Olympics Opening Ceremony to 'show France in all its diversity'
300 000. That's how many people are expected to attend the Olympic Opening Ceremony as spectators - it's a big deal.
Yip, 300 000 people are expected to attend the Olympic Opening Ceremony at the River Seine as spectators on Friday, 26 July.
The ceremony is expected to include performances by French celebrities, a parade of flags, a parade of athletes and the final medal ceremony, which will award athletes in the marathon, basketball, modern pentathlon, volleyball, and water polo.
And Snoop Dogg will be there too!
The American rapper will be among the carriers of the Olympic flame this Friday as it makes its final rounds before the Paris Games' opening ceremony.
The Olympic flame has spent two months crossing France, and on Friday morning it will be carried through the athletes' village.
Ceremony artistic director Thomas Jolly wants to 'show France in all its diversity.'
But what else can you expect from the opening ceremony?
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Here's some typical protocol:
First-time ever things
For the first time, the opening ceremony will occur outside a stadium. The 26 July celebration will transform the French capital into a stadium and theatre as the traditional parade of athletes takes place in boats along the Seine, passing the most iconic Parisian landmarks.
Olympic rings reveal
Revealing the Olympic rings in spectacular fashion - begun as a beloved tradition - has earned its status as a protocol element in both opening and closing ceremonies and is aimed to be a 'wow' moment.
Parade of athletes
You see your favourite athletes before they do the most for their country.
10 500 athletes representing 206 countries compete in this year’s Olympics for 329 gold medals across 32 sports.
Doves will be flown
As doves are the symbols of peace, the Opening Ceremony protocol calls for a symbolic release of these birds.
Remembrance
A symbolic and emotional moment to remember those lost takes place at any time.
Speeches
First, the President of the Organising Committee gives a brief speech from the rostrum.
Then, the President of the IOC gives a speech and invites the HOS to open the Games.
The Olympic Oath
The Olympic oath of the modern Games was originally written by Pierre de Coubertin, but it has been modified over time to reflect the changing nature of the sporting competition.
Raising flags and playing the anthem
After the HOS opens the Games, the Olympic flag, unfurled horizontally, is brought into the stadium. The Olympic Anthem is performed as the flag is raised to the top of the pole.
The Olympic motto 'Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together' expresses the aspirations of the Olympic Movement.
The Olympic flame... carried by Snoop Dogg and other French greats
The flame is carried from Olympia by a relay to its final destination: the Olympic Stadium.
The final torchbearer used the flame to light the Olympic cauldron, which remains lit for the duration of the Games and is extinguished only during the closing ceremony.
Secret celebration and entertainment reveal
Over 3000 artists are set to entertain at the opening ceremonies.
Usually, the content of the artistic program is kept secret until the last minute... so, we've got to wait and see who will be on the line-up.
One thing is certain; the opening ceremony is set to be 'iconic'.
Where to watch?
The opening ceremony will be broadcast Friday, July 26 at 8 pm on DStv Supersport, SABC 1, SABC 2, and SABC 3, Showmax, OpenView, SABC+