Excitement Builds as Paris 2024 Olympics Kick Off

The world is buzzing with excitement as the Summer Olympics in Paris are set to begin, featuring over 30 sports spread across France. The fun kicks off informally on Wednesday, before the official opening ceremony on Friday.

It’s a historic moment as the opening ceremony, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. EDT, will make waves as the first to be held not in a stadium but on the picturesque River Seine. Spectators can expect the Parade of Nations to traverse the river in boats, culminating at the iconic Trocadero.

As the festivities ramp up, the first official day of competition promises thrilling events. Gymnastics fans are eager to see the men’s qualification event start at 5 a.m. EDT, while Team USA hopes to regain its place on the podium after a disappointing finish in Tokyo.

Swimming legend Katie Ledecky will dive into the women’s 400m freestyle among other exciting races that will be broadcast on NBC at 2:30 p.m. Coverage also extends to the women’s field hockey match against Argentina at 1:30 p.m. on CNBC.

Basketball action gets underway with Spain vs. Australia at 5 a.m., and ends with France taking on Brazil at 11:15 a.m. Fans can also follow the US women’s water polo team as they begin their quest for a fourth consecutive gold medal against Greece at 9:30 a.m. on USA.

Medals will be up for grabs in various events including judo, cycling, skateboarding, diving, shooting, and fencing. The gold and bronze medal matches in rugby sevens will air on NBC following the initial matches.

New sports are also in play today, including beach volleyball and tennis, as well as boxing and judo competitions. It’s an exciting time as both handball and soccer events continue, with the US men’s soccer team returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2008, despite a difficult start against France.

As the competitions unfold, the anticipation for dominant performances by American athletes such as Simone Biles and the US water polo teams adds to the thrill of the Games. Fans are encouraged to tune into Peacock or NBC for real-time updates.