Paris 2024: Everything you need to know ahead of the start of the Olympics 

The Opening Ceremony will officially bring the curtain up in Paris this evening.

The Olympic Rings on the Eiffel Tower on Thursday evening. 

Bonjour, ca va? 

The pre-Games prep is done, everyone's settled into their digs and the excitement levels are rising. And that's just the Irish Examinerteam in Paris. 

Today too, the 2024 Olympics officially begins for the atletes and those of us wathing throughout the globe. 

With a hectic schedule coming at us fast over the next few weeks, we'll preview the day's action and bring you everything you need to know here each morning.  Let the Games begin.

What you might have missed yesterday 

Ireland's Sevens took to the Stade de France pitch where the first faced New Zealand -- and narrowly lost a game they arguably dominated. 

Later, they took on Fiji and had their medal hopes ended.

Brendan O'Brien spoke to Hugo Keenan in St Denis after the disappointing defeat. 

Elsewhere, the all-important boxing tournament draw took place.

Highlight of the day

It all started so well. This Zac Ward try against New Zealand had Ireland on the front foot at yesterday's sevens.

Further reading

No one's counting any chickens around here but these, according to Brendan O'Brien, are some of our best medal chances in the French capital.  

Quote of the day

“It is a circus. But that is how it is. We cannot control it. I told the boys that now we need to look forward, try to get the six points that will allow us to qualify and that all this should fill us with energy and anger for what we have ahead of us.”

A familair face, Javier Mascherano has branded his Argentina side's Olympic football tournament opener against Morocco a “disgrace”.

Who else is making headlines 

Andy Murray pulled out of the men singles competition. 

Your schedule for Friday 

It's all about the opening ceremony. With the Stade de France doubled booked for the rugby sevens contest, our hosts have planned an innovative ceremony based along a 6km stretch of the Seine, with the athletes parading not at the end but at the start, and not on foot but on 94 boats, passing landmarks including the Louvre and Notre Dame before ending up at the Trocadéro for the main show. 

Organisers have been tight-lipped but it was reported on Thursday that  Celine Dion and Lady Gaga weould duet. Expect a bit of Piaf.

Tune in

Cathal Dennehy, Maurice Brosnan and Brendan O'Brien convened yesterday for a very informative and entertinaing preview of the Games in this podcast. The episode is the first in a serie of daily Olympics shows, that you can watch and listen to on the Irish Examiner website each day or find it wherever you listen to podcasts.