Skip to content
GO TO bet365 Sports
  1. Olympics

Olympic Opening Ceremony: Date, history, flag bearers and how to watch

The Olympics are nearly upon us, and the excitement is building as the spotlight shines on Paris this summer.

Over 10,000 athletes from 206 nations will compete in 32 sports, but before any events get underway, there is the small matter of the Opening Ceremony.

The spectacle will not be in a stadium like it usually is at the Olympics, instead it will take place on Paris' iconic River Seine.

Opening Ceremony Date & Time

The Olympic opening ceremony begins at 18:30 BST on Friday 26th July.

Opening Ceremony Venue

The Olympic ceremony will be unique and historic as it takes place on the River Seine in Paris and not in a stadium.

Ambitious plans were unveiled three years ago, with organisers hoping to put on a spectacle that will be remembered for all time.

A 6km route has been mapped out along the Seine, with proceedings starting at Austerlitz Bridge and ending among the gardens, fountains and palaces near the Eiffel Tower in Trocadero.

How to watch the Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony will be shown live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 17:45 BST.

Team GB's Flag Bearers

Diver Tom Daley and rower Helen Glover have had the honour of being chosen as Team GB's flag bearers and will represent Great Britain in Friday's ceremony.

The likes of Chris Hoy, Andy Murray, Mark Foster, Matthew Pinsent, and Steve Redgrave have carried out the role in previous Games.

This year's Opening Ceremony is likely to be an emotional affair for both Daley and Glover, as they are not expected to compete in four years time.

Notable Olympics Flag Bearers

  • Australia - Eddie Ockenden and Jessica Fox
  • Canada - Andre De Grasse and Maude Charron
  • France - Florent Manaudou and Melina Robert-Michon
  • Great Britain - Tom Daley and Helen Glover
  • Greece - Giannis Antetokounmpo and Antigoni Drisbioti
  • Italy - Gianmarco Tamberi and Arianna Errigo
  • Jamaica - Josh Kirlew and Shanieka Ricketts
  • South Africa - Akani Simbine and Caitlin Rooskrantz
  • Spain - Marcus Cooper Walz and Támara Echegoyen
  • United States - LeBron James and Coco Gauff

What to expect at the Opening Ceremony

This year's Opening Ceremony has been described as "ambitious and historic" and the plans suggest it will be an incredible event.

Over 150 boats carrying more than 10,000 athletes and several dignitaries are to sail past Paris' iconic landmarks on Friday.

The procession will pass Notre Dame Cathedral and Pont Neuf, and the world will get to see what Paris has to offer. It will travel around the two islands of Ile Saint Louis and the Ile de la Cite, passing under a total of eight to 10 bridges and gateways.

The boats will not only transport the athletes, but they will also be used in the artistic part of the ceremony.

Organisers have kept the identity of the performers a secret, but thousands of people are set to line the river to watch the show.

The Opening Ceremony, which will run from Austerlitz Bridge to Trocadero, will also include the official opening of the Games, which will be carried out by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Further details have been kept under wraps, but organisers have been bold throughout the process and have vowed to put on a show like no other.

In total, there will be 12 parts to the Opening Ceremony, with some of it set to play on cliches about France.

Olympics Opening Ceremony director

French actor and theatre director Thomas Jolly has been named as the Opening Ceremony's artistic director.

Jolly has promised the event will show France "in all its diversity" and he and his team will hope they deliver the most spectacular show in Olympics history.

Related Articles

bet365 uses cookies

We use cookies to deliver a better and more personalised service. For more information, see our Cookie Policy

New to bet365? Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets Join Now

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.