No other sporting event can match the Summer Olympics. This is the time when the world’s greatest athletes assemble to contest a bigger array of disciplines than any other tournament can accommodate.

The fact that the Games only come around every four years means that the competition is even more highly anticipated. 2024 sees the Olympics return to Paris for the first time in a hundred years, so what can we expect from the latest edition of the greatest sporting show on earth?

Dates for the Diary

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games officially get underway on July 26th. Following the opening ceremony and the first round of competition, the event will run for over two weeks, until August 11th.

The sheer scale of the games is reflected in the fact that around 10,500 athletes will be participating in 32 different sports. Like all Olympics, some new disciplines will be introduced at Paris 2024, and this year, we will welcome breakdancing for the first time.

It’s going to be a fascinating new addition, but the bigger sports remain firmly on fans’ radars in the run up to July 26th.

The Fastest Humans on Earth

Of the 329 different events taking place in Paris, most of the interest will focus on the athletics. Track and Field disciplines start in the second week of the games, and this is the time when TV ratings increase, and Olympic Games betting intensifies.

At every tournament, the main focus is on the 100 metres sprint. Traditionally, this is the race that produces Olympic legends such as Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt and Florence Griffith Joyner.

In 2024, the men’s edition of this race looks to be wide open with a number of contenders hoping to claim the gold medal. The likely favourite to win the race is the American Trayvon Bromell. He’s the fastest man in the world right now, and his personal best of 9.76 seconds is the sixth-fastest in history.

The concern with Bromell is a series of injuries in 2023. He’s only just returning to the track, and is expected to have competition from the likes of Ronnie Baker, Akani Simbine, Fred Kerley and Andre De Grasse.

In the women’s edition of the 100 metres, the current world champion Sha’Carri Richardson is among the favourites, while other contenders include Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price and Marie Josee Talou.

Best of the Rest

A number of questions remain unanswered in the lead up to the start of this summer’s Olympics. Many countries name their squads on July 1st, and that leaves some room for speculation.

One major point of discussion is whether the multiple gold-medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles will return to compete in her third Olympics. If she is anywhere near full fitness, the Americans will surely include her on their roster.
 
Talk of injury also casts a shadow on the men’s tennis section, with both Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz struggling for fitness. Could their potential absence open up this event to deliver a surprise winner?

Golf recently returned to the Olympics and it was embraced by the top players in the sport. It’s hoped that teams will be close to full strength, allowing top stars such as Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to compete.

Other major events to look forward to in Paris include basketball, cycling, swimming, volleyball and so much more in the greatest sporting show in the world.

Where to Watch

Anyone who has yet to make plans to attend the 2024 Olympic Games will find tickets and accommodation at a premium. Months before the action gets underway, tickets are released via a ballot, but it may still be possible to secure a place via the secondary market.

The event will be staged in several locations in and around the French capital. The focal point will be the Stade de France, which is the country’s national Stadium. It’s regularly used by the national soccer and rugby teams, while 2024 will see the venue hosting the prestigious track and field events.

Other important locations across the games include the Bercy Arena for gymnastics, the Pont d’Lena for cycling and the La Defense Arena for Swimming and Diving.

At this late stage, accommodation will be scarce in the center of Paris, but transport networks are reliable and it will be possible to stay outside the capital and commute in.

A thrilling 17 days of competition will soon be underway and the eyes of the world will be on Paris. The top athletes from around the world are aiming to be at their collective peak when the tournament begins, and that’s why the Olympics is so highly anticipated.

The action in every discipline is world class, and Paris 2024 promises to be one of the greatest Olympic Games in living memory.