All You Need To Know About The Paris Olympics 2024

Paris, known for its stunning landmarks, rich history, and vibrant culture, will be hosting the Summer Olympics for the first time since 1924. That’s right, it’s been a century since Paris last welcomed the world’s best athletes, and they’re pulling out all the stops to make the 2024 games truly extraordinary.

Imagine the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop for beach volleyball or rowing events taking place on the beautiful Seine River. It’s a visual feast that’s perfect for family viewing!

The Paris games will kick off with a grand opening ceremony on 26th July 2024, and the games will run until 11th August 2024. With over 10,000 athletes from around the globe competing in 33 sports, there will be something thrilling happening every day. Make sure you tune in for the handing over of the Olympic torch! You can follow the Olympic torch route on the Paris Olympics official website!

Key venues include:

• Stade de France: Hosting the athletics events and the closing ceremony.
• Place de la Concorde: A spectacular urban venue for sports like 3×3 basketball, BMX freestyle, and skateboarding.
• Versailles: Equestrian events in the breathtaking gardens of the Palace of Versailles.
• Champ de Mars: The iconic site next to the Eiffel Tower, hosting beach volleyball.

1. Create a Viewing Schedule: With so many events, it can be overwhelming. Pick a few key events to watch together each day.
2. Learn About the Sports: Make it educational by learning about different sports, the rules, and the athletes. This will keep the kids engaged and excited. They might even find a new hobby!
3. Get Crafty: Make your own Olympic medals, flags, and banners to cheer on Team GB!
4. Healthy Snacks: Prepare some themed snacks like fruit kebabs (Olympic rings) or sandwiches shaped like sports equipment. It’s all in the name of fun!
5. Olympic New: Keep up with the air coverage of the Olympics on BBC News, Sky News and various other channels – you’ll never miss an important event!

Here are a few must-watch multi-sport events and Olympic events that are sure to captivate the whole family:

• Gymnastics: With its flips, spins, and jaw-dropping routines, gymnastics is always a favourite.
• Swimming: Fast-paced and full of drama, it’s thrilling to see who touches the wall first.
• Athletics: From sprints to long jumps, these events showcase the sheer speed and strength of the world’s best athletes.
• BMX and Skateboarding: These newer Olympic sports are a hit with kids, offering high-energy action and incredible tricks!

• Archery
• Artistic gymnastics
• Artistic swimming
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Basketball 3×3
• Beach volleyball
• Boxing
• Breaking
• Canoe slalom
• Canoe sprint
• Cycling bmx freestyle
• Cycling bmx racing
• Cycling mountain bike
• Cycling road
• Cycling track
• Diving
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Football
• Golf
• Handball
• Hockey
• Judo
• Marathon swimming
• Modern pentathlon
• Rhythmic gymnastics
• Rowing
• Rugby sevens
• Sailing
• Shooting
• Skateboarding
• Sport climbing
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Taekwondo
• Tennis
• Trampoline
• Triathlon
• Volleyball
• Water polo
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling

Whichever sport you watch, we know you’ll be witnessing strong competition, nail-biting routines and sporting thrills!

If you’re lucky enough to be heading to Paris for the Olympics, here are some tips to make the most of your trip:

• Plan Ahead: Book your tickets and accommodation early. The closer you get to the event, the harder it will be to find affordable options.
• Public Transport: Paris has an excellent public transport system. Get a travel pass for ease of movement.
• Stay Hydrated and Rested: With so much to see and do, it’s easy to get tired. Make sure to take breaks and stay hydrated, especially if you’re travelling with young kids.
• Gift Shop: If you’re looking for some Olympic merch, head to the megastore on Champs-Élysées
  which is now open! You can snap up toys, caps, t-shirts and even merch of the official mascots! There’s something for everyone.

The closing ceremony on 11th August will be a spectacular event, celebrating the achievements of the athletes and the spirit of the games. It’s a moment of unity and joy that will leave a lasting impression on your family.

Even if you can’t make it to Paris, you can bring the Olympic spirit home. Host a mini-Olympics in your garden or local park, with fun events like races, long jumps, and even a family relay. It’s a great way to get active and share in the excitement of the games!

Follow the link for the full schedule of all the Olympic games.

At this brilliant attraction, you can experience more than one adventurous sport! From heart-stopping heights rock climbing, to zooming zip wires, speedy tobogganing, kayaking on the canals and skiing too! Not to mention snowsports tubing, disco golf, orienteering and archery!

There’s a sporting activity to suit everyone, plus it’s a great day out in Birmingham!

If you have surfers in the family, or even just water babies, then they’ll love The Wave Bristol! Hit those gnarly waves as you let those stresses wash away. No matter if you’re a beginner or a surfing pro – the waves an interchangeable, so you can tackle a gentle one or a raging powerful one!

They offer lessons too, if you’d like to take it up as a hobby.

For those football stars, you can’t beat a game of footie at Goas! Perfect for after work, on the weekend or even for birthday parties! You can either join a league or just play casually and with their floodlit areans, you can play day or night!

There’s also no commitment, so you can book whenever you feel like playing (if availability allows!). Plus, with the Euros going on right now and the Olympics starting soon, you can enjoy all sorts of footballing fun.

Looking to improve your table tennis skills? Well, Bounce is a sure fire way to accomplish the best of the best! With it’s new AI technology, you can target moving hexagons with a range of scores (the small the hexagon, the higher the score!).

You can start off with a classic game and move up to the more challenging activities. Play in groups or 1-1! Let’s see who the King or Queen of ping pong is!

Got little ones who don’t want to miss out on the sporting action? Well, a game of mini-golf will do the trick! It’s easier for the tiny tots, full of excitement and lots of fun!

Dino Falls Adventure Golf will have them roaring with laughter, coming face to face with a T-Rex and taking a step back in time. What could be better? It’s the perfect sport for every member of the family – old or young!

Now that skateboarding is an offical sport at the Olympics, why not test your balance skate boarding near you? There’s plenty of up and coming skate parks all over the country where you can enjoy all sorts of hips, corners and flat banks!

At Cowdenbeath Skatepark, there’s a banana-shaped bowl that is challenging you to practise those skateboard skills!

Whether you’re a beginner or skateboarding pro, a trip to a skate park is the place to be for those who love riding on 4 wheels!

Paris is not just about the Olympics; it’s a fantastic city for family fun. Here are some must-do activities:

• Explore Disneyland Paris: Just a short train ride from central Paris, it’s the perfect way to add some magic to your trip.
• Visit Kid-Friendly Museums: The Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie and the Natural History Museum have interactive exhibits that kids will love.
• Picnic at the Luxembourg Gardens: Let the kids run around the beautiful gardens while you relax and soak in the Parisian atmosphere.
• Parisian Cafes: Paris is known for its beautiful patisseries and cafes, so why not try them out? They offer flakey croissants and pain au chocolat, as well as a whole host of tasty treats!