10 Cool Facts To Know About The Paris 2024 Olympics

I’m so excited about the Paris 2024 Olympics next year! I have already purchased my tickets and am putting my plans in place. Yet, since you all have peppered me with questions regarding the upcoming games, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to address them here. If you’re wondering what it would be like to attend such an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime event, this might help satisfy your curiosity. 

The summer Olympics are coming to ParisParis, and you can already see the city getting ready, however next year there will be some big changes. First, the opening ceremony is not going to be inside a stadium, it’s going to be right on the river Seine. The games will be held all over the cities and public squares. Here are the top 10 things you need to know including dates and ticket information, where the matches are being held, where you can see the games and other events around town without tickets, and the four new sports being introduced in the 2024 Summer Olympics.

1. What are the dates of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics? The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will be held from July 26-August 11^th. This will be the third time Paris has hosted the Summer Olympics with the last time being a hundred years ago in 1924, and boy a lot has changed. The 2024 games are the first to be fully aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement and organizers have pledged to make them the most sustainable games ever. 
2. How can I find tickets to the games?  The 2024 Paris Olympics ticketing system is conducted by a draw system similar to a lottery, which means you are placed on the wait list in hopes of earning an opportunity to purchase tickets. Not everyone who applies for tickets will get them. They’ve already had two rounds of drawings and many tickets have already been purchased. I was fortunate enough to have been selected in the 2^nd draw and was able to purchase my tickets before they sold out or became too expensive. 
3. How much does it cost to attend the games? Ticket prices vary from sportvary according to sport and the kind of seating you choose. I’ve seen the lowest priced seats offered at 24 Euros or about $26.00 for handball matches, but if you want to see something like soccer or tennis, the tickets are going to run between 150 and 300 Euros. Diving was running between 360-500 Euros,Euros; Gymnastics between 360-1,100 Euros and the swimming finals were listed at 1,250 Euros. Most tickets have now sold out, however,  there were still closing ceremony tickets available for 2,000 Euros. Opening ceremony tickets were selling at 400-3,000 Euros per ticket. The tickets in Paris are red hot and selling quickly, but I will give you a little hint on where you can see the games in Paris without a ticket. Keep reading…
4. Where is the Olympic Village located? The Olympic Village will be located in Saint Denis where there is expected to be approximately 14,500 athletes and officials staying during the games.  There will be three zones in the village. A residential zone with apartments for athletes and officials,  a Sports Zone with training facilities for all the Olympic sports and a commercial zone with shops, restaurants and other amenities for the athletes and officials. The Olympic Village is only open to people with proper credentials. Only athletes, their trainers, family, press and former Olympians can get in. Think of it as a safe space for athletes to relax, meet and mingle. 
5. How much will it cost to attend the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris? The ideal budget per person to attend the Olympics, including food and lodging for budget-minded folks you can expect to spend a minimum of 6,500 – 8,000 euro per person for a week-long trip. This includes the cost of flights, accommodations, tickets to events, food, and activities. And if you’re not on a budget, you can add some wine, champagne and some luxury VIP events and accommodations to your trip and have fun. Whatever your brand of luxury is, we can help you make that happen.
6. Where to stay during the Olympics? Now, I fully anticipate that the hotels in the heart of Paris will be sold out quickly and prices will increase gradually. However, since we work with amazing suppliers, we can put a package together for you and your family that includes everything, making it very convenient for you. I’ve been told to expect at least 30% higher than normal for the room rates and I’ve reviewed and inspected some great hotels in Paris, but if you’re looking for options outside the city, there are a few. The first city right outside of Paris is Saint Denis where the Olympic Village is going to be located. But then after that, I would look in Versailles. Versailles is about 45 minutes west of Paris and it will have a lot of great hotel options. There are other cities north of Paris that you could also take a look at. Feel free to contact us if interested in hearing more. 
7. Will there be new sports this year in the Olympics? The short answer is Yes! They have added four new sports for next year; Breakdancing, skateboarding, rock climbing and surfing. Surfing is going to take place in the French territory in Tahiti. 
8. Where will the Olympic Games actually be played? There will be some events happening in other French cities like football or soccer in Nice, Lyon, Nantes, Saint Etienne and Marseille. The bulk of the games will be in Paris and those are peppered throughout the iconic sites of Paris. This is truly a city-wide event. Some swimming events will even take place on the Seine! They’ve been cleaning up the Seine for the last few months and their stated goal is to make it so clean you could drink out of the river, so to speak. Imagine that!
9. Where can I watch the game inside of Paris if I’m not at the games itself? As a country of Human Rights, France is making sure the Olympic games are available to everyone which means setting up places where people can see the games regardless of whether they have tickets. Large screens will be located throughout the city, making it convenient for everyone. And, of course, all along the Seine river there will be a number of boats with big screens set up. Spectators can find a spot on either side of the river and watch the games. This will be a great option for those who want to enjoy the views of Paris while watching the action.
10. How is Paris going to handle the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics? The Opening ceremonies will begin at 8:24 p.m. on July 26, 2024, and of course they’ll be broadcast worldwide. The opening day ceremonies will be unique in three ways. One – for the first time the ceremonies will be held outside of an arena.  Two – It’ll take place in the Heart of the City showcasing the iconic Heritage of France and Three – the opening ceremonies are going to take place right on the river Seine. Delegates from each participating nation will arrive by boat along the Seine with major iconic Parisian landmarks including the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop.

The procession will end in front of the Trocadero where the final stages of the opening ceremony will take place and of course with the French focus on liberty, equality and fraternity. They’ve provided non-ticket areas where citizens can attend the opening ceremonies at no charge. Spectators will be able to see the parade of athletes, musical performances and fireworks from great viewing spots all along the riverbanks. And, if you want to try that route, I suggest you go early because those spots are prime and they’re going to fill up quickly.

Well, there you have it! Everything you needed to know about the upcoming summer Olympic games. If I have piqued your interest and you would like more information on how you and your family can attend the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris 2024, schedule a discovery call with me so we can get an early start on planning the perfect summer 2024 trip for you. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Au revoir!

Cheryl