A few months before the eagerly awaited opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, Paris and France are ready to welcome visitors from all over the world. This one-of-a-kind opening ceremony will take place on the Seine heralding the start of the Paris 2024 games, which promise to be spectacular, innovative, sustainable, and accessible to as many people as possible!
Holding a gala evening, receiving clients, even privately hiring a venue during the entire duration of the Games: all this is possible! Event venues in Paris and in the Paris region will be much in demand during the two 15-day periods of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will however be possible to plan events during these periods. Paris opens its doors to you!
The Olympic Torch was unveiled on 25 July 2023, a year and a day before the start of the Paris Games. Symbolizing the Olympic spirit, the torch is made from recycled steel and powered by low-carbon energy. Created by the French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, it embodies the values of peace and equality, and puts the spotlight on Paris's great river, the Seine. In keeping with ancient tradition, it was lit on 16 April 2024 in Olympia - in Greece – the cradle of the Olympic Games. It is from there that the Olympic Torch Relay starts. More info on the Paris 2024 Games Torch.
After crossing the Mediterranean, the Olympic Torch will arrive in France, in Marseille, on 8 May 2024, from where it will begin its journey across France. It will cross iconic places such as the prehistoric sites of Lascaux, Alesia in Burgundy, the medieval city of Carcassonne, the famous Mont Saint-Michel, the town of Versailles and its Palace before arriving in Paris on 26 July 2024 for the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, after a journey of 12,000 kilometres. Note that, from 8 to 17 June 2024, the flame leaves mainland France crossing Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, French Polynesia and Réunion as part of the Oceans Relay. Discover the Olympic Torch Relay route.
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The Olympic Torch Relay is part of a full programme of events organized in the run-up to the Paris 2024 Games: A look at some of the key events to look forward to between now and the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games:
Preparing for the Games also means transforming the city so that it can host the world's biggest event at its very centre. The French capital has been planning this for several years now with the objective of making the Olympic Games a catalyst for transformation and initiatives for a better quality of life in the city, during and after the Games. Read the article Paris gears up for the 2024 Games!.
During the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, visitors will be invited to gather to celebrate this major event at celebration sites and via free attractions and activities open to everyone.
The key Parisian celebration sites unveiled:
