PARIS – For the first time in the history of the modern Olympic Games, the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will take place in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site: on the banks of the Seine in Paris.

“From the Île Saint-Louis to the Eiffel Tower, to the Place de la Concorde to the Grand Palais, the architecture on the banks of the Seine is a testament to several centuries of Paris, and of France’s rich history. UNESCO is delighted that this exceptional heritage, recognized and protected by our Organization, has been chosen by the Paris 2024 organizers as the backdrop for the largest open-air opening ceremony in the history of the Olympic Games,” said Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s Director-General.

On July 26, 7:30 PM Paris time, the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will see more than 10,000 athletes, officials and artists sail from the east bank to the west bank of the Seine and perform on the surrounding bridges and monuments, in front of more than 300,000 spectators on the quays, and hundreds of millions of television viewers.

Architectural masterpieces and iconic buildings

This opening ceremony is unusual in that it is not being held in a stadium, but in the heart of the city, on a site that was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1991: the banks of the Seine. From the Ile St Louis to the Pont Neuf, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, and the Place de la Concorde to the Grand and Petit Palais, the evolution of Paris and its history can be seen from the River Seine.

A large number of major monuments of the French capital are built alongside the river and on the perspectives overlooking it. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame and the Sainte Chapelle are architectural masterpieces of the Middle Ages; the Pont Neuf illustrates the spirit of French Renaissance; the coherence of the districts of the Marais and the Ile-Saint-Louis testify to Parisian town planning of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The banks of the river comprise the most masterful constructions of French classicism, with the Palais de Louvre, the Invalides, the Ecole Militaire and the Monnaie (the Mint). The conserved buildings of the Universal Exhibitions that took place in Paris in the 19th and 20th centuries are numerous on the banks of the River Seine. Heading the list is the Eiffel Tower, a universally recognized icon of Paris and of wrought iron architecture. The Ile Saint Louis, the Quai Malaquais and the Quai Voltaire offer examples of coherent architectural and urban ensembles, with very significant examples of Parisian construction of the 17th and 18th centuries. The large squares and avenues built by Haussmann at the time of Napoleon III have influenced town planning throughout the world, particularly the big cities of Latin America.

The Banks of the Seine to host a range of Olympic events

Over the next fortnight, the banks of the Seine will also host a number of Paris Olympic Games events, including beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower, judo and wrestling at the Champ-de-Mars, marathon swimming from the Pont Alexandre III, fencing and taekwondo at the Grand Palais, archery at the Esplanade des Invalides, and breakdancing, BMX freestyle, skateboarding and 3×3 basketball, all at the Place de la Concorde, as well as triathlon, cycling and athletics events. The Palace and Park of Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, will host the equestrian events.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay, which has been touring France since May 12, has also celebrated the country’s heritage and culture, passing through some 30 UNESCO-protected sites.

What is UNESCO World Heritage?

Adopted in 1972, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention is now one of the most widely ratified international treaties, with 195 States parties. Under the Convention, UNESCO and its Member States undertake to identify, protect and preserve the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

More than 50 years after its creation, UNESCO’s World Heritage List includes nearly 1,200 cultural and natural sites in 168 countries, recognized for their unique and universal significance. Covering more than 3.5 million km2 of land and sea, UNESCO’s World Heritage sites are also veritable sanctuaries of biodiversity and places of tradition and know-how practiced by local and indigenous communities.

France, the host country of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, has 52 cultural and natural sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

More information is available online: www.unesco.org.