The 2024 Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony: What Time To Watch & Must-See Weekend Events

After what seems like a long-anticipated wait, Friday is the official start to the 2024 Paris Olympics with the opening ceremony currently taking place.

From Snoop Dogg carrying the Olympic torch into Paris Friday morning before the ceremony tonight as one of the final torch bearers to Celine Dion making her performance comeback despite health struggles with Lady GaGa, there will be no shortage of entertainment factor to kick off the start of the summer Games. The highlight of the current coverage is watching athletes from their respected countries in the Parade via boat on the Seine River.

When To Watch The Opening Ceremony

Coverage for the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony begins at noon EST with the pre-show and will run until 5:15 p.m. on Friday, July 26 on NBC and steaming on Peacock.

The ceremony itself is to air at 1:30 p.m. EST, which is 7:30 p.m. in Paris.

Additional coverage of the opening ceremony will air at 7:30 p.m.

More than 10,000 athletes are saling down the Seine River in the Parade of Nations, something different this year compared to previously walking on foot.

Spectators around the world were transported to France when watching the opening ceremony coverage where there was no shortage of theatrics and celebration to French culture. From fashion to history, its was a spectacle that built excitement as the teams of world countries sailed down the river.

Once the athletes make it down the river, the Olympic torch will be lit.

Olympic Must-See Events This Weekend

After the conclusion of the opening ceremony that is the end of the Olympic Day. However, there are lots of events that begin this weekend.

Saturday, July 26

Competition starts with Badminton and Handball, but the must-see event is the men’s preliminary round in Volleyball, with Japan vs Germany.

At 3:30 p.m. is Equestrian individual dressage. The Games continue with Hockey men’s Pool A at 4 p.m. that features Great Britain vs Spain, followed by men’s Pool B Belgium vs Ireland at 4:30. Just after 4 p.m. is women’s single sculls heats in Rowing.

Those interested in Shooting can watch the 10m Air Rifle mixed team competition, which is bronze followed by gold medal match also on at 4:30.

Diving medal competitions start at 5 p.m. with the women’s synchronized 3m springboard final, meaning this is a medal event. Swimming continues with the women’s 100m butterfly and 400m freestyle heats. The men compete as well in the 100m breaststroke, 400m freestyle.

Basketball, tennis, rowing, and fencing all air throughout the delay. However, it’s Beach Volleyball on at 8 p.m. that is the evening must-see. This is the men’s prelim match between the USA and Cuba.

Sunday, July 27

Sunday is all about gymnastics and swimming. There are the women’s qualification rounds in gymnastics staggered through the day. The evening features men’s 400m individual final, women’s 100m butterfly final, men’s 200m freestyle semifinals, and women’s 100m breaststroke semifinals.

A must-watch event is boxing preliminaries that has USA’s Roscoe Hill against EOR’s Omid Asmadisafa.

There is fencing, cycling mountain bike, and archery competitions on, as well as women’s prelims in Beach Volleyball.

Team USA will go against Serbia in men’s basketball at 11:15.