The Olympic torch relay is in full swing as Paris prepares to host the Olympics for the third time in history this summer, and there is palpable excitement among the athletes who will proudly represent their nations.
From July 26 to August 11, iconic venues like the Stade de France and the legendary Stade de Roland Garros will be abuzz with a flurry of sporting activities as athletes strive to seize gold on the grandest stage.
The organising committee is determined to make this event a truly unforgettable and groundbreaking experience, placing innovation at the forefront of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a century after the previous Games.
While timeless events like the marathon and track & field competitions remain mainstays, the 2024 Paris Games promise to introduce new sports and groundbreaking experiences that will define the spectacle.
In anticipation of this historic occasion, FLOS presents the latest developments poised to mark the dawn of the Paris Games.
New developments set to debut at the Paris Olympics
50/50 male-female athlete ratio
Gender parity and equality will be central to the Paris 2024 Olympic Sports Programme, with an equal number of female and male athletes participating in the world’s largest sporting event.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have announced that out of the 10,500 athletes expected to participate, there will be an even split of 5,250 men and 5,250 women.
This marks a significant step forward, with 28 out of 32 sports achieving gender parity and a more balanced distribution of medal events.
Of the total events, 152 will be for women, 157 for men, and 20 will be mixed-gender events, providing female athletes with more opportunities than ever before.
The Tokyo 2020 Games were previously hailed as the most gender-balanced in history, with nearly half of all competing athletes identifying as women. However, the Paris Games look poised to usurp this feat.
Opening ceremony set for the Seine river
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics will make history as athletes parade outside of a stadium for the first time, sailing along the River Seine in a magnificent flotilla of boats.
With the sunset casting a golden glow and the moonlight shimmering on the water, the majestic ceremony is expected to last nearly four hours.
Over 80 boats will carry 205 delegations, drifting slowly from east to west, spanning 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) from Pont d’Austerlitz to Pont d’Iéna, passing under several bridges along the way.
This spectacle promises to be visually stunning; however, concerns have emerged regarding its feasibility, particularly in light of heightened security risks.
Women’s sport to close the Olympics
Efforts to increase the visibility of women in the Games have been ongoing. Since Tokyo 2020, teams have been encouraged to have one female and one male athlete jointly carry their flag at the Opening Ceremony.
The Paris Games will take this a step further by shining a brighter spotlight on women’s events. The women’s marathon will close the athletics program, symbolising a shift towards highlighting the achievements of female athletes.
But the focus on women’s events doesn’t stop there. In a departure from tradition, the football tournament, which draws some of the largest audiences, will conclude with the women’s event, rather than the traditional men’s football final that typically marked the end of the Olympic Games.
New sports to debut in Paris
The 2024 Games are geared towards a younger audience, aiming to broaden the sport’s appeal by showcasing athletes who are not only competitive but also artistically inclined. This vision has led to the introduction of new sports such as Breaking, as well as further adaptations to existing sports like Skateboarding, Surfing, and Sport Climbing.
Breakdancing, making its Olympic debut in Paris 2024, will feature only four athletes per continent, adding a layer of exclusivity to the competition.
However, one challenge is developing a scoring system that values creativity and musicality without stifling the artistic freedom that defines this discipline. These aspects are highly subjective, relying heavily on individual interpretation.
While Skateboarding, Surfing, and Sport Climbing debuted at the Tokyo Games, they are expected to undergo rule modifications for the Paris events, reflecting a continuous effort to refine and improve these sports within the Olympic context.