In the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach penned an Op-Ed that appeared in three major French newspapers: L’Equipe, Le Parisien, and Ouest-France over the weekend. The piece explores the upcoming Games and its significance.

The Games, with the opening ceremony taking place along the River Seine, will run from 26 July to 11 August, featuring approximately 10,500 athletes in 32 sports. Events will be held at iconic locations such as Roland Garros for tennis, and Paris La Defense Arena for swimming and Eiffel Tower for Volleyball.

Paris 2024 aim to highlight Paris’s history and culture with events at famous landmarks and a focus on sustainability and inclusivity. New sports like breakdancing will also be introduced. Security has also been ramped up ahead of the showpiece. IOC President, Thomas Bach, issued a statement, with the spectacle just days away in the French capital.

“The Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is only days away. The excitement gripping this nation is palpable,” Bach said.

“As this unique festival of sport draws closer, we all are feeling that France and the French people are ready to welcome the world’s best athletes with the hospitality and passion for sport for which they are famous all around the world.

“Already millions of people have greeted the Olympic flame on its journey around France with a huge wave of enthusiasm. All of us are looking forward to an unforgettable celebration of Olympic sport and French culture in the coming weeks.

The stage is set for Olympic Games that will be younger, more inclusive, more urban and more sustainable. They will be the first Olympic Games that are fully aligned with the IOC Olympic Agenda reforms from start to finish.