The Eiffel Tower is seen behind a Paris Olympics canvas, from the Trocadero plaza Thursday, July 18, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics is set for Friday (Saturday morning, Philippine time).
Instead of a traditional march into a stadium, about 10,500 athletes–including delegates of the Team Philippines–will parade on more than 90 boats on the Seine River for 6 kilometers (3.7 miles). This will start the ceremony, not mark the end of it, another break from tradition.
What time does the opening ceremony start?
The ceremony starts at 1:30 a.m. Philippine time on July 27 (1:30 pm EDT/7:30 p.m. CEST July 26) and is expected to last more than three hours.
Where is the opening ceremony being held?
A full moon rises behind the Olympic rings hanging from the Eiffel Tower, Monday, July 22, 2024, in Paris, France. The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics is Friday (Saturday, PH time). (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The parade starts at the Austerlitz Bridge beside the Jardin des Plantes and follows the course of the Seine from east to west. It makes its way around two islands in the center of the city before passing under several bridges and gateways.
Athletes aboard the boats will get glimpses of several Paris Olympics venues including La Concorde Urban Park (3X3 basketball, breaking, BMX freestyle cycling, skateboarding), Invalides (archery, athletics — marathon finish, road cycling — time trial start) and the Grand Palais (fencing, taekwondo). The parade ends at the Iena Bridge, which links the Eiffel Tower on the left bank of the Seine to the Trocadéro district on the right bank.
The ceremony’s finale is at the Trocadéro. There, among other ceremonial procedures, French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver opening remarks.
How and where can I watch the opening ceremony?
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. grants a photo opportunity with officials and Philippine Olympians and Philippine Paralympians as they were sent off for Paris Olympics 2024. –HANDOUT PHOTO
In the Philippines, official broadcasters Cignal TV/One Sports Digital will carry the opening ceremony that will feature Team Philippines in the Parade of Nations. Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam will serve as the flag bearers for the Philippines.
According to One Sports, the opening ceremony will be aired on its Facebook & YouTube accounts, free-to-air channel One Sports, One Sports+ and Cignal TV Pop-up channels 1 & 2 on cable TV, and Pilipinas Live via streaming. It will be featured on the 2:30pm telecast on RPTV.
READ: Team Philippines in Paris Olympics 2024: Meet the athletes
In the United States, the ceremony will air on NBC and stream on Peacock and NBC Olympic platforms — NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, NBC app, NBC Olympics app.
About 220,000 invited and security-screened spectators are expected to fill the upper tiers of the Seine’s banks, and an additional 104,000 paying spectators will watch from the lower riverside and around the Trocadéro plaza.
Those in Paris who could not get tickets will be able to watch the ceremony on 80 giant screens set up throughout the city.
Who is performing at the opening ceremony?
In addition to the athletes who will participate in the parade, 3,000 dancers, artists and other athletes will be featured in the opening and closing ceremonies. Most of the entertainment acts remain under wraps.
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NBC News reported that Celine Dion and Lady Gaga have arrived in Paris amid speculation that one or both of the pop singers will perform at the opening ceremony. –with reports from INQUIRER.net
Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024.
