For the first time ever, the Olympics Opening Ceremony will take place outside of a stadium and be open to the public
The Paris Olympics Opening Ceremonies are poised to become the largest event in Olympic history.
In an unprecedented move, the ceremony will take place outside a stadium and open to the public.
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming event on July 26.
What will this year’s ceremony look like?
The Opening Ceremony will be held over a six-kilometre stretch of the Seine through the heart of Paris and feature a floating parade of boats for each national delegation (91 in total). The 10,500 athletes will begin their route near Austerlitz Bridge by the Jardin des Plantes, circle around the two central islands (Île Saint Louis and Île de la Cité), and glide past numerous official Games venues before concluding their journey in front of the Trocadéro where they will be treated to a show and the lighting of the Olympic torch. The whole ceremony is expected to last about three and a half hours.
Is such an open event safe for athletes and spectators?
Organizers had initially planned to welcome as many as 600,000 spectators to the event, but this was scaled down to around 300,000 people earlier this year due to security and logistical concerns.
And though the ceremony is open, people can’t simply show up and watch. Free tickets are available, but by invitation only, with those invited needing to undergo security checks and receive QR codes to pass security barriers.
What will the Canadian delegation be wearing?
Who are our flag-bearers?
