The 2024 Paris Olympics officially begin on Wednesday, July 24, with the first events being men’s football matches between Argentina and Morocco, and Spain and Uzbekistan. Before the opening ceremony, several other sports, including rugby, handball, archery, and shooting, will also commence. The opening ceremony will take place on July 27 at 2 p.m. ET, and the first medals will be awarded in the mixed team shooting event 10m air rifle on July 27 at 4:30 a.m. ET. On the first full day of competition, medals will also be awarded in cycling, diving, fencing, judo, rugby, skateboarding, and swimming.The 2024 Paris Olympics officially begin on Wednesday, July 24, with the first events being men’s football matches between Argentina and Morocco, and Spain and Uzbekistan. Before the opening ceremony, several other sports, including rugby, handball, archery, and shooting, will also commence. The opening ceremony will take place on July 27 at 2 p.m. ET, and the first medals will be awarded in the mixed team shooting event 10m air rifle on July 27 at 4:30 a.m. ET. On the first full day of competition, medals will also be awarded in cycling, diving, fencing, judo, rugby, skateboarding, and swimming.
The 2024 Paris Olympics are finally here, and with it comes a unique opening ceremony in the heart of the French capital.
The Games themselves, however, begin before the Olympic flame is lit.
While the Olympic Opening Ceremony marks the festive start of the event, several sports get a head start before appearing behind their country’s flag.
Here’s everything you need to know about when the 2024 Paris Olympics officially start.
When do the 2024 Olympic Games start?
The first events for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will take place on Wednesday, July 24.
What is the first sport for the 2024 Olympic Games?
The Paris Olympics officially kick off with two men’s football matches on July 24 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Argentina will take on Morocco at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, while Spain will face Uzbekistan at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
Before the opening ceremony, rugby, handball, archery and shooting competitions will also take place.
Olympic Games Schedule Before the Opening Ceremony
Below is a list of all the Olympic events held prior to the Opening Ceremony, including the opening games for the U.S. men’s and women’s soccer teams (all times ET):
| Date Time | Event | Current |
| Wednesday, July 24, 9:00 am | M Football: Argentina vs. Morocco | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Wednesday, July 24, 9:00 am | M Football: Uzbekistan vs. Spain | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Wednesday, July 24, 9:30 AM | M Rugby: Pool matches (12 matches) | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Wednesday, July 24th. 11:00 am | M Football: Egypt vs Dominican Republic | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Wednesday, July 24th. 11:00 am | M Football: Guinea vs. New Zealand | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Wednesday July 24, 1:00 PM | M Football: Japan vs. Paraguay | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Wednesday July 24, 1:00 PM | M Football: Iraq vs. Ukraine | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Wednesday July 24, 3:00 PM | M Football: France vs. United States | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Wednesday July 24, 3:00 PM | M Football: Mali vs. Israel | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday, July 25, 3:00 AM | W Handball: Slovenia vs. Denmark | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday, July 25, 03:30 am | W Archery: Individual Ranking Round | NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday, July 25, 5:00 AM | W Handball: Netherlands vs. Angola | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 8:00 am | W Handball: Spain vs. Brazil | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 8:00 am | M Rugby: Pool matches (6 matches) | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday, July 25, 08:15 AM | M Archery: Individual Ranking Round | NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 10:00 am | W Handball: Germany vs. South Korea | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 11:00 am | W Football: Spain vs. Japan | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 11:00 am | W Football: Canada vs. New Zealand | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 1:00 PM | W Football: Nigeria vs Brazil | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 1:00 PM | W Football: Germany vs. Australia | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 1:00 PM | W Handball: Hungary vs. France | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 2:00 PM | M Rugby: Quarter Finals and Qualification | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 3:00 PM | W Football: United States vs. Zambia | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 3:00 PM | W Football: France vs. Colombia | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Thursday July 25, 3:00 PM | W Football: Norway vs. Sweden | Peacock, NBC Olympic Games |
| Friday July 26, 3:00 AM | Shooting: 10m air rifle mixed team pre-event training | n/a |
| Friday July 26, 4:00 AM | M Shooting: 10m air pistol pre-event training | n/a |
| Friday July 26, 05:45 AM | W Shooting: 10m air pistol pre-event training | n/a |
When is the opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympic Games?
The Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics begins at 2 p.m. ET. Here’s how to watch.
You will notice that each year during the Olympic Opening Ceremony, the order of the parade of nations varies slightly. There is actually a reason why.
Olympic program for July 27
The following 24 sports will be practiced on the first full day of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris:
The full programme for the events on Saturday 27 July can be found here.
First medal events at the 2024 Olympics
The first medals of the 2024 Olympic Games will be awarded in the mixed team shooting event 10m air rifle, which begins at 4:30 a.m. ET on July 27.
On the first full day of action, medals will also be awarded in the disciplines of cycling, diving, fencing, judo, rugby, skateboarding and swimming.
