The 2024 Summer Olympics kicked off in Paris on Wednesday with men's soccer games and rugby sevens. Here's everything you need to know about when, where, and how to watch the Olympics.
The Olympic games this year will run from July 26 to August 11 as a total of 10,500 athletes representing 206 countries compete for 329 gold medals across 32 sports in this year's games.
While the opening ceremony will kick off on Friday, some sports actually began on Wednesday, including eight men's soccer matches and rugby sevens preliminaries. On Thursday, archery, women's soccer, handball, and more rugby sevens are also set to begin.
Opening Ceremony
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony will take place on Friday featuring about 10,000 athletes parading on over 90 boats along the Seine River. The event will last nearly four hours.
Meanwhile, security is expected to be a concern with about 220,000 security-screened spectators expected to fill the upper tiers of the river's banks along with an additional 100,000 paying spectators watching from the lower riverside.
According to the Associated Press (AP), there will be 45,000 security personnel deployed and airspace restrictions in place. In addition, French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that if the security threat is deemed too high, the ceremony could be shifted to the Stade de France, AP reported.
How to Watch the Olympics
There are a variety of ways to watch the games as the 2024 Olympics will be available across various channels and streaming platforms. NBC will broadcast the most popular events live each morning and afternoon in the U.S., offering more programming hours than ever before. NBC sports commentator, Mike Tirico, will be hosting two daily shows, one featuring live competitions and another providing highlights during U.S. prime-time hours.
In addition to NBC, USA Network, E!, CNBC, and GOLF Channel will air live coverage. Peacock will also serve as the streaming hub, offering all 329 medal events.
What to Watch
While there is over 30 different sports to follow, some of the most anticipated sports include:
Swimming and Gymnastics: Start on Saturday, with swimming ending on August 4 and gymnastics on August 5.
Track and Field: Runs from August 1-11.
Basketball: Men's final on August 10, women's final on August 11.
Soccer: Men's final on August 9, women's final on August 10 at Parc des Princes.
Tennis: Women's singles final on August 3, men's singles final on August 4 at Roland Garros.
Breakdancing: making its debut in Paris as a new sport to the Olympics, the sport aims to attract a younger audience. Competitors will be judged on creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity, and musicality.
Athletes to Watch
Simone Biles: Returning for her third Olympics the gymnastics star aims to add to her seven medals.
LeBron James: Seeking his third gold medal in men's basketball at age 39.
Sha'Carri Richardson: Will be competing in the track 100 meters after winning at the U.S. trials.
Noah Lyles: Will be aiming for gold in the track 100 meters.
Katie Ledecky: Leading the U.S. swim team in her fourth Olympics.
U.S. Poised to Lead Gold Medal Count at Olympics
According to BetMGM sportsbook, the United States is heavily favored to win the most gold medals at the upcoming Olympics, with odds set at -500. The over/under for American gold medals is 39.5. Trailing behind, China has +300 odds with an over/under of 33.5, and France is a distant third at +8000 with an over/under of 26.5.
Meet the Olympic Mascot: The Phryge
The official mascot for the Olympics is the Phryge, inspired by the soft red Phrygian cap. Known historically as a symbol of liberty, this conical hat has roots in ancient Persia, the Balkans, Thrace, Dacia, and Phrygia—now modern-day Turkey.
The cap became a symbol of the pursuit of liberty in the French Revolution and is still worn by the figure of Marianne, the national personification of France since that time.
The Olympic version of the cap features a triangular shape, a friendly smile, blue eyes, a tricolor ribbon, and vibrant sneakers, embodying the spirit of the Games.
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