2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony: Start time, live stream, TV channel, date, key athletes and events (2024)

The stage is set. The athletes have arrived and Paris and the torch is almost in the arena to light the flame. The 2024 Paris Olympics are ready to begin with the Opening Ceremony on Friday night as the eyes of the world turn to France.

This year's festivities will be incredibly unique as it will be featured on the Seine River where each country's athletes will congregate on boats heading down the 3.7-mile stretch toward the Trocadéro where the parade will end. Then, France President Emmanuel Macron will deliver remarks, but expect a few surprises along the way, like a musical performance or two.

Expect another gold-filled summer for the Americans as Team USA will be represented in just about every event over the course of the Games. Some of the biggest stars are back, including gymnast Simone Biles, decorated swimmers Katie Ledecky and Caleb Dressel, as well as track athletes Noah Lyles and Sha'carri Richardson. Plus, the men's and women's basketball teams look to extend their dominant runs at the games with more gold.

There will be two flag bearers for the United States when the team takes the boat down the Seine River -- LeBron James and tennis star Coco Gauff. The 2023 US Open champion was stunned by the news when it was revealed to her on Wednesday.

Here's how to watch the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony and highlights from the first week of competition.

How to watch the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

• Time: Noon ET (parade begins at 1:30 p.m. ET)| Date: Friday, July 26
• Location: The Seine River and Trocadero -- Paris
• TV channel: NBC | Streaming: Peaco*ck, NBCOlympics.com

Week 1 Highlights

All times Eastern. A full schedule of events can be found here.

Saturday, July 27

• 5x5 Basketball -- Men's Group Phase
• Group A: Spain vs. Australia -- 5 a.m.
• Group B: Germany vs. Japan -- 7 a.m.
• Swimming Heats, 5 a.m.
• Women's 100m Butterfly
• Women's 400m Freestyle
• Men's 100m Breaststroke
• Men's 400m Freestyle
• Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay
• Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay
• Volleyball: United States vs. Argentina (Prelim. Round, Pool C) -- 3 p.m.

Sunday, July 28

• Gymnastics: Women's Qualification (Subdivision 1) -- 3:30 a.m.
• 5x5 Basketball: United States vs. Serbia (Men's Group Phase, Group C) -- 11:15 a.m.
• Beach Volleyball: United States vs. Czech Republic (Women's Prelim. Phase) -- 4 p.m.
• Football: United States vs. Germany (Women's Group B, #9) -- 3 p.m.

Monday, July 29

• Beach Volleyball: United States vs. France (Men's Prelim. Phase, Pool F) -- 10 a.m.
• Swimming Finals:
• Women's 400m Individual Medley -- 2:30 p.m.
• Men's 200m Freestyle -- 2:40 p.m.
• 5x5 Basketball: United States vs. Japan (Women's Group Phase, Group C) -- 3 p.m.

Tuesday, July 30

• 5x5 Basketball: Spain vs. Greece (Men's Group Phase, Group A) -- 5 a.m.
• Swimming Heats -- 5 a.m.
• Men's 200m Butterfly
• Men's 100m Freestyle
• Women's 1500m Freestyle
• Women's 100m Freestyle
• Men's 200m Breaststroke
• Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay
• 3x3 Basketball: United States vs. Germany (Women's Pool Round) -- 11:30 a.m.
• Swimming: Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final -- 4:01 p.m.

Wednesday, July 31

• Swimming Heats -- 5 a.m.
• Women's 200m Backstroke
• Men's 200m Backstroke
• Women's 200m Butterfly
• Beach Volleyball: United States vs. France (Women's Prelim. Phase, Pool C) -- 9 a.m.
• Football: United States vs. Australia (Women's Group B, #15) -- 1 p.m.
• Swimming Finals
• Women's 100m Freestyle Final -- 2:30 p.m.
• Men's 200m Butterfly Final -- 2:36 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 1

• 3x3 Basketball: United States vs. Australia (Women's Pool Round) -- 7 a.m.
• Swimming Finals:
• Women's 200m Butterfly Final -- 2:30 p.m.
• 200m Backstroke Final -- 2:37 p.m.
• Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final -- 3:49 p.m.
• Beach Volleyball: United States vs. China (Women's Prelim. Phase, Pool B) -- 4 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 2

• Swimming Heats -- 5 a.m.
• Men's 100m Butterfly
• Women's 200m Individual Medley
• Women's 800m Freestyle
• Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay
• Track and Field:
• Men's 1500m Round 1 -- 5:05 a.m.
• Women's 100m Round 1 -- 5:50 a.m.
• Women's 5000m Round 1 -- 12:10 p.m.
• Women's 800m Round 1 -- 1:45 p.m
• Volleyball: United States vs. Japan (Men's Prelim. Round, Group C), 3 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 3

• Track and Field:
• Men's 100m Preliminary Round -- 4:35 a.m.
• Men's 100m Round 1 -- 5:45 a.m.
• Women's 4x400m Relay Mixed Final -- 2:55 p.m.
• Women's 100m Final -- 3:20 p.m.
• Artistic Gymnastics: Men's Pommel Horse Final -- 11:16 a.m.
• Swimming: Men's 100m Butterfly Final -- 2:30 p.m.

Who is O'Brien backing to win the most medals at the 2024 Olympic Games, and which nation will shock the world?Visit SportsLine now to see Dan O'Brien's 2024 Summer Olympics medal futures bets and analysis, all from the 1996 Olympic decathlon gold medalist who also is a three-time world champion in the event.