Euro 2024 has ended, sports fans around the planet have less than 2 weeks to recharge their batteries for the next equally exciting event: the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
The 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony will be unique, with a parade on the romantic Seine River in Paris. This is a special highlight and a breakthrough compared to previous Olympics, when the main stage is no longer confined within a stadium.
The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics will be held on the Seine River.
The parade is expected to include about 6,000 - 7,000 athletes from participating countries, moving on 100 boats and barges decorated splendidly. The parade will last 6km, down the Seine River, bringing the audience a party of sound, light and brilliant colors.
The image of people carrying national flags moving on the iconic river of Paris promises to be an extremely impressive and emotional moment, marking the beginning of an Olympic Games that promises to be full of excitement.
In addition, along both banks of the Seine River, millions of spectators will be immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of the opening ceremony with special art performances and grand welcome programs.
France prepares many special plans for this big event.
A rare event happened in the capital city of Paris in mid-July: a French government official personally swam in the Seine River, all to prove that the water quality of this famous river is qualified for Olympic athletes to compete here.
Swimming in the Seine has been banned since 1923 due to pollution. Around 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) have been invested in upgrading wastewater and stormwater treatment facilities in the Paris region over the past 10 years to improve the water quality of the Seine and its main tributary, the Marne. Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, French authorities have been working to clean up the Seine by any means necessary to ensure swimmers' safety.
To ensure security for the event, French authorities have ordered a lockdown of the central riverside districts, banning most vehicles from entering these areas from 5 a.m. on July 18. Police have classified these locations as "gray zones" with the highest level of security along the banks of the Seine. Those who want to enter these areas, such as residents or tourists who have booked hotel rooms, need a security pass issued in the form of a QR code.
To ensure security for the Opening Ceremony on July 26, French Interior Minister Gérard Darmanin emphasized that the city of Paris will be temporarily divided into two halves and people will not be able to cross the bridges connecting the two banks of the Seine River.
An estimated 500,000 people will watch the opening ceremony live from the stands, on the riverbank and from apartments overlooking. Some 45,000 police officers will be on duty to ensure security for the opening parade, along with thousands of soldiers and private security personnel.
Every country with a sports delegation participating in the games has confirmed that it will participate in this "unique" river parade in Olympic history.
The 2024 Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11, attracting an estimated 15 million spectators to watch matches held in stadiums built for international sporting events at famous locations such as the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides. French authorities have also created new VIP Olympic lanes to ensure traffic during the Olympics. Many metro stations in the city center will also be closed from July 18 to July 27, the day after the opening ceremony.
According to French media, the 2024 Paris Olympics have set a new record with 8.6 million tickets sold. This achievement has "broken" the previous record of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics with 8.3 million tickets and this number is said to continue to increase. This shows that up to now, the Summer Olympics is still one of the most attention-grabbing sporting events.
