A total of 80 Australian athletes from 17 sports will take part in the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games tomorrow night along the river Seine, led by Flag Bearers Jess Fox and Eddie Ockenden.
The Team will travel on one of 85 boats in the procession, which will carry Australian Team members on the 42-minute journey. Australia shares the vessel with Zambia and Zimbabwe.
As Australia is a future host of the Games, the Australian Team will travel on the third last boat, ahead of the next Games’ hosts United States (LA 2028) and France, hosts of Paris 2024.
Chef de Mission Anna Meares will be joined by three of her Deputy Chefs – Olympians Bronwen Knox, Kaarle McCulloch and Kyle Vander Kuyp.
Team members in the Paris Village, who are choosing not to march in the ceremony, will take part in their own march along the central boulevard before returning to recite the Olympians Oath, led by Deputy Chefs Ken Wallace and Mark Knowles.
Anna says the excitement of the athletes taking part has been palpable all week.
“They all want to be part of something special in the first Opening Ceremony conducted in this way. It is so French and it will be spectacular. Our athletes will look resplendent in their Sportscraft outfits.
“Those who can’t march will be supporting their teammates by wearing their Opening Ceremony uniforms in the satellite villages, subsites and training bases out of Paris.
“In the Paris Village, athletes will gather prior to the parade conducting a march of their own through the centre of the Village before watching the parade as a group.
“Whether on the boat, feeling the enthusiasm of the crowd along the river bank, or at one of our locations elsewhere, we are all part of the Australian Olympic Team.
“I have spoken to so many athletes who would have loved to have been part of the parade down the river, but for high performance reasons they will watch from the villages, subsites, and training bases.
“We have always prioritised performance. Marching is a wonderful experience but it needs to be balanced against the realities of preparation for competition,” she said.
The Australian marching contingent will begin leaving the Village at 5:50pm.
At the conclusion of the journey, athletes have the option of an early departure from the Trocadero at 10.00pm to return to their accommodation. Time spent from Village departure to return to the Village after the final show is seven hours, or five and a half hours for those exiting early.
The vessel on which the Australians are travelling contains bathroom facilities, and snacks and drinks will be available on board.
Opening Ceremony Fun Facts
- The Opening Ceremony is part of Paris 2024’s vision to be bold, original and unique
- Opening with the Parade of athletes is a break with tradition – as part of Paris 2024’s aim to hold Games created for and by athletes
- First time in Olympic Summer Games history the Opening Ceremony will be held outside of a stadium, bringing the Opening Ceremony into the heart of the French capital
- The Opening Ceremony will be the largest in Olympic history – with the 6km boat parade route along the Seine
- The river parade will start from the Austerlitz Bridge, around the two islands at the centre of the city (the Île Saint Louis and the Île de la Cité) before passing under several bridges and gateways.
- Athletes on board the parade boats will get glimpses of some of the official Games venues, including Parc Urbain La Concorde, the Esplanade des Invalides, the Grand Palais, and lastly the Iéna bridge where the parade will come to a stop before the ceremony’s finale at the Trocadéro.
- Free admission for many spectators – and cameras on board and along the route will bring an estimated global TV audience of 1.5 billion fans watching live into the heart of the athletes’ parade The fleet is made up of 85 boats – a mix of traditional Parisian barges, wooden boats and leisure boats.
- Australia will be 3rd last in the Order of Nations – as a future host, followed only by USA (LA2028) and host country France.
- Around 80 Aussie athletes are expecting to take part in this unique Opening Ceremony – this is on par with previous Games’ athletes attendance at the Opening Ceremony
