Paris holds trial of groundbreaking opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics – the first time the Games gala won’t be held in a stadium

Around 50 boats of all shapes, sizes and colours took part in a practice run of the opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics on the river Seine – almost exactly a year out from the groundbreaking event.

All water traffic stopped on the river through the centre of Paris last Monday as the procession of boats sailed the six-kilometre route to test a number of technical elements for the beginning of the Games.

For the first time in the history of the Olympics, the opening ceremony won’t be taking place inside a stadium.

Boats packed with close to 10,000 athletes for the traditional Parade of Nations will travel through Paris on a flotilla of over 100 vessels.

Tickets for around 100,000 prime locations along the river have already been sold by officials, with several hundred thousand people expected to be authorised to watch the event for free from the river banks.

A visualisation of a parade of athletes on the River Seine during the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games

A visualisation of an aerial show during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games

‘We are very satisfied with this technical and operational test,’ said Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris Games organizing committee.

‘Before adding the artistic part of the ceremony, we had to make sure that everything was feasible by testing the spacing of the barges, the speed, the docking procedures. 

‘We want the experience to be unforgettable for the athletes!’

Last weeks event rehearsal is likely to be the only one to be held on the Seine. Other rehearsals – including the artistic elements – will be held on discreet stretches of water. 

Thierry Reboul, Executive Director of Paris 2024, says there’s still lots of challenges.

‘It’s a real puzzle, we have to respect the order of protocol and manage the number of delegations. We are now probably on the 45th version of the opening ceremony, and it’s still likely for that date to move,’ said Reboul.

‘A lot of things are wrong, in terms of timing, maneuvering, etc. But the basic elements are there. We’re not far off from what we imagined.’

Guaranteeing security and safety for the athletes as well as a crowd of several hundred thousand spectators on the banks of the river is a big challenge for officials.

A visualisation of a parade of athletes on the River Seine during the Opening Ceremony

Guaranteeing security for the athletes as well as crowd is a big challenge for officials

A deployment of 35,000 police officers in Paris  for the opening ceremony is expected, in an operation that organisers say has ‘no precedent’.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said bomb-carrying drones are something security are prepared for.

‘It’s a totally new threat,’ Darmanin said. ‘It’s not certain that anything will happen but it is certainly the most difficult to prepare for.’

Although Paris has suffered from waves of civil unrest of late, organisers don’t believe they will effect the Games next year.

‘The social and societal impact is quite concerning, but the Games are still a year away. We must not confuse deadlines,’ said Emmanuel Grégoire, first deputy mayor of Paris.

‘There is a security risk, and we’re managing it … but we have to stop focusing on that. Our country is used to hosting events in the best possible way.’