Paris will host the Olympic Games in 2023. It will be the third time that the French capital has hosted the Summer Games, but the most recent edition in the city was exactly 100 years ago, in 1924.
World Athletics is sticking to its ban on all Russian and Belarusian athletes from the greatest Olympic sport of all time, despite the International Olympic Committee approving their participation.
When will Paris 2024 take place?
The 33rd Summer Olympics – or formally the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad – run from Friday, July 26, 2024 to Sunday, August 11. Traditionally, the opening ceremony will take place on Friday, July 26.
There are actually four events starting before the opening ceremony: archery, football, handball and rugby sevens.
More than 10,000 athletes from 206 countries are expected to participate in 329 events, representing more than 28 sports.
Will the Russians participate in the Olympics?
By Jeremy Wilson
World Athletics maintains its ban on all Russian and Belarusian athletes from the greatest Olympic sport of all time, despite the International Olympic Committee approving their participation in the Games.
The IOC confirmed in December that governing bodies could admit neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus despite the invasion of Ukraine. However, only individual athletes are allowed and no Russian teams, flags or emblems. Athletes and support staff supporting the arena in Ukraine are also excluded, as are all athletes and staff employed by the military.
Explaining their decision, the IOC noted that athletes from those countries had competed in certain qualifying events under strict conditions of neutrality in recent months “largely without incident.”
However, Russians and Belarusians were not allowed to attend the World Athletics Championships in August and the sport’s president, Sebastian Coe, who has not ruled out becoming the next IOC president, insisted they would not compete in Paris.
“We have a solid position,” Coe said. “That position has not changed, and I think it is right for international federations to make judgments that they believe are in the best interests of their sport. Our community has done that. You may see some neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus in Paris. They just won’t be in athletics.”
Ukraine has threatened to boycott the Olympics if Russian and Belarusian athletes compete even as neutral athletes next summer.
How is Paris preparing for the Games?
By mainly raising prices.
There was controversy in November when it was announced that Paris Metro fares will double to €4 during the Games unless you have a regular travel pass. The additional costs are intended to help pay for the additional transportation required. Among other price increases, the Louvre is increasing admission prices from €17 to €22 (although the museum says this is not because of the Games). Costs for hotels and AirB&Bs are also skyrocketing, with some rentals offering up to four times their usual August rates.
In addition, Parisians living near the Seine will face a lockdown during the opening ceremony, which will take place on and around the river, rather than in a stadium. Anyone wanting to shop, dine or visit friends in the area will have to register online and show a pass to be admitted. There will also be a no-fly zone over Paris around the time of the opening ceremony, meaning there will be no flights to and from the city’s three main airports.
Motorists will also be excluded from the areas surrounding the major sites (see below).
How can I get tickets?
There are a total of 10 million tickets for the Games, with British supporters set to be the largest fan base outside the home country, having already secured almost 500,000 tickets. With the Olympic Games just six months away, around eight million tickets have been sold to fans from 197 different countries to date.
“Team GB is obviously performing with great expectations,” said Etienne Thobois, the CEO of Paris 2024 organisers. “We are more than happy to see the British in large numbers there to cheer on the world’s athletes . We look forward to welcoming you to Paris. It’s very close: less than three hours away [by Eurostar] and London 2012 is still in everyone’s memories. These were also inspiring Games for us. Britain is by far the first market outside France.”
One regret for organizers will be the absence of the England women’s football team – and what would have been a large fan base – after the Lionesses failed to qualify.
Tickets for the most popular Olympic events, including swimming and gymnastics, are sold out and only available through special ‘hospitality packages’. The remaining tickets for the opening ceremony are available for approximately €2,700.
Which locations are included and for which sports?
Big Paris zone
Stade de France – Opening and closing ceremonies, rugby and athletics
Stade Olympique Colombes Yves-du-Manoir – Hockey
Arena 92 – Swimming, water polo
La Chapelle Arena – Badminton, gymnastics
Saint Denis – Water polo, diving, artistic swimming
Le Borget – Shooting, sport climbing
Zone Center Paris
Parc des Prinsen – Football
Roland Garros Stadium – Boxing, tennis
Expo Porte de Versailles in Paris – Indoor volleyball, basketball, table tennis, weight lifting
Arena Paris-Bercy – Artistic gymnastics and trampoline, basketball
Place de la Concorde – 3×3 basketball, break dancing, BMX freestyle, skateboarding
Pont d’Iena – Marathon swimming, marathon, race walking, cycling, road race and time trial, triathlon
Champion of Mars – Beach Volleybal
Grand Palais Ephemere – Judo, wrestling
Les Invalides – Archery
Versailles zone
Palace of Versailles – Equestrian, modern pentathlon
Le Golf National – Golf
Élancourt Hill – Mountain biking
Velodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines – Track cycling, BMX, modern pentathlon (fencing)
Outer
Lille, Stade Pierre-Mauroy – Handball
Vaires-sur-Marne, National Olympic Stadium of Île-de-France – Rowing, canoe-kayak
Marseille, Stade Velodrome – Football
Lyon, Parc Olympique Lyonnais – Football
Paris, Parc de Prinsen – Football
Bordeaux, Stade Matmut Atlantique – Football
Nice, Allianz Riviera – Football
Nantes, Stade de la Beaujoire – Football
Marseille, Port de la Pointe Rouge – The sailing
Tahiti, French Polynesia, Debarcadere Teahupoo – Surf