The 2024 Paris Olympics won’t actually start on the day of the Opening Ceremony this week. Competition kicks off even earlier.
The Games will officially begin competition Wednesday with a number of soccer matches and rugby set to begin the global event.
The very first events kick off at 8 a.m. CT as Argentina takes on Morocco in men’s football and Uzbekistan takes on Spain.
The U.S. will see its first action starting at 9:30 a.m. with the men’s rugby sevens. Team USA will face off against the host country France.
In soccer, the men’s team, featuring a Chicago athlete, will also battle against France for the start of its competition at 2 p.m. CT.
With competition slated for both Wednesday and Thursday, there will be several events already underway by the time the Paris Olympics officially kick off with a wildly ambitious waterborne Opening Ceremony.
The event is set to be the first Olympic Opening Ceremony held outside a stadium setting. About 10,500 athletes will parade through the heart of the French capital on boats on the Seine along the route ending in front of the Trocadéro.
Here’s what to know:
When are the Olympics?
The Opening Ceremony will kick of on July 26, but some events will actually begin competition as early as July 24. The Games end with the Closing Ceremony on Aug. 11.
Shortly after, the Paralympics are scheduled to take place Aug. 28-Sept. 8.
Which events will take place before the Opening Ceremony?
| Date/time | Event | Stream |
| Wednesday, July 24, 9 a.m. | M Soccer: Argentina vs. Morocco | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24, 9 a.m. | M Soccer: Uzbekistan vs. Spain | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24, 9:30 a.m. | M Rugby: Pool play (12 matches) | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24. 11 a.m. | M Soccer: Egypt vs. Dominican Republic | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24. 11 a.m. | M Soccer: Guinea vs. New Zealand | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24. 1 p.m. | M Soccer: Japan vs. Paraguay | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24. 1 p.m. | M Soccer: Iraq vs. Ukraine | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24. 3 p.m. | M Soccer: France vs. United States | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24. 3 p.m. | M Soccer: Mali vs. Israel | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 3 a.m. | W Handball: Slovenia vs. Denmark | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 3:30 a.m. | W Archery: Individual ranking round | NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 5 a.m. | W Handball: Netherlands vs. Angola | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 8 a.m. | W Handball: Spain vs. Brazil | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 8 a.m. | M Rugby: Pool play (6 matches) | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 8:15 a.m. | M Archery: Individual ranking round | NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 10 a.m. | W Handball: Germany vs. South Korea | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 11 a.m. | W Soccer: Spain vs. Japan | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 11 a.m. | W Soccer: Canada vs. New Zealand | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 1 p.m. | W Soccer: Nigeria vs. Brazil | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 1 p.m. | W Soccer: Germany vs. Australia | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 1 p.m. | W Handball: Hungary vs. France | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 2 p.m. | M Rugby: Quarterfinals and placing | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 3 p.m. | W Soccer: United States vs. Zambia | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 3 p.m. | W Soccer: France vs. Colombia | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 3 p.m. | W Soccer: Norway vs. Sweden | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Friday, July 26, 3 a.m. | Shooting: 10m air rifle mixed team pre-event training | N/A |
| Friday, July 26, 4 a.m. | M Shooting: 10m air pistol pre-event training | N/A |
| Friday, July 26, 5:45 a.m. | W Shooting: 10m air pistol pre-event training | N/A |
When will the first medals be handed out?
The first medals are expected to be awarded on July 27 in sports like diving, swimming, skateboarding and more.
A full schedule of events can be found here.
When is the Opening Ceremony?
The Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics will begin at 1 p.m. CT. Here’s how to watch.
Where are the Olympics?
The Paris Olympics mark the first Games in a century in France’s capital.
There will be no shortage of iconic venues at the Paris Olympics.
The Eiffel Tower, nicknamed La Dame de Fer (The Iron Lady), will feature prominently Paris Games and the Paralympics.
Men’s and women’s beach volleyball will be played at the foot of the 330-meter (1,083-foot) monument. They will be watched by nearly 13,000 fans at the temporary Eiffel Tower Stadium on the nearby Champ de Mars, where Parisians and tourists like to have picnics on the grass or watch July 14 firework displays.
The Olympic and Paralympic medals in Paris are being embedded with pieces from a hexagonal chunk of iron taken from the tower.
Where to watch the Olympics
Looking for a complete guide for how and where to watch the Games from the U.S.?
We’ve got you covered.
Here’s a look at the complete TV and streaming schedule for the Olympics. Every event will stream live in real time on Peacock as well.
Who is competing in the 2024 Games?
While many are gearing up to watch the world sporting event, athletes are preparing for their chance at Olympic glory.
Team USA is stacked with major star power and a number of Chicago-area and Illinois athletes ready to go for gold.
On this episode of Hometown Hopefuls, NBC Chicago’s Alex Maragos talks with rhythmic gymnast Evita Griskenas. The suburban Chicago native shares the remarkable story of what sparked her journey to becoming an Olympian and so much more