transports (metros, RER and Vélib’ bikes). You can visit public transport in Paris and its region to access practical advice and comprehensive information about the operation of the public transportation network in Île-de-France. You can also walk to and between venues.

To travel between cities, all Paris 2024 host cities will be served by trains provided by the SNCF group. The SNCF has planned to reinforce its guidance and assistance services at stations during the Games so that visitors and spectators can get around hassle-free. For more information on how to travel across France by train visit the SNCF website.

How can I buy tickets?

With almost 10 million tickets on sale for the Olympic games and 3.4 million tickets for the Paralympics, there will be something for everyone! If you have not yet got tickets, you will need to visit the official ticketing site Billetterie Officielle de Paris 2024 - Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques.

Simply create an account et voilà! 

How can I enjoy the Games for free?

The city will be buzzing with many events that can be enjoyed without spending a fortune:

• The Paris 2024 Triathlon on 30 July, 31 July and 5 August.
• The Paris 2024 Games Marathon on 10 and 11 August.
• The road cycling events on 27 July, 3 August and 4 August.
• The Opening Ceremony along the Seine on 26 July (for invited guests only amidst security risk).
• The 25 free fan zones set up across Paris to watch events for free on TV without any need for subscription to a channel or platform.
• The Olympic Flame Relay starts in Marseille on 8 May and will travel though as many regions as possible to display the history of France, its natural heritage, its creativity, and the validity of sport. 

For more information visit Enjoying the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games for free.

What can I expect from the opening and closing ceremonies?

For the first time in its history the Opening Ceremony will not be taking place in a stadium. It will be held along its main artery: the river Seine. The 10,500 athletes will parade on boats wending 6 kilometres from the Austerlitz Bridge all the way to the Trocadéro for the ceremony’s final. Paris is bringing the Olympic Games to the heart of the city.

The Closing Ceremony will take place on Sunday 11 August in the Stade de France.  It promises to be an indelible memory, marked by audacity, fraternity, and emotion.  Tickets are available to purchase on the Official Ticketing website. 

What are the mascots of Paris 2024?

Les mascottes of the games are called the Phryges and they stand for the Phrygian cap: a symbol of revolutions, of the French Republic and freedom. It can be seen on the French national icon Marianne, depicted in busts at town halls across the country as well as on stamps.

The Phrygian cap was part of all the major events in French history. The French National Archives show records of Phrygian caps being worn during the construction of Paris’ Notre-Dame cathedral in 1163, during the Revolution of 1789, during work to build the Eiffel Tower, and during the Games in 1924.

With millennia of experience, the Phryges know that any revolution needs preparation. Heading up this movement, the Olympic Phryge and Paralympic Phryge (with her running prosthetic) have one conviction: sport can change everything! Our lives, our health, our relationships with others, how we relate to nature. They tell us that it is time to welcome more sport into our lives!