Two years out: The IOC builds anticipation ahead of Paris 2024

On Tuesday, the slogan for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was released. “Games Wide Open” will stream high above Paris and on advertisements all over the world as athletes begin to prepare for the Games. The excitement is beginning to build even though the Games are still two years away.

Despite the time between now and then spanning over 700 days, qualifiers have already begun across multiple sports. “The Olympic Games are about the athletes. With two years to go, it is exciting to see the focus on the athletes all over the world who are starting on the road to the Olympic Games, striving to perform at their best in the various Olympic qualifying events and reach the Olympic stage in Paris in just two years’ time,” said Kit McConnell, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Sports Director.

With the implementation of hashtags on social media, supporters are able to follow their favorite sports and athletes by simply searching #RoadtoParis2024 and #OlympicQualifiers to stay up to date. In addition, qualification events have been implemented to turn the spotlight toward the new events that will be represented in 2024. BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing will be featured at three festival-style events in the four disciplines recently added to the Olympic Program.

The qualification series will be held in one location over four days of competition and will bring a more exciting format which combines the sports with music, art and culture from the city hosting the events. By releasing the dates for the Qualification Series (between March and June 2024) and publishing the competition schedule for all 32 sports, the IOC is beginning to build the anticipation for Paris.

The schedule will also allow all athletes pursuing the Games to work with their coaching staffs to begin preparation in the sports that have not yet begun qualifiers. Over 100,000 athletes will work toward their dream of representing their home country on the biggest stage in sports with only a fraction actually making it.

Over the next two years, over 3,000 competitions will take place to determine which athletes will make their respective rosters by June of 2024 ahead of the Games. Only time will tell which top-level athletes will make their dreams a reality, and which ones will miss out and look ahead to LA28.