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Paris will host the 2023 Olympics. It will be the third time that the French capital has hosted the Summer Games, but the most recent edition in the city was exactly 100 years ago, in 1924.
World Athletics is standing by its ban of all Russian and Belarusian athletes from the biggest Olympic sport of all, despite the International Olympic Committee clearing their participation.
When does Paris 2024 take place?
The 33rd Summer Olympic Games – or formally, the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad – will run from Friday July 26, 2024 until Sunday August 11. As is tradition, the opening ceremony will take place on Friday July 26.
Four events actually start before the opening ceremony: archery, football, handball and rugby sevens.
More than 10,000 athletes from 206 nations are expected to take part across 329 events, representing more than 28 sports.
Will Russians be competing at the Olympics?
By Jeremy Wilson
World Athletics is standing by its ban of all Russian and Belarusian athletes from the biggest Olympic sport of all, despite the International Olympic Committee clearing their participation in the Games.
The IOC confirmed in December that, despite the invasion of Ukraine, governing bodies could permit neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus. However, only individual athletes will be permitted and not Russian teams, flags or emblems. Athletes and support personnel who back the are in Ukraine are also barred, as are any athletes or staff employed by the military.
In explaining their decision, the IOC noted that athletes from those countries had competed under strict conditions of neutrality in certain qualifying events over recent months “largely without incident”.
Russians and Belarusians were not, however, permitted during the World Athletics Championships in August and the sport’s president Sebastian Coe, who has not ruled out standing himself to become the next IOC president, stressed that they would not be competing in Paris.
“We have a fixed position,” Coe said. “That position hasn’t altered, and I think it is right that international federations should make judgements that they feel is in the best interests of their sport. That is what our council has done. You may well see some neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus in Paris. They just won’t be in athletics.”
Ukraine have threatened to boycott the Olympics if Russian and Belarusian athletes compete even as neutrals next summer.
How is Paris preparing for the Games?
By raising prices, primarily.
There was controversy in November when it was announced that fares on the Paris Metro are to double during the Games, to €4, unless you own a regular travel pass. The extra cost is to help pay for the extra transport needed. Among other price rises, the Louvre is increasing entrance fees from €17 to €22 (although the museum says this is not because of the Games). Hotel and AirB&B costs are also rocketing, with some rentals being offered at up to four times the usual rates for August.
Separately, Parisians living near the Seine face a lockdown during the Opening Ceremony, which will take place on and around the river, rather than in a stadium. Anybody who wants to shop, dine or visit friends in the area will have to register online and present a pass to be allowed through. There will also be a no-fly zone over Paris around the time of the Opening Ceremony, meaning no flights in and out of the city’s three main airports.
Motorists will also be banned from the areas around the major venues (see below).
How can I get tickets?
There are a total of 10 million tickets for the Games, with British supporters set to be the largest fanbase outside of the home nation after already snapping up almost 500,000 tickets. With the Olympics now only six months away, around eight million tickets have so far been sold to fans from 197 different nations.
“Team GB is obviously coming in force with great expectation,” said Etienne Thobois, the chief executive of the Paris 2024 organisers. “We are more than happy to see the Brits coming in force to cheer for the athletes of the world. We are looking forward to welcoming you guys in Paris. It’s very close – less than three hours away [by Eurostar] and London 2012 is still in the memories of everyone. It was an inspiring Games for us too. Britain is the first market by far outside of France.”
One regret for the organisers will be the absence of the England women’s football team – and what would have been a large fansbase – after the Lionesses failed to secure qualification.
Tickets for the most popular Olympic events, including swimming and gymnastics, are sold out with only availability through special ‘hospitality packages’. Remaining opening ceremony tickets are available for around €2700 (£2,300).
