Paris 2024 Olympics Kick Off with Football and Rugby Sevens Events

Paris 2024 Olympics Begin with Exciting Events

The highly anticipated 2024 Olympics officially commence today, with the first matches in football and rugby sevens kicking off just two days before the grand opening ceremony scheduled for Friday. This year’s event is already making waves, having set a remarkable record by selling 8.6 million tickets—the highest number ever for an Olympic Games.

Today’s opening events include two thrilling football matches starting at 3:00 PM CET: Argentina will face Morocco in Saint-Étienne for Group B, while Uzbekistan takes on Spain in Paris for Group C. The rugby sevens competition will also begin shortly after, with Australia going up against Samoa at 3:30 PM CET in Paris.

Full Schedule for Wednesday

Football, Group Stage

• Argentina vs. Morocco (3 PM CET, Saint-Étienne)
• Uzbekistan vs. Spain (3 PM CET, Paris)
• Guinea vs. New Zealand (5 PM CET, Nice)
• Egypt vs. Dominican Republic (5 PM CET, Nantes)
• Iraq vs. Ukraine (7 PM CET, Lyon)
• Japan vs. Paraguay (7 PM CET, Bordeaux)
• France vs. US (9 PM CET, Marseille)
• Mali vs. Israel (9 PM CET, Paris)

Rugby Sevens, Men’s Pool

• Australia vs. Samoa (3:30 PM CET, Paris)
• Argentina vs. Kenya (4 PM CET, Paris)
• France vs. US (4:30 PM CET, Paris)
• Fiji vs. Uruguay (5 PM CET, Paris)
• Ireland vs. South Africa (5:30 PM CET, Paris)
• New Zealand vs. Japan (6 PM CET, Paris)
• Australia vs. Kenya (7 PM CET, Paris)
• Argentina vs. Samoa (7:30 PM CET, Paris)
• France vs. Uruguay (8 PM CET, Paris)
• Fiji vs. US (8:30 PM CET, Paris)

The renowned Stade Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne is buzzing with excitement as it hosts the opening matches.

Football: Dominican Republic’s Historic Olympic Debut Against Egypt

Fans of the Dominican Republic may be disappointed that their celebrated baseball team will not compete at the Paris Olympics, as the sport was excluded from the 2024 agenda. However, the Dominican men’s football team is ready to make a splash in their Olympic debut.

This historic moment is bolstered by a talented roster featuring several players with experience in European leagues, many of whom will don the national colors for the first time in France. Oscar Ureña, a player born in Spain to Dominican parents, expressed his pride: “I have a chance to represent my roots, and in the end that is what’s in my blood. They are very happy and proud of me for going.”

The Dominican team, affectionately known as “Sedofútbol,” appointed Spanish coach Ibai Gomez in February. Gomez, who had a long professional playing career, is now stepping into the coaching realm after retiring in November 2022. “The truth is that I was surprised by the call. I played for 14 years, but my career as a coach is just starting,” he stated.

Rugby Sevens: Fiji Aims for Third Consecutive Gold Medal

In rugby sevens, France will launch their medal campaign against the United States in their first Pool B match. The Stade de France will be filled to capacity, with fans eager to see star player Antoine Dupont as the French team kicks off their tournament.

The spotlight will continue to shine on France as they face two-time Olympic champions Fiji, who are considered a formidable force in the fast-paced sevens format. The US team will have the unique opportunity to compete against both France and Fiji on Wednesday, providing them with a challenging yet exhilarating experience.

US captain Kevon Williams commented on the atmosphere: “When we get in that environment, besides maybe 14 players, give or take 50 friends and family coming in supporting us, the staff and the people watching on TV, we know it’s going to be us versus 69,000 people. We’re OK with that, we’ve been preparing for that, we’ve honed in and said, ‘It’s just us. All we’ll see is the French jersey, so we’ll be ready.”

France, having hosted the Rugby World Cup last year, is eager to make a mark in the sevens tournament. Despite being finalists three times at the World Cup, they are determined to seize this opportunity. With Dupont leading the charge, France has reached new heights in the rugby sevens format in 2024, securing a spot in the World Series for the first time in 19 years and clinching victory in the series finale in Madrid.