Your Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games guide: get ready for a summer of sport
From athletics and canoeing to horse riding and volleyball, we’ve got you covered with our round-up of the Summer Olympics.
Paris 2024 is set to have the world on the edge of their seats, so here’s a comprehensive guide to help you catch all the action.
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The Paris 2024 Olympics will take place from Friday, 26 July, when the opening ceremony celebrates French culture and officially lights the Olympic flame, until Sunday, 11 August, with the closing ceremony honouring the athletes’ achievements and handing over to the next host city.
The whole event has cost a staggering €8.3bn, with a schedule featuring 329 medal events across 32 sports; contests will run from early morning to late evening every day.
What to watch
Athletics: from August 1 to 11, the men’s and women’s 100m sprint is always a highlight, featuring the fastest runners in the world. Other best bits include the marathon tracing historic routes through Paris and both the decathlon and heptathlon, which showcase some impressively versatile athletes.
Swimming: tune in from July 27 to August 4, with top events including the men’s and women’s 100m and 200m freestyle: expect fierce competition. And don’t overlook the 4x100m medley relay, a team event combining all strokes that often results in thrilling finishes.
Gymnastics: this discipline runs from July 27 to August 5 and generates plenty of interest for the incredible skill on display – word is that Team GB are fielding their most gold medal-worthy gang to date. Don’t miss the apparatus finals like the floor, vault and rings for some jaw-dropping displays of talent and strength.
Cycling: there’s plenty for cycling fans, from track cycling’s exciting sprints and team pursuits in the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome to the road races and time trials through Paris and its surroundings, as well as action-packed BMX and mountain biking.
Team sports: yes, it’s not really fair to lump together football, basketball and volleyball, but that just shows how much top sporting action there is to choose from at Paris 2024. Both indoor and beach volleyball are highly competitive and popular among viewers, while the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments feature some of the best professional and national teams.
Tennis: held at Roland Garros between July 27-August 4, the iconic clay courts add an interesting twist to the Olympic tennis competition.
Rowing and canoeing: who doesn’t love watching the high-speed and technical canoe/ kayak slalom and sprint, especially the white-water slalom courses? Slightly more sedate but never dull, the rowing includes a variety of boat classes, from single sculls to eights.
Equestrian: eventing, dressage, and show jumping are always entertaining and impressive in equal measures.
How to watch
Here in the UK, the BBC is the official broadcaster for Paris 2024 and promises to provide extensive coverage. Tune in to BBC One and BBC Two, and don’t forget to hit that Red Button service for all the extras – you can also watch live streams and catch up on events through the BBC iPlayer.
You can follow the action on the BBC Sport website and app too, and there will be live commentary, updates, and special programmes covering the main events and key highlights on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Tips for making the most of the Olympics
Check the schedule: due to the time difference (Paris is one hour ahead of the UK), plan to catch live events and highlights – the official Olympics website and BBC Sport will provide detailed schedules.
Go all out for Team GB: Great Britain are forecast to finish third and beat their London 2012 medal haul with a predicted 66 medals, including 13 golds.
Engage on social media: stay updated with live reactions, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following official Olympic and broadcaster social media accounts.
Set reminders: use apps or your device's calendar to set reminders for events you don't want to miss, especially those scheduled during working hours or late at night.
Stay tuned all summer long
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