Opening of the 2024 Olympic Games: what the organizers have planned and where to watch the ceremony.

Today, July 26, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games will take place in France. This year, the opening ceremony has several interesting features.

The event is scheduled on the Seine in Paris. The start of the event is at 20:30 Kyiv Time. The ceremony will be broadcast on the channels 'First' and 'Public' (regional) and the 'Public Sport' platform. The organizers decided to arrange a boat parade on the River Seine instead of the usual procession at the main arena. The presentation of athletes will take place at the Trocadero square near the Eiffel Tower.

Instead of marching along the tracks, athletes will be sailing on the River Seine. The banks will serve as the audience. This concept will make Paris-2024 the largest opening ceremony in terms of audience reach and geography.

During the parade, there will be about 100 boats with representatives from over 200 countries. Athletes from small teams will share vessels with other sports microstates, while large delegations will have their own national boats.

The parade route will be from the Austerlitz bridge 6 km west past the historical sites of Paris to the Trocadero square. There, the Olympic flame will be lit, and the Games will be declared open.

The details of the entertainment part of the ceremony remain a secret.

The athletes' clothing will reflect the national culture of their countries. For example, Brazilian athletes will wear denim jackets with images of local fauna, while Guatemalans will don folk hats and bags.

The uniqueness of the costumes of Mongolian athletes has sparked particular interest. They combine national elements with Olympic symbols.

Tennis player Elina Svitolina will be Ukraine's flag bearer at the opening ceremony.

Also read:

• Olympic Games in Paris: where to watch competition broadcasts in Ukraine
• Through thorns to Paris. Incredible stories of Ukrainians who won Olympic licenses during the war
• Olympics in Paris. Calendar of competitions of Ukrainian athletes