The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, organized this year in France by the city of Paris, are fast approaching! These sporting events are eagerly awaited the world over. Would you like to take part? Find out all our tips on how to use your Reward Points and make the most of them without breaking the bank.
Ticketing and access to events
Ticketing for Paris 2024 has been open since October 2023! Over 13 million tickets were put on sale for the occasion, of which over 70% have already been sold. A resale platform is due to open in the spring.
Here are the dates to remember when the tests will take place:
- Olympic Games from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
- Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8, 2024
To mark the occasion, we’ve written a number of articles on everything you need to know about how to prepare for your trip to Paris, including how to buy tickets and where to stay, or how to get there or stay at an affordable price:
Preparing for your trip to France
The flights
If you’re looking for more information on buying cheap airline tickets, here are our ultimate guides:
Train tickets
If you want to visit France or attend a regional event, the train is the best way to get around:
Travelling during the Olympic Games
Not sure which city(ies) to visit during your stay in France and need some inspiration? We’ve compiled all our travel guides for France and Europe here.
Paris Travel Guide
The city of Paris, known as one of the world’s most romantic and cultural destinations, is in the spotlight. There will undoubtedly be no shortage of activities during the Games.
Pass through the most emblematic districts of Paris, such as Montmartre and the Champs-Élysées, wander through the streets steeped in the City of Light’s history, plan a visit to a museum or two, such as the Louvre, stroll along the Seine, and enjoy a coffee in a bistro to soak up the capital’s charm.
France Travel Guide
Besides Paris, France has a lot to offer in terms of heritage, landscapes and activities. From Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille to the verdant vineyards of Burgundy, from the sunny beaches of the Côte d’Azur to La Chaîne des Puys, from the famous Mont-Saint-Michel to the châteaux of the Loire, France promises an unforgettable adventure for every visitor, with its world-renowned gastronomy, legendary works of art and beautiful, picturesque villages.
Europe Travel Guide
France is just a few hours from Europe’s biggest capitals. So it’s easy to travel to Rome in Italy, to the safe beaches of Greece or to Spain.
Visiting Italy
Visiting Greece
Our other guides to European cities
The Visa credit card you need for the Games
As Visa is the official partner of the Games, only Visa cards are accepted for purchases in the official store. At the event, you’ll be better off with the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, the only credit card with no conversion fees for foreign currency transactions.
What’s more, as Visa is a partner of the DragonPass network, your credit card gives you 6 free annual accesses to VIP airport lounges, so you can take a break before your flight at Montréal-Trudeau airport in the following lounges:
Tests and Calendar
Competition venues
The city of Paris will be at the heart of the events, of course, with iconic sites such as the Invalides, the Seine and the Stade de France, as well as 15 competition sites including the Trocadéro, the Hôtel de Ville, the Eiffel Tower stadium, the Roland Garros stadium and the Parc des Princes.
The Games will also take place on the outskirts of the city, in the Île-de-France region at Paris La Défense, the Château de Versailles, the Vaires-sur-Marne nautical stadium, the Bourget climbing site and many others.
Last but not least, events will also be held all over France, with soccer tournaments in six provincial stadiums (Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Nice, Marseille), handball, basketball and sailing tournaments in Marseille.
Even more unprecedented, the Teahupo’o site in Tahiti will host the Olympic surfing competition .
List of sports and new disciplines
In addition to the 41 Olympic sports represented, such as athletics, equestrian, fencing, gymnastics, rugby, swimming, etc., this year will be special because four additional sports will be highlighted for the Paris 2024 Olympics: breaking, climbing, skateboarding, and surfing.
The Olympic Torch Relay
The first torch will be lit by April 16, 2024, in Greece. It will then cross the Mediterranean Sea to arrive in Marseille, France, on May 8 aboard the Belem, a legendary 19th-century three-masted sailing ship, to cross the whole of France before arriving in Paris on July 26.
Sporting events calendar
You can find the calendar on the Paris 2024 website. The events begin the day after the opening ceremony on July 27, when medals will be awarded in the very early hours!
Applications to download for the Olympic Games
Official Games application
Want to follow the Olympic flame from Marseille to Paris, discover or stay informed about your athletes’ prowess? The Olympic Games – Paris 2024 app will be essential for living the Games.
Public transportation
Accessibility will be a real challenge for the city of Paris. The Olympic Committee and the City of Paris have set up a vast transport plan to make it easier for French and foreign visitors to get around and limit traffic jams.
The Transport public Paris 2024 app will be your essential tool for getting around Paris on the metro. You’ll be able to bookmark event locations and see real-time deadlines and suggestions for alternative routes to avoid crowds. Tickets can be purchased individually, weekly or monthly from your smartphone. The update will be available in May and launched in 6 languages.
Please note the high cost of travel passes in Paris during the event: 16 euros a day or 70 euros a week. To save money, buy your tickets before July 20. Download the Île-de-France Mobilités application available on Play Store and App Store.
Buses (300) and free shuttles (150) will be available for visitors who have a ticket for the Olympic Games, particularly for sites where the events may be far from the center of Paris.
A large stock of electric bikes will be added to the network. But sometimes you’ll have to walk to get to the various sites.
Last but not least, the French Ministry of Transport has developed an interactive map showing the situation at any given moment, to help you plan your journeys. You’ll find station timetables and recommendations.
Follow the Olympic Games remotely
The best way to keep up to date with all the latest news on the Games is to subscribe to the Paris 2024 Club newsletter. You can also follow all the action on TV or on the Eurosport app, wherever you are.
History and significance of the Olympic Games
Every four years, the Olympic and Paralympic Games touch the hearts of billions of people worldwide. The Games were initially set up long before J-C. in honour of Zeus in ancient Greece. These games ceased in the 4th century AD and were only re-established in modern Athens in 1896.
Since then, the Olympic Games have never ceased to fascinate us. They bring together the world’s most talented athletes in a spectacular celebration of sport, perseverance, and unity. It’s also a cultural melting pot with outstanding feats and unique emotions.
So it’s a date not to be missed, especially as there’s something for everyone! Whether you’re a fan of athletics, gymnastics or simply curious about new sports, don’t miss this event.
For the occasion, many partners have already signed up alongside Paris 2024, including global partners such as Airbnb, Allianz and Visa and national partners such as Accor, Groupe ADP and Air France.