The 2024 Paris Olympics won't actually begin on the opening ceremony this week — competition will begin earlier.
The tournament officially begins competition on Wednesday, kicking off a global event with a host of football and rugby matches due to be played.
The first event will kick off at 8 a.m. CST with Argentina taking on Morocco and Uzbekistan taking on Spain in men's soccer.
The U.S. will play its first men's rugby sevens match at 9:30 a.m. The U.S. team will face host France.
In soccer, the men's team, which includes Chicago players, will also face France, with play beginning at 2 p.m. CST.
Competition is scheduled for both Wednesday and Thursday, meaning some events will already have begun by the time the Paris Olympics officially kicks off with an ambitious aquatic opening ceremony.
The event is set to be the first Olympic opening ceremony to be held outside a stadium, with around 10,500 athletes parading on boats on the Seine through the heart of the French capital, finishing in front of the Trocadero.
Here's what you need to know:
When are the Olympics?
The Opening Ceremony will begin on July 26, with some events scheduled to begin on July 24. The Games will conclude with the Closing Ceremony on August 11.
The Paralympics will follow shortly after, from August 28 to September 8.
What events will take place before the Opening Ceremony?
| Date Time (Connecticut) | event | stream |
| Wednesday, July 24th, 8am | M Soccer: Argentina vs Morocco | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24th, 8am | M Soccer: Uzbekistan vs. Spain | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24th, 8:30 AM | M Rugby: Pool matches (12 matches) | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24th, 10am | M Soccer: Egypt vs Dominican Republic | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24th, 10am | M Soccer: Guinea vs New Zealand | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24th, 12pm | M Soccer: Japan vs Paraguay | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24th, 12pm | M Soccer: Iraq vs Ukraine | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24th, 2pm | M Soccer: France vs USA | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Wednesday, July 24th, 2pm | M Soccer: Mali vs Israel | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 2 AM | World Handball: Slovenia vs. Denmark | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 2:30 AM | W Archery: Individual Ranking Round | NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25, 4AM | World Handball: Netherlands vs Angola | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 7am | World Handball: Spain vs Brazil | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 7am | M Rugby: Pool matches (6 matches) | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 7:15am | M Archery: Individual Ranking Round | NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 9am | World Handball: Germany vs. South Korea | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 10am | World Soccer: Spain vs Japan | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 10am | World Soccer: Canada vs New Zealand | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 12pm | World Soccer: Nigeria vs Brazil | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 12pm | World Soccer: Germany vs. Australia | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 12pm | World Handball: Hungary vs France | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 1pm | M Rugby: Quarterfinals and standings | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 2pm | World Soccer: USA vs Zambia | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 2pm | World Soccer: France vs. Colombia | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Thursday, July 25th, 2pm | W Soccer: Norway vs Sweden | Peacock, NBC Olympics |
| Friday, July 26, 2am | Shooting: 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Pre-Training | N/A |
| Friday, July 26, 3AM | M Shooting: 10m Air Pistol Pre-Training | N/A |
| Friday, July 26th, 4:45 AM | W Shooting: 10m Air Pistol Pre-Training | N/A |
When will the first medals be distributed?
The first medals will be awarded on July 27 in events including diving, swimming and skateboarding.
See the full schedule of events here.
When is the opening ceremony?
The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics begins at 1 pm Central Standard Time. Here's how to watch it.
Where are the Olympics held?
The Paris Olympics will be the first to be held in the French capital in a century.
The Paris Olympics has many iconic venues.
The Eiffel Tower, nicknamed “La Dame de Fer” (The Iron Lady), will be the centrepiece of both the Paris Games and the Paralympics.
The men's and women's beach volleyball matches will be played at the base of the 330-metre-high monument, with around 13,000 fans watching the matches at the Eiffel Tower's temporary stadium, near the Champs de Mars, where Parisians and tourists picnic on the grass and watch the July 14 fireworks.
The medals for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games feature hexagonal pieces of iron taken from the Tower.
Where to watch the Olympics
Looking for a complete guide on how and where to watch the Olympics from the US?
We'll protect you.
Here's the complete Olympics TV and streaming schedule: All events will also be streamed live on Peacock in real time.
Who will compete in the 2024 Olympics?
While many people are preparing to watch the global sporting event, athletes are gearing up for their chance at Olympic glory.
Team USA is packed with big stars, including many from the Chicago area and Illinois, who are primed to compete for the gold medal.
In this episode of Hometown Hopefuls, NBC Chicago's Alex Maragos speaks with rhythmic gymnast Evita Griskenas, a Chicago suburban native who shares her incredible story of how she became an Olympian and many more.
