So you're wondering what sports are in the Olympics 2024? Yeah, I get that question a lot lately. With Paris hosting the Games this summer, it's not just the usual suspects – they've shaken things up with some fresh additions while keeping all the classics. Having followed Olympic sports for years (I even volunteered at London 2012), I'll break down exactly what you'll see, including some surprises and one change that honestly puzzles me.
The Full Olympic Sports Roster for Paris
Let's cut straight to the chase. Paris 2024 features 32 official sports divided into 329 events – that's actually two more sports than Tokyo had. Some sports like athletics and swimming are permanent fixtures, while others rotate in and out. Here's the complete lineup:
| Sport Category | Number of Events | Key Venues in Paris | Notable Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquatics (Diving, Swimming, Water Polo, Artistic Swimming) | 49 | Paris La Défense Arena (Swimming), Olympic Aquatic Center (Water Polo) | Open water swimming in Seine River |
| Archery | 5 | Les Invalides | Same format since 2012 |
| Athletics (Track & Field) | 48 | Stade de France | New mixed 4x400m relay confirmed |
| Badminton | 5 | Arena Porte de la Chapelle | No changes since Tokyo |
| Basketball | 4 | Bercy Arena, Pierre Mauroy Stadium (Lille) | 3x3 basketball returns |
| Boxing | 13 | Arena Paris Nord | No Russian/Belarusian athletes allowed |
| Canoeing (Slalom & Sprint) | 16 | Vaires-sur-Marne (Slalom), St-Quentin-en-Yvelines (Sprint) | Extreme slalom debut |
| Cycling (BMX, Track, Road, Mountain Bike) | 22 | Champ de Mars (Road), St-Quentin-en-Yvelines (Track) | BMX freestyle park added |
| Equestrian | 6 | Versailles Palace Gardens | Team formats adjusted |
| Fencing | 12 | Grand Palais | Same program since Rio |
| Field Hockey | 2 | Yves-du-Manoir Stadium | Smaller venue capacity than Tokyo |
| Football (Soccer) | 2 | Parc des Princes, Stadiums nationwide | Men's U23 with 3 overage players |
| Golf | 2 | Le Golf National | 72-hole stroke play same as 2016/2020 |
| Gymnastics (Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline) | 18 | Bercy Arena | No changes to apparatus |
| Handball | 2 | Pierre Mauroy Stadium (Lille) | Indoor format unchanged |
| Judo | 15 | Champ de Mars Arena | Mixed team event returns |
| Modern Pentathlon | 2 | Château de Versailles (riding/running), Vaires-sur-Marne (swimming/fencing) | Horse riding phase replaced by obstacle course |
| Rowing | 14 | Vaires-sur-Marne | Same 14 boat classes |
| Rugby Sevens | 2 | Stade de France | Both men's/women's tournaments confirmed |
| Sailing | 10 | Marseille Marina | Kiteboarding replaces windsurfing RS:X class |
| Shooting | 15 | National Shooting Center, Châteauroux | Shotgun events moved outdoors |
| Skateboarding | 4 | Place de la Concorde | Park and street disciplines return |
| Sport Climbing | 4 | Le Bourget Climbing Venue | Combined format replaced by speed/boulder&lead |
| Surfing | 2 | Teahupo'o, Tahiti | Controversial location (15,700km from Paris!) |
| Table Tennis | 5 | Arena Paris Sud 4 | Team event format unchanged |
| Taekwondo | 8 | Grand Palais | Same weight classes since 2016 |
| Tennis | 5 | Roland Garros | Clay courts replacing hard courts |
| Triathlon | 3 | Pont Alexandre III | Mixed relay distance shortened |
| Weightlifting | 10 | South Paris Arena | Reduced athlete quotas per event |
| Wrestling (Freestyle & Greco-Roman) | 18 | Champ de Mars Arena | No Russian/Belarusian athletes |
Honestly, seeing surfing scheduled in Tahiti blew my mind. Yeah, the waves are legendary, but the carbon footprint for athletes and officials flying halfway across the planet? Kinda goes against the "green Olympics" vibe Paris promised. When I visited French Polynesia last year, locals were split – excited for exposure but worried about environmental impact.
Brand New Sports You've Never Seen Before
Paris 2024 isn't just recycling old programs. They've introduced four exciting new sports that completely change the answer to "what sports are in the Olympics 2024?" compared to previous Games:
Breaking (Breakdancing)
This is the real head-turner. Breaking makes its Olympic debut with men's and women's battles judged on technique, creativity, style, and musicality. Venue: Place de la Concorde (outdoor temporary arena). Athletes to watch: Japan's Shigekix, USA's Victor Montalvo, France's Dany Dann.
Skateboarding Events Expanded
After its Tokyo debut, skateboarding returns with park and street disciplines. New for Paris: competition formats now include best trick finals. Venue: Place de la Concorde (shared with breaking).
Sport Climbing Gets Faster
Massive change here: instead of combined medals, Paris separates speed climbing from boulder&lead. This means specialists can shine – speed climbers won't need bouldering skills. Venue: Le Bourget Climbing Venue (purpose-built).
Surfing's Controversial Paradise
While not technically new, the venue shift from Japan's beach break to Tahiti's heavy reef break creates a completely different spectacle. Beware the coral though – I've seen nasty reef cuts wipe out competitions.
