All you need to know about the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony

The Paris Olympics 2024 is all set to kick-start on July 26 with a grand opening ceremony. While every Olympic ceremony is unique in itself, this edition will start in an interesting manner.

The ceremony will take place along a six-kilometer route on the Seine River, running through the heart of the French capital and passing through landmarks such as the Notre Dame and Louvre.

Instead of the familiar sight of Olympians walking along the tracks of stadiums, viewers will be treated to the fight of athletes sailing down the Seine in the first opening ceremony in Olympic history to take place outside a stadium.

Around 10,500 athletes from 206 participating nations will sail down the Seine with the help of 160 boats. The larger contingents will have their own boats, while smaller contingents will share boats.

India will have 117 contingent members representing the nation at the Paris Olympics 2024.

The opening ceremony procession will start at the Austerlitz Bridge and end at the Trocadero esplanade opposite the iconic Eiffel Tower, which will be lit up to mark the monumental occasion for France. Upon reaching the Trocadero, the Olympic cauldron will be lit, signaling the beginning of the Paris Olympic Games.

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Music, dance, and costumes: How France has prepared for the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony

True to its multicultural heritage, Paris has prepared a grand ceremony that will highlight the ‘contrasting cultures’ of France, from rap to opera, according to the ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly.

The six-kilometer route along the Seine will have dancers on every bridge, according to the ceremony’s choreographer, Maud Le Pladec. 400 dancers will take part in the ceremony.

Meanwhile, the 3000 artists set to take part in the opening and closing ceremonies will be dressed up in costumes prepared by French television presenter Daphne Burki, who will lead a team made up of hundreds of dressmakers, hair stylists, and makeup artists.

The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 will start on Friday, July 26, at 7.30pm local time (11pm IST).