How to watch Paris 2024 Olympics: live streams, schedule, opening ceremony and more

Looking for a free Paris 2024 Olympics live stream? The event will be free on 9Now in Australia, BBC iPlayer in the UK and CBC in Canada. Full details on how to watch a Paris 2024 Olympics live stream just below.

Paris 2024 Olympics preview

Kits are being revealed, qualifying events are being held around the globe and the world’s best athletes are fine-tuning their training. Yes, the countdown to the Summer Olympics in Paris is officially underway.

In the coming months, all 209 countries (or National Olympic Committees as they are now known) will announce their teams and around 10,500 athletes will have the chance to compete for medals and records on the biggest sporting stage of them all. 

With the Games being held in France for the first time in 100 years, Paris is marking the Olympic flame's belated return by infusing proceedings with some distinct street flair. Skateboarding and sport climbing will return, having made their debut in Tokyo, while breaking (or breakdancing as it is more commonly known) will feature on the Olympic program for the very first time. 

While Paris will serve as the epicentre of the event, events will be held at no fewer than 17 cities, including Marseille, Lyon, Lille and... the surfing paradise of Taiarapu-Ouest in Tahiti, French Polynesia.

The opening ceremony on Friday, July 26 is set to be staged at Jardins du Trocadéro across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, and the closing ceremony is set to take place at the Stade de France on Sunday, August 11. 

If the quality of the witty, Art Deco-inspired Paris 2024 emblem and delightful Phrygian cap mascots are indicative of what's to come, this should be an Olympics to remember. 

Here's how to watch a Paris 2024 Olympics live stream wherever you are - starting with comprehensive FREE coverage in Australia.

How to live stream Paris 2024 Olympics for FREE in Australia

Sports fans in Australia are amongst the luckiest in the world, as the entirety of the Paris 2024 Olympics is set to be shown for FREE across Channel 9 and 9Gem.

That means viewers will also be able to fire up a Paris 2024 Olympics live stream on the 9Now streaming service, which is compatible with most smart devices. Not going to be in Australia?

Use a VPN to watch the Paris 2024 Olympics on 9Now from abroad.

It looks likely that Stan Sport will be providing ad-free coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics. A subscription costs $10 per month (on top of a $10 Stan sub), after a 7-day Stan Sport FREE trial.

How to watch Paris 2024 Olympics from outside your country

For broadcast and streaming details in more sports-mad countries like the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand, just scroll down the page - everything you need to know is there, including details of who's showing the Paris 2024 Olympics.

But if you try to watch your domestic coverage from anywhere outside your home country, you'll soon find a problem - geo-blocking. That's where the broadcaster prevents you from watching your usual feed from abroad. It's a common problem for sports fans all over the world. 

By downloading and installing a VPN, you can effectively trick your computer into thinking that it's back at home.

Use a VPN to watch a Paris 2024 Olympics live stream from anywhere:

There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 5,000 servers, across 60 countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend.

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How to use a VPN to watch Paris 2024 Olympics

Using a VPN is as easy as one-two-three...

1. Download and install a VPN - as we say, our top choice is NordVPN. 

2. Connect to the appropriate server location - open the VPN app, hit 'choose location' and select the appropriate location, eg: 'Australia' for 9Now.

3. Go to the broadcaster's stream - head to your home broadcaster's site or app and watch as if you were at home - 9Now for Aussies abroad.

How to watch Paris 2024 Olympics: live stream in the US without cable

NBCUniversal has broadcasting rights to the Paris 2024 Olympics in the US, with coverage likely to be spread across Peacock TV and its suite of TV channels.

This includes NBC, USA Network and MSNBC.

How to watch Paris 2024 Olympics without cable:

Peacock costs just $4.99 a month for an ad-supported version of the service that also offers live coverage of EPL soccer, every big WWE event, Premiership Rugby, plus plenty more live sports. You also have the option of paying $10 a month for commercial-free coverage.

OTT streaming service Sling TV is reasonably priced and includes NBC, USA Network and MSNBC as part of its Sling Blue package in most major markets. The usual cost is $45 a month, but if you're new to the service you can get $10 off your first month.

Another over-the-top streaming service that includes NBC, USA Network and MSNBC is FuboTV. It's a much more comprehensive cable replacement, and carries more than 100 channels including Fox, CBS and ESPN.

Prices start at $74.99 a month after a FREE FuboTV trial.

If you subscribe to Sling, Peacock, or any other US streaming service and find yourself unable to access coverage because you're out of the country, consider using a VPN as outlined below - of the many options, we rate NordVPN as the best of the best.

• More sports: how to watch a free F1 live stream

How to watch Paris 2024 Olympics: live stream for free in the UK

As ever, the BBC will have viewers in the UK covered for free Paris 2024 Olympics coverage. 

Planning to be away from the UK at the time? No worries:

Use NordVPN to watch BBC iPlayer from abroad.

You can live stream the action on BBC iPlayer. It's free to watch with a valid TV licence, and works across a huge array of devices, including laptops, tablets, smartphones, media streaming devices like Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Chromecast and Roku, and PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

Unlike in previous years, however, the BBC won't have all the action. That now belongs to Eurosport and its streaming arm Discovery+.

A subscription costs £6.99 per month or £59.99 for the year, and lets you tune in on a wide range of devices, as well as the Eurosport TV channels. 

