Paris 2024 Olympics: What To Watch On Day 1 Of The Olympics? Which Nations Are In Action?
Before the ground-breaking opening ceremony in Paris, the Olympic Games are already underway. The men's rugby sevens and men's football teams are the first to take to the field on Wednesday. 28 teams are competing in total, with back-to-back rugby sevens games held throughout the day at the Stade de France, and the first football group stage matches also take place across the country.
The stage is set, the medals have been polished, and Paris is ready to host the 2024 Olympic Games.
Records are bound to tumble in the French capital, which last hosted a Summer Olympics exactly 100 years ago.
As in Tokyo 2020, the games begin before the ground-breaking opening ceremony on Friday, July 26.
Archery, football, handball and rugby sevens athletes enjoy an early start to Paris 2024, where one new sport will make its debut: breaking, also known as breakdancing.
But what’s on the line on Day 1 of Paris 2024? Are any Brits in action? And how can you watch the Olympic Games this summer?
THE ACTION ON DAY 1
Just two sports get underway on the opening day of the Olympics, and it is an all-male offering in stadiums across France.
Euro 2024 and Copa America may be over, but the football never stops, with 16 teams from across the globe set to compete at the Olympics this summer.
All qualified nations are in action on Day 1, with hosts France facing the United States at 20:00 in Marseille.
Two-time Olympic champions Argentina, who boast Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Otamendi among their ranks, begin their bid for even more silverware against Achraf Hakimi’s Morocco at 14:00.
Elsewhere, former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita captains Guinea against New Zealand, with that match in Nice getting underway at 16:00.
Other matches include 1992 gold medallists Spain against Uzbekistan, Japan versus Paraguay, and Iraq playing Ukraine.
Rugby sevens also make an early start, with all 12 teams playing twice on Wednesday.
All the matches will run back-to-back at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris and the first match – Australia v Samoa – begins at 14:30.
This is swiftly followed by the other match in Pool B when Argentina plays Kenya, and then it is the host nation's turn when France takes on the USA at 15:30.
Fellow Pool C hopefuls Fiji will take on Uruguay next before Ireland lock horns with South Africa at 16:30, and New Zealand face Japan.
The rugby festival starts again in the evening, with each nation playing their penultimate pool match ahead of the deciders on Thursday.
FULL SCHEDULE FOR DAY 1 - WEDNESDAY 24 JULY
Football (M): Argentina v Morocco 14:00
Football (M): Uzbekistan v Spain 14:00
Rugby Sevens (M): Australia v Samoa 14:30
Rugby Sevens (M): Argentina v Kenya 15:00
Rugby Sevens (M): France v United States 15:30
Football (M): Guinea v New Zealand 16:00
Football (M): Egypt v Dominican Republic 16:00
Rugby Sevens (M): Fiji v Uruguay 16:00
Rugby Sevens (M): Ireland v South Africa 16:30
Rugby Sevens (M): New Zealand v Japan 17:00
Football (M): Iraq v Ukraine 18:00
Football (M): Japan v Paraguay 18:00
Football (M): Australia v Kenya 18:00
Rugby Sevens (M): Argentina v Samoa 18:30
Rugby Sevens (M): France v Uruguay 19:00
Rugby Sevens (M): Fiji v United States 19:30
Football (M): France v United States 20:00
Football (M): Mali v Israel 20:00
Rugby Sevens (M): Ireland v Japan 20:00
Rugby Sevens (M): New Zealand v South Africa 20:30
