Olympics 2024 — What Africa Needs to Know About Paris

Paris 2024 brings the Olympics back to the French capital 100 years after 1924. If you want fast facts, schedules, which African athletes to watch and how to stream events from across the continent, this page is your go-to. No fluff — just the practical info you need to follow medals and moments as they happen.

When and where

The Games run from July 26 to August 11, 2024, with some events starting a bit earlier for scheduling reasons. Paris will use a mix of classic venues like Stade de France and new city sites along the Seine for open-water and athletics events. Expect packed evenings for athletics, swimming finals, and team sports.

Who to watch — African contenders and highlights

Africa usually shines in middle- and long-distance races, boxing, and a few field events. Keep an eye on Kenya and Ethiopia in the 800m–marathon range — they often deliver podium finishes. Nigeria and other West African nations bring strong sprinters and hurdlers to watch, while South Africa typically fields competitive swimmers and track stars. Names that grabbed attention in recent seasons include Faith Kipyegon (middle distance), Tobi Amusan (hurdles) and elite Kenyan marathoners — all likely to be central to Africa’s medal chances. Also watch rugby sevens and boxing, where African teams and fighters can upset big names on any given day.

If you want specifics on athletes and starts, bookmark event lists and the official start lists that drop a few days before competition. That’s when lineups and heat assignments become final.

Pro tip: follow national Olympic committees and athletes’ social accounts. They post selection news, warm-up results and travel updates faster than big outlets.

How to watch and follow in Africa

Broadcast rights differ by country, so the fastest route is checking your national sports broadcaster or the official Olympics website for local partners. The IOC and official broadcasters typically offer live streams and highlight clips via apps and websites. If you’re outside a rights area, follow live results pages and social clips for key moments.

Time zones matter. Paris is on Central European Time (CEST) during summer — usually one or two hours ahead of many African countries. That often means evening finals are prime-time at home. Set calendar alerts for finals you don’t want to miss.

Want instant updates? Subscribe to Africa Daily Spectrum alerts or follow our Olympics 2024 tag for roundups, result posts and profiles focused on African athletes. We’ll post quick recaps after big finals, flags-to-watch lists, and streaming tips to help you catch every big moment.

Heading to Paris? Book tickets only through the official Olympics ticket portal and check local transport and entry rules early. For most fans at home, good Wi‑Fi, a reliable broadcaster app and a shortlist of events to follow will make the Games feel live and close — even from thousands of kilometres away.