The motto for this year’s Paris Olympics is “Games Wide Open,” kicking off with the grand opening ceremony this Friday.

After a 100-year hiatus, the French capital is set to host the Summer Games once again, with events staged in and around Paris’s most iconic landmarks.

The opening ceremony will feature a spectacular 6km parade along the River Seine, showcasing boats carrying athletes and dignitaries, and accommodating up to 300,000 spectators. While the details remain under wraps, rumors suggest performances by Celine Dion and Lady Gaga might be in store. Artistic director Thomas Jolly promises a celebration of France’s rich diversity.

In a historic first, the Paris Games will achieve gender parity, with 5,250 male and 5,250 female athletes competing. As millions prepare to flock to the city, Paris is putting the finishing touches on what promises to be an unforgettable Olympic experience.

French President Emmanuel Macron reassured the public this week, stating that the country is “ready and will remain ready throughout the Games.”

However, some Parisians have raised concerns on social media about potential issues like overcrowding, price hikes, and transportation challenges.

A massive security operation is underway, with up to 5,000 police, soldiers, and private guards on duty at any time. The River Seine, central to the opening ceremony, has been fenced off, requiring residents to use QR codes for access to certain areas. This has impacted local businesses, drawing some criticism, though French officials promise the barriers will be removed after Friday’s event.

The Games are projected to cost around 9 billion euros (£7.6 billion), with organizers committed to making them the greenest Olympics ever.

Only two new, purpose-built arenas have been added for the Paris Olympics: an aquatics center and a venue for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics.

The Games will also showcase iconic locations such as the Stade de France, home of the national football team, and Roland Garros, famed for the French Open. Historic sites like the Grand Palais and Place de la Concorde will also host events.

One major concern leading up to the Games has been the water quality of the River Seine, which will be used for the triathlon swimming leg and open-water events. Swimming in the Seine was banned for a century due to pollution, and recent tests showed E.coli levels exceeding safety limits. To address these concerns, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the river on July 17 to demonstrate its safety. The water will continue to be tested regularly to ensure it meets the required standards.

New events and familiar faces ready to compete

This year’s Games will feature just one new event: breaking, a dynamic dance style that originated in the Bronx, New York.

There have also been some notable changes, such as men being eligible to compete in artistic synchronized swimming for the first time in Olympic history, though no male competitors have been selected for Paris.

The Paris Olympics will also mark the final Games for some of Britain’s top athletes. Two-time tennis gold medalist Andy Murray and Britain’s most decorated gymnast, Max Whitlock, will both conclude their illustrious careers in Paris.

Adam Peaty, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, returns to the Games after taking a mental health break from swimming.

On the track, Katarina Johnson-Thompson aims to redeem herself after a calf injury in Tokyo 2021 forced her to withdraw from the heptathlon.

However, dressage star Charlotte Dujardin will not compete, following controversy over footage showing her “excessively” whipping a horse.

Simone Biles, the world’s most decorated gymnast, makes her comeback after challenges in Tokyo, while Stephen Curry takes to the basketball court.

American sprinters Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles are set to dazzle on the track, and Jamaica’s legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce hopes to end her career with another medal.

Athletes send ‘resounding message of peace’

Russia and Belarus are barred from sending athletes to the Games due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The 36 Russian and 24 Belarusian athletes present in Paris will compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (INA), with no national anthems or flags allowed.

These athletes were required to meet stringent criteria set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), including not actively supporting the war, and undergo vetting by both their national federations and the IOC.

The decision to permit these athletes has faced criticism, but IOC President Thomas Bach defended it. Earlier this week, Bach met with athletes in the Olympic Village, where they wore scarves reading “Give Peace a Chance.”

Bach stated, “You, the Olympic athletes, are the peace ambassadors of our time. While you will compete fiercely, you are also living together peacefully under one roof, respecting the same rules and each other. In doing so, you are sending a powerful message of peace from Paris to the world.”

Opening ceremony ‘like no other’

Paris is set to make history with an ambitious opening ceremony, marking the first time a Summer Olympics has commenced outside the main athletics stadium.

The ceremony, expected to last just under four hours, will feature the official opening of the Games by President Macron and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

A potential strike by dancers over pay was averted after a new agreement, as reported by French media.

The opening ceremony kicks off at 19:30 CET (18:30 BST) on Friday, 26 July. It will be broadcast live on BBC One (from 17:45 BST), BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app. Radio coverage will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 19:00 BST, with live text updates on the BBC Sport website and app.

Flagbearers include rower Helen Glover and diver Tom Daley for Team GB, tennis star Coco Gauff and basketball legend LeBron James for the United States, and boxer Cindy Ngamba and taekwondo athlete Yahya Al-Ghotany for the refugee team.

While Friday marks the official opening, some events have already started, including men’s rugby sevens and both men’s and women’s football. The men’s football tournament saw a dramatic start when Morocco’s 2-1 victory over Argentina was marred by crowd trouble, extending the match to nearly four hours.