When Are the 2024 Olympics, and How Can I Watch?

The 2024 Summer Olympics are about to get started, featuring competition among the best athletes in the world. Billions of people from around the world will be tuned in as athletes from 206 nations take part in 32 Olympic competitions along with 22 Paralympic competitions.

According to the Olympic Committee, the 2024 Summer Olympics will feature 869 events featuring some 15,000 athletes. It is expected that there will be 4 billion viewers, representing roughly 50% of the Earth’s population.

The 2024 Summer Olympics will mark the first time that the event has been held in full since the COVID-19 pandemic completely upended the 2020 version of the games. If you’re wondering how to watch the Olympics this year, we’ve got you covered.

Find out more about how to watch the 2024 Olympics, the 2024 Olympic schedule, and more.

Where Are the 2024 Summer Olympics Being Held?

Paris, France is officially the host city of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

However, the games will take place across nearly three dozen venues. These venues are throughout Paris, Versailles, Marseille, and Colombes. Surfing competitions will be held in Teahupo’o, Tahiti.

Many people also wonder where the Olympic Village will be each year. If you’re new to following the Olympic Games, the Olympic Village is the place where the athletes and delegates are housed. Incredible amounts of work go into getting the Olympic Village ready in each host city.

This year, the Olympic Village is in the French Department of Seine-Saint-Denis. The Village has been constructed on the three municipalities of Saint-Denis, Saint-Ouen, and L’Île-Saint-Denis.

When Do the 2024 Olympics Start?

The opening ceremony, which marks the unofficial beginning of the Olympic Games, is scheduled to take place on July 26, 2024. The opening ceremony is a grand event filled with a variety of entertainment.

However, the actual Olympic games will begin before the opening ceremony.

The first events are slated to be held two days earlier, on July 24, 2024.

The traditional closing ceremony is scheduled for August 11, 2024. That day will see several gold-medal games played, including basketball, water polo, team handball, and volleyball. Gold medals will also be won in marathon and road cycling competitions.

At 3 PM EST on August 11, the closing ceremony will include the extinguishing of the iconic Olympic torch. Also, the Olympic flag will be passed off to the leadership team from Los Angeles’ Olympic committee, as the “City of Angels” has been named as the host city for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

The Paralympic Games are scheduled to begin on August 29, 2024, and will conclude on September 8, 2024. For the first time ever, there will be a ceremony to commemorate the beginning of the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games opening ceremony is scheduled for August 28, 2024.

Do We Have Any Details About the Opening Ceremony?

The 2024 Olympic Games promises to be a special event, and that will be evident with the opening ceremony.

For the first time in the centuries-long history of the games, the opening ceremony will be held outside of a stadium. The ceremony is slated to take place along the River Seine. Each delegation of athletes will be represented by a boat.

Unlike previous iterations of the ceremony, admission will be free for those who want to see it live. Paris’ leadership worked with the Olympic Committee to make this a reality in an effort to “fold the excitement of the Olympics directly into the fabric of its host city.”

Additionally, there will be events associated with the opening ceremony taking place all across the city. While the opening ceremony is a highlight of every Olympic Games, this year’s event promises to be one of the most unique opening ceremonies in history.

When Do the Olympic Competitions Actually Start?

As we’ve already established, there will be some competitions that take place before the opening ceremony. This isn’t unique to the 2024 Summer Olympics, as there is usually a day or two of competition before the ceremony.

On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, soccer will be the main attraction. France, the host country for the 2024 Summer Olympics will take on the United States at Marseille Stadium in what promises to be an action-packed day on the pitch.

According to the 2024 Olympic schedule, Rugby sevens will also start on July 24. The following day, soccer and rugby will continue. Additionally, team handball matches will kick off.

How to Watch the 2024 Olympics?

Knowing how to watch the 2024 Olympics ensures that you’re tuned in and ready to see your favorite athletes compete on the world’s biggest stage.

Watch With Cable

As has been the case for years, NBC will be the broadcast partner of the Olympic Games. The media giant has had the rights to the Summer Olympics since 1988 and the Winter Olympics since 2002.

While NBC will air many of the competitions, along with the opening and closing ceremonies, the NBC family of networks will also play a major role in broadcasting the 2024 Olympics. Events will also air on CNBC, USA, GOLF Channel, and E!.

Watch Without Cable

In a time when many people have “cut the cord” and gotten rid of cable TV completely, you may be wondering if you can watch the 2024 Summer Olympics without cable. You can pick up NBC in most markets with an antenna.

However, that’s only going to get you a portion of Olympic coverage.

While online platforms won’t be broadcasting the entirety of the games, you can keep up with live coverage and see highlights on a variety of platforms.

Peacock, the official app of NBC, will carry a lot of Olympic coverage this year.

Additionally, Olympic fans who don’t have cable can take advantage of coverage on NBCOlympics.com and NBC.com.

NBC also offers the NBC Sports app and the NBC app, both of which will feature highlights, live results, and some other coverage options. While these apps and websites won’t give you the extent of the coverage that you can find on television, they are a viable option for those who don’t have cable.

Some of the Most Popular Athletes in the 2024 Olympics?

Since 1992, the US Men’s Basketball Team has featured some of the biggest names in professional basketball.

This year’s squad, coached by Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors) features LeBron James, Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, and other NBA superstars. Rookie sensation, Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) will play for his native France, the host country of this year’s games.

One of the biggest stories of this year’s Olympic Games is Simon Biles, considered by many to be the greatest gymnast in the history of the games.

Biles, who has won four Olympic gold medals, withdrew from multiple events during the Olympics in Tokyo a few years ago, suffering from a temporary loss of special awareness known as the “twisties.”

Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest male tennis players ever, skipped Wimbledon in 2024, citing the desire to get ready for the Olympic games. The “King of Clay” didn’t want to play on grass courts so close to the Olympics, as he prepares to represent his home nation of Spain in singles and doubles competitions.

Watch the 2024 Summer Olympics

The Olympics are one of the biggest attractions in the world every time they roll around. The 2024 games promise to be one of the most exciting ever as the Summer Olympics return to their full form for the first time since before the pandemic.

Sit back, support your home country, and enjoy the games!