The Paris 2024 Olympics are set to kick off on July 26th, featuring a unique opening ceremony where athletes will parade down the Seine River on a flotilla of boats, replacing the traditional stadium parade.
Team GB aims for a medal haul of 50-70, with competitions in cycling and judo starting even before the official ceremony. Here’s a breakdown of must-watch events in the first week:
The Opening Ceremony on July 26th at 18:30 BST will see a spectacular boat parade on the Seine River, featuring thousands of athletes in a celebratory procession. This unique event promises to set a festive tone for the games.
On July 27th, the spotlight will shift to the Road Cycling Time Trial, with the Women’s event starting at 13:30 BST and the Men’s at 15:34 BST. Team GB’s medal hopefuls, Adam Peaty and Anna Henderson, will race against the clock in their quest for podium finishes.
Swimming heats will also be a major draw, with Adam Peaty aiming for his third consecutive gold medal in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke heats at 10:00 BST.
Another highlight will be the anticipated duel between Katie Ledecky (USA) and Ariarne Titmus (AUS) in the Women’s 400m Freestyle heats. Additionally, Team GB’s Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen will compete in the Diving Women’s 3m Synchro Final at 10:00 BST, striving for synchronized perfection.
The day will culminate with the Rugby Sevens Men’s Final at 18:45 BST, where France, led by star player Antoine Dupont, will compete for gold on home soil.
July 28th promises more excitement, starting with the Men’s 100m Breaststroke Final at 20:54 BST, where Adam Peaty will attempt to make history with a third consecutive gold medal.
In Judo, the Men’s -60kg category will feature a highly anticipated match between Japan’s Giorgi Sardalashvili and France’s Luka Mkheidze.
Tennis fans should watch for Rafael Nadal (ESP), who might be competing in his final Olympic Games. The Skateboarding Men’s Street Final at 16:00 BST will see Japan’s Yuto Horigome aiming to defend his gold medal.
On July 29th, the Women’s Cross-Country Mountain Bike event at 13:10 BST will feature Team GB’s Evie Richards navigating a challenging course in pursuit of a medal. In Judo, Chelsie Giles (GBR) aims to become Team GB’s first-ever Judo gold medalist in the Women’s -52kg category.
The Archery Women’s Team Final at 08:30 BST will see Team GB’s Penny Healey and Bryony Pitman competing against favorites South Korea, hoping for an upset.
July 30th will be action-packed with the Diving Men’s 10m Synchro Final at 10:00 BST, where Tom Daley (GBR) and Noah Williams will compete for gold. The evening swimming finals will feature the Men’s 200m Freestyle Final at 19:43 BST and the Women’s 100m Backstroke Final at 19:57 BST, both promising thrilling races with some of the fastest swimmers.
Additionally, Tom Pidcock (GBR) will defend his Tokyo 2020 title in the Men’s Cross-Country Mountain Bike event at 13:10 BST. The day will conclude with the Gymnastics Men’s Team Final at 16:30 BST, where Team GB will challenge China and Japan for a podium finish.
The week will continue with the Triathlon Men’s Individual event on July 31st at 07:00 BST. Starting from the iconic Pont Alexandre III bridge, Alex Yee (GBR) will lead the charge in this grueling yet scenic triathlon event, rounding out an exhilarating start to the Paris 2024 Olympics.