Let the games begin.
The 2024 Olympics are set to officially kick off on Friday, and the French are preparing one hell of a show. Over a billion people are expected to tune into what’s been described as the most ambitious opening ceremony yet: More than 10,000 athletes will parade through the heart of Paris on boats, floating along a six-kilometer stretch of the Seine before arriving at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
Here’s everything you need to know about the extravaganza — and the legendary vocalist rumored to be performing.
What time does the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony start?
You may have to sneak a peek during your lunch break: The ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. Paris time) and is expected to run for an estimated 3 hours and 45 minutes. But if you can’t drop everything in the middle of the day, you can also catch a prime-time encore a few hours later, at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
How to watch the opening ceremony
You can watch the ceremony on NBC, stream it on Peacock, or catch the broadcast online at NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app, and the NBC Olympics app.
Wherever you’re watching, you’ll be in good company, both virtually and in person. More than 300,000 spectators will line the banks of the river and around the Trocadéro plaza to take in the events in the flesh.
Who is performing at the opening ceremony in Paris?
Over the past few days, rumors have swirled that none other than Céline Dion will be taking the stage. The performance would be her first since she revealed her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes intense spasms and muscle rigidity.
Dion and Lady Gaga have both been spotted in the City of Light, fueling speculation that the two would be involved in the event. A French journalist posted on X that they would perform a duet of “La Vie en Rose,” but that has not been confirmed by the organizers. Aya Nakamura, a popular French-Malian singer, is also expected to be part of the lineup.
The storylines to watch at the 2024 Olympics
There will be drama, upsets, and superhuman feats of athleticism you won’t want to miss at the Summer Games. But with 329 medal events — and 5,000 hours of planned coverage — there’s only so much content one can consume. Don’t worry, though: here’s a breakdown of the athletes and events you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
First up, we’ve got the GOAT, Simone Biles. At 27, she’s the oldest female gymnast to qualify for Team USA in 72 years, and she’s still at the top of her game. Shawn Johnson East, who won three medals at the 2008 Olympics and will be covering the Games for Yahoo Sports, tells Katie Couric Media that Biles has the ability to medal in “every single event” she’s in.
“She is the greatest of all time, and I think she will be the greatest our sport ever sees,” the retired gymnast tells us.
On the track, the Americans expected to make a splash are Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson. Lyles currently holds the title as the “fastest man in the world” after winning the 100m and 200m — also known as the elusive sprint double — at the 2023 World Championships. He hopes to claim gold in both events, which hasn’t been done since Usain Bolt did it in 2008, and win two more events, the 4×100 relay and 4×400 relay.
After missing out on the 2020 Olympic Games, Richardson is as dominant as ever. As she said after winning the 100m at the World Championships last year, “I’m not back, I’m better,” and she’s the clear favorite to win in Paris.
In the pool, Team USA is sending an exciting mix of new talent, like Kate Douglass, and veterans like Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel to Paris. Elizabeth Beisel, a three-time Olympian who’s covering the Games for NBC, tells us that Douglas has the “potential to win gold in almost all of her races” and that Ledecky is a “shoo-in” to win 1500m and 800m freestyle. (Read our full interview with Beisel for more analysis.)
We’ll also have our eyes on the U.S. women’s soccer team, which is looking to redeem itself after a disappointing performance at the 2023 World Cup. The team’s new coach, Emma Hayes, is determined to bring home the gold, and she’s not afraid of making some bold management decisions — like leaving Alex Morgan off the roster.
After a near upset against South Sudan in a tune-up ahead of the Olympics, the world is paying more attention to the U.S. men’s basketball team. It’s a roster that’s absolutely packed with talent, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and other NBA stars, but their early games have showed that they’ll have some stiff competition in their fight for their fifth consecutive gold medal.
Want even more Olympics?
Before the action kicks off, take a walk down memory lane with our very own Katie Couric, who’s covered the Games many times over the years. She dished on her memories of her first-ever Olympics visit (that was Barcelona in 1992) and the inspiring athletes who have impacted her most.
