Countdown Begins for Paris Olympics 2024

Team Udayavani, Jul 26, 2024, 10:35 AM IST

Paris: The countdown has begun for the world’s largest sporting event, the Olympics. Paris, France, will host the 33rd Summer Olympics, with the games officially commencing on Friday.

The previous Olympics were held under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this time, the stage is set for the sports festival without such fear.

Paris is hosting the Olympics for the third time and is fully decked for the occasion. All preparations are complete for the 16-day mega sporting event.

For the first time in Olympic history, there will be an equal number of male and female athletes, with a total of 10,500 participants and support staff accommodated.

High Expectations for India

A team of 117 athletes from India is participating in this year’s Olympics. After winning 7 medals in the last Olympics, fans expect India to achieve a double-digit medal tally this time.

Tight Security Measures

Strict security measures are in place due to potential threats during the Olympics. Concerns about cyber attacks have been raised, and personnel have been deployed to counter them. For the inauguration alone, 35,000 security personnel have been appointed.

Third Time Hosting for Paris

This is the third time Paris is hosting the Summer Olympics, with previous events held in 1900 and 1924.

Sindhu and Sharath as Flag Bearers

During the opening ceremony, badminton star P.V. Sindhu and veteran table tennis player Sharath Kamal, who has won 7 gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, will be the flag bearers for India.

Opening Ceremony on the River

For the first time, the Olympic opening ceremony will be held on a river. While some events will take place in stadiums, the main events will be on the river. Around 1,000 athletes will participate, with over 100 boats being arranged for the occasion. The athlete parade will start from the Austerlitz Bridge and will cover a distance of 6 km, ending near the Eiffel Tower.

Greece Gets Priority

Greece will be given priority in the parade, honoring its role as the origin of the modern Olympics. Other countries will follow in alphabetical order based on their names.

India’s 84th Position

India will appear as the 84th country in the parade during opening ceremony. Host country Paris will be the last (205th) to appear, with the USA, hosting the next Olympics in Los Angeles, appearing as the 204th country. Australia, hosting the 2032 Olympics, will be the 203rd country.

500,000 Spectators Expected

Approximately 500,000 people are expected to witness the opening ceremony. Spectators will watch from the riverbanks, nearby apartments, and building balconies.

3,000 Artists Performing

Cultural programs will be held on the river, featuring around 3,000 artists. There will be 12 different categories of performances, including French music, classical, rap, and electronic music.

The event will start at 5:30 PM (France local time), with the sunset providing a scenic backdrop.

Live Broadcast on Jio Cinema

Viacom 18, the official broadcast and digital partner of the Paris Olympics, will stream the event live on Jio Cinema. It will also be broadcast live on the Sports-18 channel.