The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic year is upon us.

The Olympic Games are set for July 26-Aug. 11, followed by the Paralympic Games on Aug. 28-Sept. 8, both in Paris. While a handful of U.S. athletes have already qualified, things begin to really ramp up in the months ahead.

Follow along all year on TeamUSA.com. Here are nine key storylines you won’t want to miss:

Iconic City, Iconic Venues

When it comes to hosting an Olympics in Paris, there’s no need to overthink it. The French capital is one of the world’s iconic cities, and organizers are leaning into that to create Olympic and Paralympic Games that are one with the City of Lights.

That starts at the Olympics opening ceremony on July 26. Instead of bringing everyone to a giant stadium, Paris plans to center the event around the Seine River. For the parade of nations, a flotilla of boats will carry the athletes on a nearly 4-mile journey through the heart of Paris, passing many famous landmarks before ending at the Trocadéro. The riverside setting allows for as many as 600,000 spectators, which would make it the largest opening ceremony in Olympic history.

The historic and picturesque city will remain front and center once the Games begin. Fans can take in fencing and taekwondo at the Grand Palais or watch beach volleyball and Para 5-a-side soccer on the Champ de Mars. The Eiffel Tower will also serve as the backdrop as athletes dive into the Seine to start the triathlon and open-water swimming events. Meanwhile, just outside the central city, equestrian events will be at the Chateau de Versailles.

The result of all this will be a pair of urban Games, with two compact venue clusters and public transit playing a central role for fans. After two Olympics/Paralympics with dampened fan access due to the pandemic, Paris is set to bring the world back together this summer.

Key Team USA Storylines For The 2024 Olympic And Paralympic Year

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