The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics will be held on the Seine River, with an estimated 600,000 spectators in attendance.

On December 13, the Paris Organizing Committee officially unveiled the creative concept for the 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony. This year’s ceremony will break free from the confines of a traditional stadium, taking place along a six-kilometer stretch of the Seine River and its surrounding areas.

On December 13, the Paris Organizing Committee announced that the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games, scheduled for July 26, will take place on the Seine River, breaking with the long-standing tradition of athletes and officials entering the stadium during the Summer Olympics.

According to the current design, approximately 10,500 athletes will enter the venue aboard more than 160 boats, traveling westward along the Seine River from the Austerlitz Bridge to the Iéna Bridge. The route passes through Paris’s most central districts, with the banks lining up some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, the Grand Palais, and the Eiffel Tower.

Athletes and officials from more than 200 countries will travel nearly six kilometers aboard over 160 boats, sailing between the Austerlitz Bridge and the Iéna Bridge in central Paris. The closing ceremony will take place at the Trocadéro, a fountain-filled garden offering a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower.

Paris Olympic Organizing Committee President Estanguet stated that the six-kilometer waterway offers limitless possibilities for the opening ceremony’s artistic performances, which will take place on the Seine River, on the bridges, and in the air. He said:

“At that time, one billion viewers will tune in to the opening ceremony. We hope they get to experience the very best of France. It will be a unique fusion of sport and culture, with the entire city transformed into a giant Olympic stadium.”

The Paris Olympic Organizing Committee expects at least 600,000 spectators to attend the grand opening ceremony in person.

The Paris Olympic Organizing Committee says the opening ceremony could become the largest Olympic event in history, with an estimated 600,000 attendees. A number of ticketed seats will be scattered along both banks of the Seine, while other areas will be open to the public free of charge.

Estanguet told AFP that he was “quite proud” of the idea.

“We will stage an athletes’ parade along the Seine in the heart of the city, a first in Olympic history. We anticipate at least 600,000 spectators on site—ten times the capacity of venues like the Stade de France.”

The competitions of this Olympic Games will also be held in the city center, including beach volleyball at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and equestrian events at the Palace of Versailles. During the Paris Olympics, cycling and running events open to the public will also take place within the Olympic venues.

(From ChinaDaily)