Why is Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony different from other Games? Know about the iconic floating parade along River Seine

The 2024 Paris Olympics will kick off with the opening ceremony on July 26, at 1:30 PM Eastern Time and the show is estimated to extend for over three hours. This year, the Paris Olympic organizers have opted for a distinctive ceremony that has drawn global attention to the quadrennial Games.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Opening Ceremony will take place on the Seine River, with the athletes departing from Austerlitz Bridge and sailing 6 km along the waterway that goes through the heart of Paris. The boats will travel from east to west and the route will end at Trocadéro, on the side of the Seine River opposite the Eiffel Tower.

About 160 boats will carry athletes from every country participating in the Olympic Games, resulting in a parade of boats. Following reaching the Trocadéro side, additional events include raising of the host nation's flag, live performances by renowned artists, and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

The Paris Olympics will then continue for the next two weeks until the culmination of the Games on August 11, 2024.

Team USA at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics

Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

The delegation of the team USA will be led by flag bearers basketball player LeBron James and tennis sensation Coco Gauff during the Parade of Nations at the Opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

They were chosen as the flag bearers for the 2024 edition of the quadrennial games by their teammates and fellow athletes. The 39-year-old James has already featured in three medal-winning performances of the team USA, including two gold.

Gauff will be making her debut Olympic appearance after missing out in Tokyo after testing positive for COVID-19. Additionally, Gauff is the first tennis player and the youngest (20 years) to become the flag bearer of the nation.

The team USA's uniform for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics includes a navy blue jacket with red and white border, a light blue striped shirt, blue-washed jeans with a tapered design, and beige suede shoes. The jacket also features a Ralph Lauren logo on the left and Team USA logo on the right side.