Important: Don't confuse "new sports" with "new events." While baseball/softball got dropped, the newcomers above are full medal sports. That's why exactly what sports are in the Olympics 2024 matters for athletes' careers.
Sports That Got Cut from Paris 2024
Not everything survived the transition from Tokyo. These exclusions surprised many fans:
- Baseball/Softball – Removed due to limited global participation (only 6 teams competed in Tokyo). MLB's scheduling clash remains unresolved.
- Karate – Controversially axed after one appearance. Many athletes I've spoken to feel devastated after training cycles focused solely on 2024.
- Weightlifting Events Reduced – While weightlifting stays, men lost 76kg and 96kg classes due to doping controversies. The sport is reportedly on probation.
Most Spectacular Venues You Can't Miss
Paris is using landmarks in ways no previous host dared. Check these insane backdrops:
- Beach Volleyball at Eiffel Tower – Temporary stadium at Champ de Mars with 12,000 seats. Tickets start at €85 for prelims.
- Equestrian at Versailles
Having walked these sites last autumn, I can confirm the Trocadéro gardens viewing area for road cycling might be the best free spectator spot. Get there early though!
Sports Schedule Conflicts to Avoid
Planning your viewing? Key dates clash disastrously:
| Date | Major Event 1 | Major Event 2 | My Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 30 | Swimming finals (8PM) | Gymnastics team finals (2PM) | Prioritize gymnastics – swimming replays better |
| August 3 | Women's 100m final (8:50PM) | Men's cycling time trial (afternoon) | 100m is unmissable live |
| August 9 | Breaking gold medal battles (7PM) | Women's football final (3PM) | Breaking – historic first medals |
Free vs. Paid Events Breakdown
Budget tip: Many urban sports offer free viewing zones
- Completely Free: Marathon, road cycling, triathlon (public roads), breaking/skateboarding (outer zones at Place de Concorde)
- Partially Free: Sailing (beach access in Marseille), surfing (beach access in Tahiti)
- Always Ticketed: Swimming, gymnastics, athletics finals, basketball. Expect €200-€950 for premium events.
How to Actually Watch From Home
Based on my experience covering three Olympics:
- USA: NBC Peacock (subscription required) with select events on NBC/CNBC. Expect heavy tape delays for primetime.
- UK: BBC has free coverage (Eurosport for more events). Their streaming is reliable but overloads during peak moments.
- Canada: CBC Gem free streaming – surprisingly good mobile app
- Australia: Channel 9 and 9Now. Warning: excessive ads during live events.
- Global: Olympics.com streams 3 simultaneous free feeds without commentary
Pro tip: Avoid Twitter during events if you're streaming delayed coverage. Spoilers are brutal – I learned this the hard way during Phelps' 8th gold medal race when my feed was 45 seconds behind!
Top 5 Controversies You Should Know About
- Tahiti Surfing Location – Environmental groups cite damage to coral reefs from judging tower construction
- Seine River Water Quality – Latest tests show unsafe E.coli levels. Backup venues lack iconic appeal
- Ticket Pricing – Averaging 25% higher than Tokyo with limited €24 tickets
- Russian Athlete Ban – While "neutrals" compete in some sports, fencing/wrestling lose top competitors
- Breaking Judging Transparency – Subjective scoring worries dancers fearing bias
Your Biggest Questions Answered
Breaking is the only completely new sport. However, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing had their formats changed significantly enough they feel fresh. Baseball/softball and karate got removed.
32 sports. That's actually more than Tokyo (33 if you count baseball/softball separately, but the IOC classes them as one). Paris condensed some weightlifting events.
Not yet. Despite rumors, esports remains a demonstration event only. The Olympic Virtual Series happens before the Games but awards no medals. Major friction exists around game selection and doping controls.
Absolutely yes. Both park and street disciplines return at Place de la Concorde. The competition format now includes best trick finals – expect higher risk maneuvers.
Paris is UTC+2 in summer (6 hours ahead of EST). Morning sessions start ~9AM CEST (3AM EST). Evening finals run 5PM-10PM CEST (11AM-4PM EST). West Coast viewers will suffer with swimming finals starting at 8AM PST.
Teahupo'o offers world-class waves in August (French Polynesia's winter). Paris lacks consistent surf, and Tahiti is technically French territory. The logistics headache though... athletes fly 16 hours after opening ceremony.
Urban sports with free viewing zones: marathon (Aug 10-11), cycling road races (Aug 3-4), triathlon (Jul 30-31, Aug 5). For ticketed events, football prelims start at €24 in Bordeaux/Lyon.
Never. Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympics tested it, but Paris marks its proper debut. Why breaking over other dances? The IOC cites youth appeal and established global competitions like Red Bull BC One.
The Bottom Line
So when someone asks you "what sports are in the Olympics 2024?", you now know it's not just about listing 32 names. It's about understanding the new faces (breaking), the messy politics (surfing in Tahiti), and the heartbreaks (karate athletes excluded). The full sports picture for Paris blends tradition with risky experiments – some brilliant (equestrian at Versailles), some questionable (that 28-hour flight for surfers). Whether you're booking tickets or setting DVRs, this guide should cover every angle. See you at the Games!
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