January 23rd, 2024

Our guide to the Olympic Summer Games in Paris

Got a question about the Olympic Summer Games in Paris 2024?  We’ve answered a few FAQs for you here.  

It was in the year 776 BC that the Olympic Summer Games first emerged in ancient Greece. An epic display of athletic prowess, the games were believed to be held in honor of the mighty god Zeus. Such historic feats laid the foundations for the global Olympic Games that we recognise today.

In 1896, the French aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin revived this sporting tradition, organizing the first modern Olympics in Athens. Since then, the event has become a symbol of international unity and sportsmanship, showcasing the world’s most elite athletes competing in a variety of disciplines. 

When will the games take place?

All tickets to the Olympic Summer Games and Paralympic Games in Paris will be digital and can be purchased through the official Olympic Summer Games’ website.

Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis, so it’s advisable to get your tickets as soon as you can. For those who have already purchased, your tickets will be available to access via a dedicated mobile app closer to the event. 

When you buy a ticket you can only choose the category of seats, not the seats themselves. The category corresponds to a zone in the grandstand of each venue and there may be up to five categories. First is the best, and this may be in the grandstand, usually in a box, lounge or catering area. Categories A, B, C and D are in the stands or standing. Not all venues cater to all categories.

For those lucky enough to experience the games, ticket buyers must ensure the names of  attendees correspond with each individual ticket. Those purchasing the tickets are under no obligation to attend, but must ensure that they customize the names on each ticket when booking. It’s important to note that attendees need to be aged 16 or older, while younger ticket holders must be accompanied by an adult. 

Despite many tickets already selling out, an online resale platform will open in spring 2024, managed by the official Paris Olympics ticket office.

Which events will be held and when?

In total, there will be 32 sports included within the Olympic programme, and 22 across the Paralympics. 

To see dates and times for specific sports, download the competition schedules for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Events such as road cycling, athletics, triathlon and blind football will take place at the Trocadéro Gardens, the Stade de France, Pont Alexandre III, and the Eiffel Tower Stadium respectively.

In the west of the city, you can watch tennis, boxing, volleyball and more in the Roland-Garros Stadium and in South Paris Arena 1, 4 and 6.

Where should I stay?

If comfort is your priority, we recommend hotels such as Hilton Paris Opera, which dates back to 1889 or the five-star Hyatt Paris Madeleine or InterContinental Paris Champs-Élysées, both of which are near the legendary Avenue des Champs-Élysées boulevard.

Molitor Hotel & Spa Paris MGallery Collection is conveniently located opposite the Roland-Garros Stadium in the west of the city, while Hotel Citizen M Paris Gare de Lyon is close to the Bercy Arena, housing the Basketball and Gymnastics competitions, in the east. 

Our experts at Travel Leader 365 can help organize tickets to the Olympic Summer Games or Paralympic Games in Paris along with travel insurance, visas, flights, accommodation, and game packages.

Image credits: Paris cityscape by Sean Hsu © Shutterstock; View of The Seine by Couanon Julien © Shutterstock; Athletics track by Konrad Kozaczuk © Shutterstock; View of Champs-Élysées by H-AB Photography © Shutterstock.