The 2024 Paris Olympic Games are about to begin, with 329 gold medals to be competed for in 32 sports, over a period of 18 days.

The Opening Ceremony will take place on Friday 26 July, although there are some preliminary rounds of certain sports beginning on the 24th.

American rapper Snoop Dogg has been named as one of the final torch-bearers, carrying the flame through the streets in the north of the French capital, in the penultimate leg of its journey from Greece.

It is estimated that around 300,000 people will watch from the banks of the River Seine as a parade of some 10,000 athletes takes place, not this time in a stadium, but uniquely on individual boats for each team.

The event is expected to last for a little under four hours, with the final stages timed to coincide with the sun setting over the city, weather permitting.

There is no sport scheduled to occur on that day, with organisers clearing the path for the ceremony to be the focus of everyone’s attention.

Penultimate handover

The 52-year-old Snoop Dogg has been booked to bring the Olympic Torch through the streets of Saint-Denis, which is home to the Stade de France, Olympic Stadium. He is the latest in a line of celebrities to have taken part in bringing the torch from Greece, starting back in May.

People such as former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Formula One driver Charles Leclerc and actress Halle Berry have all participated.

Snoop is of course originally from Los Angeles, which will be the host city for the 2028 Games and his will be the last handover before the relay ends at the Eiffel Tower.

Breaking with tradition

For the very first time the spectacle of an opening Games ceremony will not be in a stadium, but will instead travel across a 6km route along the famous River Seine, passing iconic landmarks, including Notre Dame Cathedral.

It will begin at Austerlitz bridge, and will see almost 100 boats travel to its finale, which is set to be among the gardens, fountains and palaces at Trocadero. The watery procession will also showcase the history and culture of Paris and France in general.

At this stage the identity of the performers has not been revealed and the hope of organisers is that they will remain secret right up until the night.

Spectator numbers reduced

Logistically, there have been many complications with the ambitious plan, and security has created quite a headache for officials. Reluctantly they took the decision several months ago to limit the number of spectators allowed at the water’s edge.

The ceremony will also include the official opening of the 2024 Games, which will be undertaken by the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

No Russian or Belarus teams

Keeping with tradition, Greece will be the first nation introduced during the ceremony, so presumably they’ll be in the lead boat. They are due to be followed by the Refugee Olympic Team, with the host country expected to be the last to be introduced.

Missing will be teams from Russia and Belarus, as they are banned because of their countries’ role in the war in Ukraine. There are a small number from each of those nations competing as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) and as well as not being allowed their national flags or anthems, they will not be included in the official medal table, should they be successful.

Games begin prior to ceremony

The actual sports kick off on Wednesday 24 July with early matches in the Men’s Football and Rugby Sevens.

On Thursday 25th Archery, Handball and Women’s Football get under way. The very first medal of the 2024 Olympic Games will be in the Mixed Team Air Rifle Shooting, some time on the morning of Saturday, 27 July.

Swimming, Rowing, Tennis, Badminton and Basketball all begin on the same day, with the eagerly anticipated Athletics starting on Friday, 2 August.

Exciting finale

A massive 39 medals will be contested for on the penultimate day of competition, on Saturday, 10 August.

The final medal will be awarded in Women’s Basketball on the afternoon of Sunday, 11 August, shortly before the closing ceremony.