How to watch the Olympics: live stream Paris 2024 in Canada for FREE

In Canada, Olympics coverage tends to be split between a range of different broadcasters, including CBC, Sportsnet and TSN. 

CBC would be our top pick for Canadians, as it always make loads of events free to watch on CBC Gem. You can currently pay $4.99 per month for ad-free access to CBC Gem's on-demand library, but if you don't mind sitting through commercials you don't need to pay a thing.

If you're unable to tune in due to geo-blocking restrictions, a VPN is all you need to watch the action as you would at home.

For Sportsnet, an SN Now subscription costs $14.99 per month, $49.99 for four months, or $149.99 per year.

A Sportsnet Now Premium subscription costs $34.99 per month or $249.99 per year, and nets you WWE Network and coverage of the Bundesliga and FA Cup soccer, United Rugby Championship, Premiership Rugby, National Rugby League, and Super League Rugby.

You can subscribe to TSN on a streaming-only basis for $19.99 a month or $199.90 per year.

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How to watch Olympics: live stream Paris 2024 in New Zealand

In New Zealand, the official broadcasters for the last Olympics were TVNZ, which is free to watch, and Sky Sport, which is available as part of a range of pay TV packages. That looks likely to be the case for Paris 2024 too.

You'll also be able to live stream TVNZ's Olympics coverage online via the free TVNZ Plus streaming service.

A Sky Sport Now subscription costs $19.99 per week or $39.99 per month. The monthly package comes with a 7-day free trial.

Paris Olympics schedule

Here is an overview of the Olympics 2024 schedule of events (see the official schedule at Olympics.com.

Saturday 27 July 2024 (14 gold medal events)
Artistic gymnastics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Canoe slalom, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Road cycling, Rowing, Rugby sevens, Shooting, Skateboard, Surfing, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Water polo. 

Sunday 28 July 2024 (13 gold medal events)
Archery, Artistic gymnastics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Canoe slalom, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Mountain bike, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboard, Surfing, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Water polo. 

Monday 29 July 2024 (18 gold medal events)

Archery, Artistic gymnastics, Badminton, Basketball, Beach volleyball, Boxing, Canoe slalom, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Mountain bike, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Surfing, Skateboard, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Water polo. 

Tuesday 30 July 2024 (14 gold medal events)
Archery, Artistic gymnastics, Badminton, Basketball, Basketball 3x3, Beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, Boxing, Canoe slalom, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Surfing, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water polo. 

Wednesday 31 July 2024 (17 gold medal events)
Archery, Artistic gymnastics, Badminton, Basketball, Basketball 3x3, Beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, Boxing, Canoe slalom, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Surfing, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water polo. 

Thursday 1 August 2024 (18 gold medal events)
Archery, Artistic gymnastics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Basketball 3x3, Beach volleyball, BMX racing, Boxing, Canoe slalom, Equestrian, Fencing, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Surfing, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water polo. 

Friday 2 August 2024 (23 gold medal events)
Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Basketball 3x3, Beach volleyball, BMX racing, Boxing, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Surfing, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Trampoline gymnastics, Volleyball, Water polo. 

Saturday 3 August 2024 (28 gold medal events)
Archery, Artistic gymnastics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Basketball 3x3, Beach volleyball, Boxing, Canoe slalom, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Road cycling, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Surfing, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Water polo. 

Sunday 4 August 2024 (20 gold medal events)
Archery, Artistic gymnastics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Basketball 3x3, Beach volleyball, Boxing, Canoe slalom, Equestrian, Fencing, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Road cycling, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Surfing, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Water polo. 

Monday 5 August 2024 (17 gold medal events)
Artistic gymnastics, Artistic swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Basketball 3x3, Beach volleyball, Boxing, Canoe slalom, Diving, Equestrian, Football, Hockey, Sailing, Shooting, Sport Climbing, Table tennis, Track cycling, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water polo, Wrestling. 

Tuesday 6 August 2024 (15 gold medal events)
Artistic swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Beach volleyball, Boxing, Canoe sprint, Diving, Equestrian, Football, Handball, Hockey, Sailing, Skateboard, Table tennis, Track cycling, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water polo, Wrestling. 

Wednesday 7 August 2024 (21 gold medal events)
Artistic swimming, Athletics, Basketball, Beach volleyball, Boxing, Canoe sprint, Diving, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Sailing, Skateboard, Sport climbing, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Track cycling, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling. 

Thursday 8 August 2024 (26 gold medal events)
Athletics, Basketball, Beach volleyball, Boxing, Canoe sprint, Diving, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Modern pentathlon, Rhythmic gymnastics, Sailing, Sport climbing, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Track cycling, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling. 

Friday 9 August 2024 (33 gold medal events)
Artistic swimming, Athletics, Basketball, Beach volleyball, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe sprint, Diving, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Modern pentathlon, Rhythmic gymnastics, Sport climbing, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Track cycling Volleyball, Water polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling. 

Saturday 10 August 2024 (39 gold medal events)
Artistic swimming, Athletics, Basketball, Beach volleyball, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe sprint, Diving, Football, Golf, Handball, Modern pentathlon, Rhythmic gymnastics, Sport climbing, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Track cycling Volleyball, Water polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling. 

Sunday 11 August 2024 (13 gold medal events)
Athletics, Basketball, Handball, Modern pentathlon, Track cycling, Volleyball, Water polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Closing ceremony