The reason behind the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony with Paris 2024 set to stray away from tradition to produce one of a kind parade

The 2024 summer Olympic Games are here at last after months of anticipation and preparation.

The biggest event on the sporting calendar will get underway in earnest from July 24 in the French capital Paris.

This is the first time that a European city has hosted the games since London 2012 and will be the first time in 100 years that the world's best athletes will descend on the French capital for the competition.

The sporting events are not the only talking point of the Olympic Games, as many spectators get just as excited for the artistic spectacle that is the opening ceremony.

Here is everything you need to know about the opening ceremony for the Olympics including the reason behind it, what is different about this year and where you can watch it. 

2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony  

The opening ceremony marks the official start of the games, despite the fact that some of the sporting action will get underway two days prior on Wednesday, July 24.

The ceremony is an integral part of them Games; not only does it mark the start but it is an opportunity for people to discover the culture of the host country through music, dance and fireworks. 

A total of 10,500 athletes - representing 206 countries - and close to 120 heads of states, sovereigns and heads of government will attend and participate in the ceremony. 

The scope, size and overall spectacle of the opening ceremony improves every tournament, with each host nation bidding to out do the last and Paris will be no different.

For the first time, the opening ceremony will be held outside of a closed stadium, instead Paris will host a never before seen water parade for the Olympics.

The open-air spectacle will take place along a 6km stretch of the Seine River and will include a total of 160 boats, carrying 94 athletes each along the iconic river. 

During the parade, there will be over 3,000 performers in the ceremony with the delegations and passengers on the boasts. 

The parade will finish in front of the Trocadero where the remaining performances and elements of the Olympic protocol will take place. 

Although the floating parade was originally planned as a people's party along the banks, the French police have intervened and for security reasons most spectators will be assigned to an area or allocated seats in fenced-off areas for the ceremony.

Each country will debut their athletes with one of their most prolific names holding their national or regional flags at the beginning of the ceremony.

Greece traditionally debut first as a nod to where the Olympics originated first, with the host country being last to feature. 

The Olympic anthem is then rang out after the head of state of the host country announces the commencement of the Games. 

The iconic Olympic flame is then brought forward for the lighting of the main torch which is the culmination of the opening ceremony as well as the release of doves, symbolising peace amongst all countries. 

Parade route

The route of the river parade will be as follows...

The floating barges and boats will travel from east to west departing from the Austerlitz bridge which is poised right next to the beautiful Jardin des Plantes.

The next part in their journey will take them around the two islands Ile Saint Louis and the Ile de la Cite before breezing past Grand Palais and Esplanade des Invalides before reaching their final destination in front of the Trocadero. 

Who will be performing at the opening ceremony?

Various artists, dancers and performers will be involved throughout the duration of the spectacle, including on the individual boats for the parade.

The official list of performers has yet to be revealed but fans tuning in to watch the ceremony will not be left disappointed as renowned stage director Thomas Jolly has been given the reigns as the artistic director for the parade. 

Where to watch?

The Olympics ceremony will begin at 7.30pm local time in Paris, so 6.30pm UK time. 

The opening ceremony  be available to watch live on both Eurosport and BBC One. 

For people who are out and about on Friday evening, they can catch the event live on BBC iPlayer and Discovery+.