OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY: EIGHT DRONES, THREE HELICOPTERS AND OVER 430 CAMERAS SET TO CAPTURE RIVER BOAT PARADE AS FULL DETAILS ARE REVEALED
- The Olympics will commence on July 26 with the opening ceremony on the river
- It will be the first Games to host an opening ceremony away from a stadium
- You can stream every moment of 2024 Olympics in Paris live only on discovery+
The opening ceremony of the upcoming Olympic Games promises to be a breathtaking spectacle, taking place along the iconic River Seine in Paris.
This ambitious plan will see athletes from around the world making their grand entrance by boat, as fans line the riverbanks to witness this historic event.
The idea for the opening ceremony came from youth Games in Buenos Aires, with Argentinian edition being held in the streets of the city and free to the public to attend.
According to Yiannis Exarchos, the CEO of Olympic broadcasting services who was present at Discovery+'s media event in Paris this week, the opening ceremony in France will be the most difficult production to date.
However, he's convinced it will be the most impressive with eight drones, three helicopters and over 230 cameras, as well as 200 mobile phones, in place to caption to action.
Athletes' Grand Entrance on the Seine
The 2024 Olympic athletes will embark on a journey down the River Seine, marking their arrival at the heart of the Games via boat.
The procession will replace the traditional stadium parade, offering a more dynamic and scenic alternative that showcases some of Paris's most famous landmarks.
Boats carrying athletes will glide past the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre, providing a stunning backdrop.
The parade will come to the end of its 6-kilometre route in front of the Trocadero, where the remaining elements of Olympic protocol and final shows will take place.
In total, there is expected to be 94 boats traveling along the Seine as part of the first Opening Ceremony in the history of the Games for which a river will act as the primary stage.
The parade route
The river parade will travel along the Seine, moving from east to west over a distance of 6 kilometers. It will start at 19.30 CET (18.30 in London) from the Austerlitz Bridge near the Jardin des Plantes.
The parade will make its way around the two central islands, Ile Saint Louis and Île de la Cite, passing beneath several bridges and arches.
Athletes on the boats will see various official Games venues along the way, including Parc Urbain La Concorde, the Esplanade des Invalides, the Grand Palais, and finally, the Iena Bridge, where the parade will pause before concluding with the ceremony's finale at the Trocadero.
Immersive Fan Experience
The decision to hold the opening ceremony on the Seine allows for an unprecedented level of public engagement.
Fans won’t need tickets to access the upper quays, but those wishing to access the lower quays, from the Austerlitz bridge to the Iena bridge, will need to buy tickets.
Over 50,000 fans are expected to line the riverbanks, creating a vibrant and enthusiastic atmosphere at the opening ceremony.
Spectators will have the chance to see their favorite athletes up close as they make their way down the river on July 26.
Eighty giant screens and strategically placed speakers will also be on hand to ensure fans don't mind a second of the action.
Meanwhile, the average number of television and online viewers expected to watch the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Summer Games is around 1.5billion.
Cutting-Edge Technology and Innovation
The opening ceremony will also leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance the visual and emotional impact of the event.
A fleet of eight drones and three helicopters will be deployed to captured the occasion from above.
In addition to the drones, 230 cameras will be strategically placed along the river and on the athletes' boats to capture every moment of the ceremony from multiple angles.
This extensive camera coverage will ensure that viewers around the world can experience the event as if they were there in person.
There will be close-ups, wide shots, and dynamic angles providing a comprehensive view of the festivities.
To further personalise the experience, more than 200 mobile phones will be used on the boats to capture the reactions of the athletes.
Additionally, there will be around 400 people on hand to construct the event - taking place on July 26.
A Symbolic and Historic Event
This event will mark the first time in Olympic history that the opening ceremony takes place outside of a traditional stadium setting.
Stream every moment of Paris 2024 live only on discovery+
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