Tennis player Elina Svitolina and swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk will carry the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, which will take place today, July 26. Svitolina and Romanchuk are medalists of the 2020 Olympics: Elina won the bronze in the singles tournament, while Mykhailo earned silver and bronze in the 1500 and 800 meters freestyle events, respectively.
At the previous 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, which took place in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Ukrainian flag was carried by shooter Olena Kostevich and fencer Bohdan Nikishyn.
This year, 10,714 athletes from 206 countries will participate in the Olympic Games, which is fewer compared to the previous Games in Tokyo, where 11,092 athletes competed. The Ukrainian team has received 124 licenses to participate in the Olympics and will be represented in 26 out of the 32 disciplines.
Olympics 2024: where and when to watch the opening ceremony
The grand opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics will take place on Friday, July 26, at 20:30 Kyiv time. The broadcast can be watched on the Sуspilne Sport TV channel and on regional Sуspilne channels (such as Sуspilne Rivne, Sуspilne Odesa, etc.). The ceremony can also be viewed on the Sуspilne Sport digital platform.
Organizers promise a unique show that will take place for the first time on the River Seine. Each delegation will have its own boat with cameras set up to broadcast the event from the water. The procession will pass around the islands of Saint-Louis and Cite with the Notre-Dame Cathedral, stopping near the Yensky Bridge. It is expected that up to 300,000 spectators will watch the ceremony live. Viewing the show for free is possible from the upper banks of the Seine, while closer spots will cost up to 120,000 hryvnias depending on the sector.
Celebrities
On the eve, the relay of the Olympic flame began through the streets of Paris, with actress Salma Hayek taking part. The relay will end when the last person lights the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony. The identity of this person is kept secret, but the media speculate that it could be three-time Olympic champion in athletics Marie-José Pérec or football star Zinedine Zidane.
Ukraine’s Anti-Record
In Paris, Ukraine will be represented by 140 athletes – this is an anti-record for our national team. The previous record was set in 2021 in Tokyo, when Ukraine had 155 athletes. Ukrainians will compete in 23 sports. Distribution of Ukrainian athletes by sports:
- Athletics — 25
- Football — 18
- Diving — 9
- Rowing (canoe sprint and slalom) — 9
- Wrestling (freestyle and Greco-Roman) — 9
- Rhythmic Gymnastics — 6
- Rowing (rowing) — 6
- Artistic Gymnastics — 6
- Tennis — 6
- Shooting (rifle and shotgun) — 6
- Fencing — 6
- Swimming — 5
- Judo — 5
- Cycling (road + mountain bike) — 4
- Boxing — 3
- Breakdancing — 3
- Modern Pentathlon — 3
- Table Tennis — 3
- Rock Climbing — 2
- Artistic Swimming — 2
- Archery — 2
- Badminton — 1
- Weightlifting — 1
This anti-record is explained by the fact that during the full-scale war, Russia has killed at least 479 Ukrainian athletes and coaches. Over 3000 athletes and coaches are defending Ukraine on the front lines.
Where to watch the Olympic Games
In Ukraine, the Olympic Games will be broadcasted by Suspilne Sport and local channels of Suspilne. On the Suspilne Sport website, four additional streams of competitions with a Ukrainian commentator will be available. The Olympic Games will also be broadcasted by Eurosport and Radio Promin.
