The highly anticipated Paris 2024 Olympic Games kick off on July 27, 2024 with an exciting lineup of events across various sports and venues. As athletes from around the world converge in the City of Light to compete for gold, here’s a look at the key highlights and must-watch matchups on Day 1 of the Summer Olympics.
Olympics Day 1 Schedule 2024
Sport | Event | Venue | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Badminton | Mixed Doubles, Singles, Doubles group play stage | La Chapelle Arena | 8:30 am – 4:30 pm |
Handball | Men’s Preliminary Phase | South Paris Arena 6 | 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm |
Rowing | Heats (Single, Double, Quad Sculls) | Nautical St – Flat water | 9:00 am – 12:50 pm |
Shooting | 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team, 10m Air Pistol Qualification | Chateauroux Shooting Centre | 9:00 am – 12:30 pm |
Volleyball | Men’s Preliminary Phase | South Paris Arena 1 | 9:00 am |
Equestrian | Eventing Team & Individual Dressage | Chateau de Versailles | 9:30 am |
Fencing | Women’s Epee & Men’s Sabre Individual | Grand Palais | 10:00 am – 4:15 pm |
Hockey | Men’s Pool A & B matches | Yves-du-Manoir Stadium | 10:00 am – 1:15 pm |
Judo | Women’s -48kg & Men’s -60kg | Champ de Mars Arena | 10:00 am – 4:51 pm |
Artistic Gymnastics | Men’s Qualification (Subdivisions 1 & 2) | Bercy Arena | 11:00 am, 3:30 pm |
Basketball | Men’s Preliminary Phase | Pierre Mauroy Stadium | 11:00 am, 1:30 pm |
Diving | Women’s Synchronized 3m Springboard Final | Aquatics Centre | 11:00 am |
Swimming | Heats (Freestyle, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Relays) | Paris La Defense Arena | 11:00 am |
Skateboarding | Men’s Street Prelims | La Concorde 3 | 12:00 pm |
Tennis | Men’s & Women’s Singles First Round | Roland-Garros Stadium | 12:00 pm |
Beach Volleyball | Men’s or Women’s Preliminary Match | Eiffel Tower Stadium | 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm |
Water Polo | Women’s Preliminary Phase | Aquatics Centre | 2:00 pm, 3:35 pm |
Road Cycling | Women’s & Men’s Individual Time Trial | Pont Alexandre III | 2:30 pm, 4:34 pm |
Rugby | Men’s Placing and Semifinal Matches | Stade de France | 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm |
Canoe Slalom | Men’s Canoe & Women’s Kayak Single Heats | Nautical St – Whitewater | 3:00 pm, 3:50 pm |
Football | Men’s Group B & C matches | Lyon & Bordeaux Stadiums | 3:00 pm |
Table Tennis | Men’s & Women’s Singles Preliminary Round, Mixed Doubles Round of 16 | South Paris Arena 4 | 3:00 pm, 4:30 pm |
Boxing | Women’s 54kg & 60kg Prelims | North Paris Arena | 3:30 pm, 4:18 pm |
Opening Ceremony Spectacle
While not an official medal event, the Olympics opening ceremony is always a grand affair. Expect a stunning showcase of French culture, music, dance and fashion as Paris welcomes the world. The ceremony will likely feature the traditional Parade of Nations, Olympic flame lighting, and a few surprises that highlight the host city’s rich heritage.
Badminton Begins with Mixed Doubles, Singles and Doubles Matches
Badminton action starts early on Day 1 at 8:30 am local time with mixed doubles group play stage matches at the La Chapelle Arena. The first day will also see the start of the men’s and women’s singles and doubles tournaments. Mixed doubles teams will be vying to emerge from the group stage while singles players begin their quest for individual glory. With quick reflexes and dynamic smashes and volleys, badminton is always an exciting watch.
Handball and Volleyball Preliminaries
The men’s handball and volleyball competitions also have their opening preliminary phase matches on Day 1. Handball powerhouses like France, Denmark and Germany will be in action, looking to gain an early advantage in their groups. On the volleyball court, top contenders like Brazil, USA, and Poland begin their campaigns. The South Paris Arena will be the venue for these fast-paced and physically demanding team sports.
Rowing Heats
Rowers take to the water early on Day 1 at the Nautical St – Flat water venue. The first heats will be held for the following events:
- Men’s Single Sculls
- Women’s Single Sculls
- Men’s Double Sculls
- Women’s Double Sculls
- Men’s Quad Sculls
- Women’s Quad Sculls
Watch out for strong contenders from traditional rowing powers like Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the Netherlands as they aim to establish their dominance from the outset.
Shooting Stars
Shooting events on Day 1 include the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team competition and 10m Air Pistol qualifications for both men and women. Mixed team events are a relatively new addition to the Olympic program, adding an element of camaraderie and gender inclusiveness. The Chateauroux Shooting Centre will host these precision events as sharpshooters aim for perfection. Watch the Shooting event live on NBC with full coverage in HD quality.
Fencing Face-Offs
Two fencing events are scheduled for the first day – the Women’s Epee and Men’s Sabre Individual competitions. Both events start with the Table of 64 and progress through the day to the Table of 8. The historic Grand Palais will be the backdrop as fencers duel it out, combining agility, strategy and lightning quick reflexes. Veterans and rising stars will be looking to make their mark.
Judo Warriors
The Champ de Mars Arena will be the stage for Day 1 judo action, featuring the women’s -48kg and men’s -60kg weight categories. Judo is one of the first sports to award medals at the Olympics, so expect some intense clashes as athletes aim to strike early gold. The elimination rounds progress from Round of 64 to the semifinals on the opening day itself.
Hockey Showdowns
Both men’s and women’s hockey tournaments have preliminary matches lined up on Day 1. In the men’s competition, Pool A sees Great Britain take on Spain while India faces off against New Zealand. Over in Pool B, Belgium plays Ireland and Australia faces Argentina. With a blend of speed, stamina and skillful stick-work, hockey is a high-octane sport that always draws big crowds.
Other Day 1 Events to Watch
Some other noteworthy events on the Paris Olympics opening day schedule include:
- Artistic Gymnastics men’s qualification subdivisions
- Basketball men’s preliminary phase games
- 3m Springboard Synchronized Diving women’s final
- Swimming heats featuring men’s and women’s freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly events
- Beach Volleyball men’s or women’s preliminary matches
- Rugby men’s placing matches and semifinals
- Tennis men’s and women’s singles first round
- Boxing women’s preliminary rounds in the 54kg and 60kg categories
- Men’s football group stage matches
- Table Tennis mixed doubles Round of 16
- Road Cycling individual time trials for men and women
With such a packed schedule, there’s plenty of world-class Olympic action to keep fans engaged on Day 1 itself. Whether you’re watching in-person at the venues or tuning in on TV or online, the Paris 2024 Olympics promises to be a spectacular sporting extravaganza from start to finish.