PARIS, 24th July, 2024 (WAM) – For the first time in the history of the modern Olympic Games, the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will take place in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site: on the banks of the Seine in Paris.
''From the Île Saint-Louis to the Eiffel Tower, to the Place de la Concorde to the Grand Palais, the architecture on the banks of the Seine is a testament to several centuries of Paris, and of France’s rich history. UNESCO is delighted that this exceptional heritage, recognized and protected by our Organization, has been chosen by the Paris 2024 organizers as the backdrop for the largest open-air opening ceremony in the history of the Olympic Games,’’ said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in a press release.
On 26 July 2024 from 7.30pm Paris time, the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will see more than 10,000 athletes, officials and artists sail from the east bank to the west bank of the Seine and perform on the surrounding bridges and monuments, in front of more than 300,000 spectators on the quays, and hundreds of millions of television viewers.
This opening ceremony is unusual in that it is not being held in a stadium, but in the heart of the city, on a site that was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1991: the banks of the Seine. From the Ile St Louis to the Pont Neuf, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, and the Place de la Concorde to the Grand and Petit Palais, the evolution of Paris and its history can be seen from the River Seine.
Over the next fortnight, the banks of the Seine will also host a number of Paris Olympic Games events, including beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower, judo and wrestling at the Champ-de-Mars, marathon swimming from the Pont Alexandre III, fencing and taekwondo at the Grand Palais, archery at the Esplanade des Invalides, and breakdancing, BMX freestyle, skateboarding and 3x3 basketball, all at the Place de la Concorde, as well as triathlon, cycling and athletics events. The Palace and Park of Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, will host the equestrian events.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay, which has been touring France since 12 May 2024, has also celebrated the country’s heritage and culture, passing through some thirty UNESCO-protected sites.