How long is the Olympics opening ceremony? Number of countries, athletes, show length and more to know for Paris 2024

The 2024 Olympics are upon us, with soccer, rugby, archery and handball all taking center stage in the competition's opening days.

On Friday, the tournament begins in earnest — but not with any athletic events. Rather, the spectacle kicks off with a festival of light unlike any other: the opening ceremony.

Paris will play host to one of the world's grandest jubilees, an event that sees sport mingle with style at one of the French capital's most iconic landmarks, the Seine River.

Millions have been poured into the festivities, which is expected to represent something of a love letter to its host city. As the world's greatest athletes — including LeBron James, Summer McIntosh and Sifan Hassan, among others — cross the Seine by boat, they'll be adorned by music, murmurs and plenty of color.

Just how long will the carnival on the Seine last? The Sporting News fills you in on the projected length of Friday's Olympic opening ceremony.

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How long is the Olympics opening ceremony?

The opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics doesn't have a set time length. Expect to be strapped in for a good while, though: recent iterations of the festival have lasted upwards of four hours.

Given artistic director Thomas Jolly's budget — he was reportedly gifted a war chest of nearly $150 million, not to mention an entourage of some 15,000 workers — the joyous fete of song, dance, theater and more could stretch into the wee hours of the morning in Paris.

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How many countries are participating in the Olympics opening ceremony?

There are 206 different National Olympics Committees (NOCs) taking part in this year's Olympics. As such, expect 206 different countries to float across the Seine River via boat.

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How many athletes will be at the Olympics opening ceremony?

More than 10,500 athletes are slated to compete in the 2024 Olympics. And while not all will make their way down the River Seine — artistic gymnastics, badminton, rowing and judo all have early starts Saturday morning, for example — many of those 10,500-plus will.

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When do the Olympics start in 2024?

• Start date: Friday, July 26
• Opening ceremony time: 1:30 p.m. ET

The 2024 Olympic Games will kick off Friday, July 26, with the opening ceremony. That begins at 1:30 p.m. ET, or 7:30 p.m. local time in Paris. Note that some soccer, rugby, archery, and handball competitions already began in earnest Wednesday and Thursday. Still, the ceremony represents the true and official start to Olympic competition.