Paris Olympics to Open Friday But Some Sports Are Getting a Head Start

 

TSVANGIRAYI MUKWAZHI|AP

Antoine Zeghdar of France, gets past the tackle of United States' Steve Tomasin, on the ground during the men's Rugby Sevens Pool C match between France and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France, Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

The Paris Olympics officially begin on Friday with the opening ceremony, but already some sports are underway with soccer on tap Wednesday with the U.S. men’s team taking on tournament heavyweight France.

Interest in the quadrennial event is building and here are a few events to look for Wednesday and Thursday

to whet your appetite:Wednesday, July 24

• 10:30 a.m. Eastern: U.S. men’s rugby sevens vs. France
• 2:30 p.m. Eastern: U.S. men’s rugby sevens vs. Fiji
• 3 p.m. Eastern: U.S. men’s soccer team vs. France

Thursday, July 25

• 9 a.m. Eastern: U.S. men’s rugby sevens vs.
  Uruguay 
• 3 p.m. Eastern: U.S. women’s soccer vs. Zambia

The opening ceremony, which takes place at 2 p.m. Eastern on Friday, will be “bold, original and unique,” and will not be held in a stadium, for the first time in Olympic Summer Games history, according to the official website. Instead, it will be a parade on the River Seine.