Paris Olympics Starting Tonight
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony begins tonight at 20:30 Cyprus time, featuring 85 ships and performances by Celine Dion and Lady Gaga.
The Olympic Games, returning to Paris for the first time in 100 years, will officially commence with the opening ceremony tonight.
Scheduled to start at 20:30 Cyprus time, the 3.5-hour ceremony will mark a unique departure from tradition by taking place in the city center rather than a stadium. The event will begin with 85 ships carrying thousands of athletes, departing from the Austerlitz Bridge on the Seine River.
An estimated 300,000 spectators are expected to watch the ceremony. The section of the Seine River where the ceremony will take place has been fenced off, with residents able to access their homes via QR code scanning.
While specific details of the ceremony remain under wraps, performances by artists such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga are anticipated.
The Paris Olympics will feature gender parity, with 5,250 female and 5,250 male athletes from 206 delegations competing.
Buse Savaşkan to Compete on August 2
The Turkish team will field 102 athletes vying for medals at the Paris Olympics. Ahead of the opening, the Turkish archery team will participate in qualifying rounds. Turkish Cypriot athlete Buse Savaşkan will compete in the high jump selection on August 2.
Due to Russia’s occupation of Ukraine, Russian athletes will compete as neutral participants.
The city has implemented heightened security measures, with 5,000 police, soldiers, and security personnel patrolling Paris throughout the games.
Cost and Infrastructure
The Paris Olympics, which the organizing committee promises will be the greenest in history, are projected to cost 9 billion euros.
Two new facilities have been constructed: an aquatics center and a venue for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics. Iconic sports venues like the Stade de France and Roland Garros, as well as historic sites such as the Grand Palais and Place de la Concorde, will host various events.
Although the official opening ceremony is today, men’s rugby and men’s and women’s football matches have already begun.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will conclude on August 11.
