Will Train Disruptions and Weather Affect Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony?

The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics is scheduled for Friday, July 26.

Instead of a traditional march into a stadium, around 6,800 athletes will participate in a parade on over 90 boats on the Seine River for 6 kilometers (3.7 miles). This will mark the beginning of the ceremony, rather than the end, another departure from tradition.

What time does the opening ceremony start?

The ceremony commences at 1:30 p.m. EDT/7:30 p.m. CEST and is anticipated to last over three hours.

Where is the opening ceremony being held?

The parade begins at the Austerlitz Bridge beside the Jardin des Plantes and follows the course of the Seine from east to west. It winds its way around two islands in the center of the city before passing under several bridges and gateways. Athletes aboard the boats will get glimpses of several Olympic venues including La Concorde Urban Park (3X3 basketball, breaking, BMX freestyle cycling, skateboarding), Invalides (archery, athletics — marathon finish, road cycling — time trial start) and the Grand Palais (fencing, taekwondo). The parade concludes at the Iena Bridge, which links the Eiffel Tower on the left bank of the Seine to the Trocadéro district on the right bank. The ceremony’s finale takes place at the Trocadéro. There, among other ceremonial procedures, French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver opening remarks.

How can I watch the opening ceremony?

The ceremony will air on NBC and stream on Peacock and NBC Olympic platforms — NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, NBC app, NBC Olympics app.

A preview will air on NBC at noon EDT, with live coverage starting at 1:30 p.m. and an enhanced prime-time encore at 7:30 p.m.

Approximately 220,000 invited and security-screened spectators are expected to fill the upper tiers of the Seine’s banks, and an additional 104,000 paying spectators will watch from the lower riverside and around the Trocadéro plaza.

Those in Paris who were unable to secure tickets will be able to watch the ceremony on 80 giant screens set up throughout the city.

Will the train sabotage impact the opening?

A major disruption of train traffic threw Paris into uncertainty just hours before the scheduled start of the ceremony.

There were no immediate indications that what a government official was calling a series of “criminal fires” near the tracks would affect the start.

Who is performing at the opening ceremony?

In addition to the athletes who will participate in the parade, 3,000 dancers, artists and other athletes will be featured in the opening and closing ceremonies. Most of the entertainment acts remain under wraps. NBC News reported that Celine Dion and Lady Gaga have arrived in Paris amid speculation that one or both of the pop singers will perform at the opening ceremony.

What happens if it rains at the opening ceremony?

Light showers hit Paris on Friday morning with more forecasted for around the time the ceremony starts. This means there’s a good chance onlookers and athletes will get wet since there is no roof over the Seine.

If it rains, the ceremony is expected to proceed as planned.