Paris 2024 Olympic Games: what should we expect in the next seven months ?

Le 8 mai, le Belem entrera dans le Vieux-Port de Marseille avec la flamme olympique. MAXPPP – Gilles Bader

D’ici le 26 juillet, date de la cérémonie d’ouverture des JO, la pression va monter gentiment. De la remise des clés du village des athlètes à l’arrivée de la flamme, suivez le guide.

Between now and July 26, the official start date of the Olympic Games in France, several events will accompany the countdown. Small or big moments to which the public will be invited while waiting to be able to share the first successes, the first medals. Mark your calendars.

The Torchbearers

To date, only a handful of men and women are in the know. On January 15, the 11,000 bearers of the flame will be known. 11,000 hand-picked people who will be invited to take turns in Paris from May 8, the date of his arrival in Marseille (read elsewhere), to July 26, the date of the opening ceremony at the heart of the capital. To find out the last torchbearer(s), however, you will have to wait until the last moment. But already several names are circulating in the streets of Paris: Marie-José Pérec, Martin Fourcade, Laure Manaudou, Thomas Pesquet, Kyllian Mbappé… Make your bets.

Medals in broad daylight

In February, officials of the Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Cojop) will unveil the medals. Exactly 1,647 charms, the making of which was entrusted to Chaumet (LVMH).

The handover of the keys to the Olympic village

During a press point organized just before the Christmas holidays, Tony Estanguet wanted to reassure everyone. Everything will be ready on time. "As of December 31, 84% of the projects are finished", welcomed the boss of Cojop. Concerning the athletes' village (10,500), the centerpiece of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the time has come for finishing touches. Barring a last-minute disaster, Solidéo (Olympic works delivery company) should make the keys to the village available on March 1st. The opening to athletes is scheduled for July 18.

It's also in March that the organizers will bring together all the volunteers, more than 45,000 volunteers (30,000 for the Olympics, 15,000 for the Paras), during a convention planned in Paris on the 23rd. Three days earlier, Fifa will have drawn lots for the Olympic football tournaments. For information, the Blues, undoubtedly with Mbappé and Griezmann, will start whatever happens on July 24 in Marseille. Places at 30 euros are still available for this exceptional event.

J-100

On April 17, the day after the lighting of the Olympic flame in Olympia, Greece, numerous events will mark D-100 before the start of the Olympic Games. To celebrate D-100 of the Paralympic Games, we will have to push until May 20. The organizers will also take advantage of this moment to open the official ticket resale platform.

Arrival of Belem in Marseille

May 8 will mark the arrival on national territory of the Olympic flame. It is the Belem, famous three-masted ship of the French navy, which will have the difficult task of transporting it from Greece to the Old Port of Marseille. She will then undertake a long journey in mainland France but also in all the overseas territories. In the region, the flame will stop in Millau, Sète and Montpellier. See you on May 13.

The first delegations

In May and June, pressure will gradually increase with the arrival of the first delegations on French soil. Occitanie will be at the heart of the preparation of hundreds of athletes from all over the world.

Creps de Montpellier will notably welcome South African, New Zealand and Australian athletes. But also the French judo teams, with Teddy Riner, BMX, volleyball, triathlon, table tennis… Some training should be open to the public.