Hosts France will sweep the world off their feet with a flamboyant Olympic Games opening ceremony on the River Seine tonight (8pm start).
For the first time in Olympic Games history, the opening ceremony will be outside a stadium on Paris’ River Seine.
More than 10 000 athletes will be on board 100 boats that will pass some of Paris’ most iconic places, including Notre Dame, Pont des Arts and Pont Neuf.
The floating parade will begin from the Austerlitz Bridge and will end at the Trocadéro, where the remainder of the opening ceremony will take place.
This time tomorrow, we'll be enjoying the #Paris2024 Opening Ceremony! 🇫🇷
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 25, 2024
But first, let's throw it back to the Opening Ceremony from Paris 1924. Déjà vu! 🕰️ #Olympics pic.twitter.com/utaMJ4Zhgj
Team South Africa are set to come out fourth, in alphabetical order, as they will be referred to as Afrique du Sud, and their flag bearers will be athletics speedster Akani Simbine and gymnast Caitlin Rooskrantz.
Once the buzz of the world’s biggest sporting party had died down in the French capital, the quest for gold starts in earnest tomorrow morning, and several South African athletes will be among the early risers.
Soaking up the Olympic vibes and the incredible atmosphere of Paris! 🇫🇷✨ The energy here during the 2024 Games is unforgettable. #Paris2024 #TeamSA #ForMyCountry pic.twitter.com/OgvsSjT5K8
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) July 24, 2024
SA’s African Games champion Johanita Scholtz will launch her Paris 2024 campaign in the group stage of the badminton women’s singles.
Further out at the National Olympic Nautical Stadium of Île-de-France, in Vaires-sur-Marne, four SA canoeists will be in action.
They are Andrew Birkett and Hamish Lovemore, as well as the women’s pair of Tiffany Koch and Esti Olivier (all kayak sprint).
Jean Spies, one of eight cyclists in Team SA, will be in action in the time trial. He made his Olympic debut in Tokyo, where he finished 27th. This time, he’s targeting an improved performance.
Equestrian rider Alexander Peternell will be flying the SA flag in the eventing competition at the famous Palace of Versailles, about 19km west of Paris.
The men and women hockey teams play their opening pool matches in their groups tomorrow, and have more games scheduled on Sunday.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games
— Keenan Horne (@keenoCH10) July 22, 2024
HERE.WE.GO 🇿🇦🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/ch7lf0Cw5D
Brandon Valjalo, who has dominated skateboarding competitions throughout Africa, will showcase his talents to the world tomorrow. He will be joined by Boipelo Awuah, the street skateboarding sensation from Kimberley.
Men’s surfing hopefuls Matthew McGillivray and Jordy Smith will strangely not be active in Paris.
Tomorrow, they will be surfing in Tahiti, because the Paris committee wanted to spread the 2024 Games beyond France. Tahiti is part of French Polynesia, which is a semi-autonomous territory of France.
The lone SA female surfer, Sarah Ann Baum, will also be in action tomorrow.
The Olympic torch at the Château de Versailles! 🔥🏰
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 25, 2024
Did you know? The historic venue will host equestrian and modern pentathlon action during #Paris2024.#OlympicTorchRelay | #Paris2024 | @Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/wWB5gMrbSP
Some of tomorrow’s competitors may advance to the next rounds, but there will be great excitement in the SA camp because some swimmers will be in action on Sunday.
Since South Africa’s readmission to international sport, swimming has produced the most Olympic medals.
Pieter Coetzé is the rising star of SA swimming after claiming five gold medals at the national championships in April.
On Sunday, he will be in action in the 100m backstroke, and is one of the country’s outside hopes for a podium place in Paris.
Next up will be Tatjana Smith in the 100m breaststroke.
Swimming enthusiasts in Paris may be familiar with the surname Schoenmaker.
However, since her marriage last November to Joel Smith – the brother of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi’s wife Rachel – she can celebrate her new surname by adding another chapter to her famous Olympic history with more medals.
🎥✨ Check out the incredible Olympic Village! 🏅🏠 From stunning accommodations to top-notch facilities, this is where the magic happens! 🥳🔥#TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Olympics pic.twitter.com/RDevHOO1kB
She has had a tough 2024 with injury, but remains one of South Africa’s best medal hopes in Paris.
The third SA swimmer in action on Sunday will the 100m butterfly star Erin Gallagher.
She competed in several events in Tokyo, but this time all her effort will be focused on the 100m butterfly, which earned her a gold medal at the SA National Aquatic Championships at Newton Park Swimming Pool in Gqeberha in April.