Paris 2024 Olympics

The Summer Olympic Games return in July, and some of the best amateur athletes in the world will gather in Paris, France, to compete for gold.

How to Watch

As has been the case for decades, the Summer Olympics will be broadcast on NBC. So if you’re still making use of cable television, you’ll be at the mercy of watching whatever the local NBC provider chooses to broadcast. For streaming services, the most direct option will be a Peacock subscription, which can be purchased for as little as $9.99 a month. Other streaming services broadcasting the Olympics include DirecTV, FuboTV, Hulu, and Sling, although you may need to purchase the subscription option that include Live TV.

That being said, Paris operates six hours ahead of the United States' Eastern time zone. That means most of the major Olympic events will occur in the morning and afternoon for American viewers, so if you’re really invested in any of the competitions, there’s a good chance the outcome will be announced on social media before you get a chance to watch it.

Events to Follow

The sheer number of Olympic events offers something for everyone. While you won’t have any trouble finding coverage of the big events like gymnastics, swimming, and basketball, you’ll need to check the broadcasting schedule from your specific subscription service to find out when to watch the events live. You should also be able to find recordings and/or highlights from the specific events.

Some of the events include:

-Archery: July 25 to August 4

If you’ve ever tried shooting a standard bow and arrow, you’ll understand how difficult it can be to hit a stationary target with a projectile tool. These people make it look easy, too.

-Badminton: July 27 to August 5

It’s like tennis, but the racquets look like they’ve been on a crash diet and the tennis ball has been replaced by a ping pong ball in a skirt. But watching the players move quickly around the court can be thrilling, and you get to use the term “shuttlecock” when describing play.

-Basketball 3x3: July 30 to August 5

If you prefer pick-up games of basketball over the usual NCAA/NBA style of gameplay, this event could be for you.

-Boxing: July 27 to August 10

It’s a sport involving endurance, strategy, and the ability to wallop somebody else until they can’t hit back. Plus, it’s wonderfully satisfying to see punches played back in slow motion.

-Breaking (or Breakdancing): August 9 to 10

This one’s new, and it’s exactly as advertised. Some of the best dancers in the world compete using a style that involves everything from rhythm to full body control.

-Diving: July 27 to August 10

Athletes jump off a really tall platform, twist and contort themselves while they fall, and then attempt to hit the surface of the water below with minimal splashing. Oh, and they have to enter the water head first.

-Surfing: July 27 to 31

For those of us who have never been to France, the idea of traveling to Paris to surf may seem like traveling to Florida to see snow. But pending the weather conditions, surfing for Olympic gold will be a thing this summer.

The Four-Year Spectacle

The Summer Olympic Games only come around once every four years, making every Olympics a special event. Even if you don’t think any of the listed games will be interesting, take some time to look at the competition. You may be surprised!