With the Olympics fast approaching, here’s everything you need to know.
The Games will run from July 26 to August 11 French time and July 27 to August 12 for Australia. Events that will start early include football, rugby sevens, handball and archery.
The 32 sports are scheduled to broadcast free-to-air on Channel 9 and 9Gem. There will also be more than 40 live channels dedicated to the Olympics on 9Now.
New to this year’s Olympics are breaking (breakdancing), sport climbing and surfing.
The opening ceremony will encompass a parade to the Seine, making history as the first Olympic Summer Games to host their ceremony external to a stadium.
Due to the time difference, the opening ceremony will take place on the following times on Saturday, July 27 for viewers in Australia:
- 2.24am AWST: Western Australia
- 3.54am ACST: Northern Territory and South Australia
- 4.24am AEST: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria
The more traditional closing ceremony will take place a few hours after the final event (the women’s marathon) on Monday, August 12 for Australia.
- 2am AWST: Western Australia
- 3.30am ACST: Northern Territory and South Australia
- 4am AEST: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria
The Paralympics will begin following the Olympics, running from August 29 to September 9.
This year, 4,400 athletes will be competing.
Source: ABC News.
