Paris 2024 Summer Olympics: Historic Opening Ceremony Kicks Off This Week

The 2024 Paris Olympics will commence this week, marking a return to normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the 2020 Tokyo Games. Over 200 National Olympic Committees will compete in 32 sports for a chance at winning gold.

The Summer Olympics in Paris begin this week with what will be a historic opening ceremony that takes center stage on the Seine River Friday. This year's Games marks a return to normalcy after the 2020 Games in Tokyo were delayed a year after the COVID-19 pandemic. Some sports will be returning to Paris, while others will be making their debut on the biggest international stage.

The 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) arriving in Paris will compete in 32 sports for a chance at winning gold. The action kicks off Wednesday with eight men's soccer matches and the preliminary phase for rugby sevens. The following day includes a lineup of archery, women's soccer, women's handball, and rugby sevens.

Paris 2024 Summer Olympics: Historic Opening Ceremony Kicks Off This Week

The opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET. The ceremony will take place on the Seine River, a first for the Olympics. The ceremony is expected to be a spectacle, showcasing the culture and history of Paris.

On Sept. 14, 2017, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) met for a session in Lima, Peru, where it announced that Paris and Los Angeles had been awarded the 2024 Summer Games and the 2028 Summer Games, respectively.

Paris 2024 Summer Olympics: Historic Opening Ceremony Kicks Off This Week

Several notable venues will play host to the Olympics this year. They include Roland Garros, home of the French Open; Eiffel Tower Stadium, where beach volleyball will be played; and the Palace of Versailles, which will be the site for all equestrian and modern pentathlon events.

The United States is the favorite to win the overall medal count at this year's Games, but China will challenge the U.S. in the gold medal count. In the 2020 Olympics, Team USA hauled in 113 medals, including 39 gold, 41 silver, and 33 bronze. China followed with 89 medals, including 38 gold.

Paris 2024 Summer Olympics: Historic Opening Ceremony Kicks Off This Week

Helping Team U.S. in pursuit of a similar outcome will be American gymnast Simone Biles, who is looking to add to her seven medals. Biles returned to the sport last year after withdrawing from several events in Tokyo to focus on her mental health. She did so in dominating fashion, winning a record sixth world all-around title.

NBA star LeBron James, track stars Sha'Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles, Katie Ledecky, and Scottie Scheffler are among the other top U.S. athletes favored to win gold.

NBC will air specific events on its cable networks and will stream all events live on Peacock.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will feature new sports such as skateboarding, surfing, and breakdancing. These sports have been added to the program to appeal to a younger audience and reflect the changing landscape of sports.

Sustainability is a key focus for the Paris Olympics. The organizers have pledged to make the Games as environmentally friendly as possible. The opening ceremony will be powered by renewable energy, and the venues will be built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.

The 2024 Paris Olympics are expected to be a major success. The city is ready to welcome the world and put on a spectacular show. The athletes are preparing for the competition of a lifetime, and the fans are eager to witness the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.