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Stream Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony 2024 Online for Free – Date, Time, Performers & Platforms

Last updated July 25, 2024
Written by:
Isha Das
Isha Das
Streaming Staff Writer

Experience the grandest Olympic opening ceremony ever, featuring a stunning river parade and performances along Paris's iconic River Seine. You can watch the 2024 Summer Olympics on NBC, Peacock, BBC iPlayer, CBC Gem, and more. 

Many streaming services, like CBC Gem, restrict access based on location, leaving viewers outside their home countries annoyed. If you try to access CBC Gem outside Canada, you'll hit an error message. But don't worry—using a VPN and connecting it to a Canadian server allows you to bypass these blocks effortlessly and enjoy seamless streaming of your desired content.

Find out everything you need to know about watching the Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony online. Our handy article covers the detailed VPN instructions. Plus, find out about the ceremony’s airing schedules, a preview, sports categories, and the list of performers. 

Where to Stream the Paris Olympics 2024 Opening Ceremony

2024 Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony can be streamed live in the US on NBC and Peacock on Friday, July 26, 2024, at noon ET. You can replay the ceremony on prime time at 7:30 pm ET. Other live streaming options include Sling TV and fuboTV in the US. UK folks can watch the event on BBC One and BBC Red Button and live stream it on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Online at 5:45 pm GMT. 

Aussies can watch the Paris Olympics on Channel 9, 9Now, and Stan Sport on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 1 pm AEST. Canadian viewers can watch the ceremony on CBC TV, CBC News Network, CBC Gem, the CBC Olympic Games Paris 2024 website, and the CBC Olympic Games Paris 2024 app for Android and iOS on Friday, July 26, 2024, at 1:30 pm ET. Other options for Canadian viewers include TSN, TSN+, Sportsnet, and Sportsnet+. 

Streaming Service Pricing Starts At Available Locations
CBC Gem Free (with ads) Canada
BBC iPlayer  Free (with ads) UK
TSN+ CA $8 a month Canada
Sportsnet+ CA $19.99 a month  Canada
9Now Free (with ads) Australia
Stan Sport AU $10 a month + $15 a month (add-on) Australia
Peacock $7.99 a month US
Sling TV $40 per month US
fuboTV $59.99 a month US

We recommend watching the title on CBC Gem, as viewers can watch the ceremony as early as possible, and the service offers free live streaming. CBC has planned 22 hours of live coverage daily for the 2024 Olympics. 

How to Access Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony 2024 Online With a VPN

Unlock the Olympic Games 2024 Paris at lightning speed by connecting your VPN to a suitable server. This will grant you access to the mentioned streaming platforms. Here’s how:

  1. Sign up for a dependable VPN to unblock CBC Gem (we recommend NordVPN).
  2. Download and install the VPN into your device(s).
  3. Launch and turn on the VPN and select a Canadian server.
  4. Access CBC Gem and begin streaming the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony 2024.

Alternatively, you can unblock Peacock/Sling TV/fuboTV with a US server, BBC iPlayer with a UK server, 9Now/Stan Sport with an Australian server, and Sportsnet+/TSN+ with a Canadian server. 

Why Should a VPN Be Used to Watch the 2024 Summer Olympics Paris: Opening Ceremony?

The upcoming ceremony will be available for streaming on CBC Gem, Peacock, Stan Sport, BBC iPlayer, and more. Unfortunately, due to broadcasting agreements and distribution rights, these platforms limit access based on your geographic location. Since CBC Gem is a Canada-only service, a workaround is needed to solve this issue.

Attempting to access the CBC Gem media player from outside Canada without a VPN will display an error message: "This content is not available outside Canada."

Gem CBC Geo Block

Likewise, attempting to access Peacock/Sling TV/fuboTV from outside the US, 9Now/Stan Sport outside Australia, BBC iPlayer outside the UK, and Sportsnet+/TSN+ outside Canada will also result in error messages. A reliable VPN will bypass these geo-restrictions by assigning you a virtual IP address from the allowed area, tricking the platform into thinking you’re streaming from within the non-restricted regions.

NordVPN is your go-to tool for the job, boasting thousands of super-fast US servers that let you stream without interruptions. With features like specialty servers, 24/7 customer support, advanced threat protection, and robust data security, NordVPN ensures a smooth and safe viewing experience.

How to Stream 2024 Paris Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony from Anywhere

Our article provides all the information on how to stream the 2024 Paris Olympics from anywhere. It will also assist you in solving any issues, making it easy to watch this ceremony. We will provide step-by-step instructions to ensure you can stream the event without any hassle.

Unlock streaming services while traveling abroad with a risk-free VPN unless you're in one of the lucky supported countries. A VPN is your ticket to bypassing geo-blocks and enjoying the ceremony from anywhere. 

How to Access Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony in Canada

Canadian viewers can stream the ceremony for free on CBC Gem on July 26, 2024, at 1:30 pm ET. Other options include CBC TV, CBC News Network, the CBC Olympic Games Paris 2024 website, and the CBC Olympic Games Paris 2024 app for Android and iOS. 

The ceremony will be broadcast on TSN, TSN+, Sportsnet, and Sportsnet+ too. TSN+ costs $8 per month. Sportsnet Plus costs $19.99 a month. 

How to Watch Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony in the UK 

UK folks can watch the event on BBC One and BBC Red Button and live stream it on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Online on July 26 at 5:45 pm GMT. You can hear the ceremony on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds.

The ceremony can be accessed for free with ads on BBC iPlayer when you log into your BBC account. All you need to do is log in with your existing credentials or create a free account on the BBC iPlayer website.

BBC iPlayer has a diverse content library featuring a diverse range of TV shows and movies, such as Glastonbury 2024, Doctor Who, Andy Murray: Will to Win, The Stormtrooper Scandal, Peacock season 2, and more.

How to Stream Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony in the US 

Stream the 2024 Paris Olympics live in the US on NBC and Peacock on July 26, 2024, at noon ET and replay the ceremony on prime time at 7:30 pm ET. Since this title is not available in Peacock service’s Free tier, you need to go for the limited ads Premium tier, which starts at $7.99 per month. You can also find the show on several live TV services that have NBC in their offering:

How to Access Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony in Australia 

Aussies can watch the Olympics on Channel 9, 9Now, and Stan Sport on July 27, 2024, at 1 pm AEST. 9Now is a free streaming service; however, you must log in or create a free Nine account to watch the ceremony. 

The three plans Stan streaming platform offers have different pricing options, ranging from $10 to $21 monthly. New subscribers also get an extensive 30-day free trial. Stan Sport add-on costs another $15 a month. 

Can You Watch the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony Online for Free?

Canadian folks can stream the ceremony for free on CBC Gem via its ad-supported tier. US folks can stream the title for free by getting a 7-day free trial on fuboTV. Aussies can enjoy the ceremony for free on 9Now by logging in or creating a free Nine account. Stan’s new subscribers can take advantage of an extensive 30-day free trial in Australia. 

UK residents can stream the Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony for free on BBC iPlayer. All you need to do is log in with your existing credentials or create a free account on the BBC iPlayer website.

Preview

The 2024 Olympic Games will kick off with an unprecedented opening ceremony along the River Seine in Paris on July 26 at 8:24 pm local time (Paris timezone). This grand event will be the largest and most extravagant opening ceremony in Olympic history, featuring dozens of boats carrying athletes and performers along a 6 km route, passing iconic landmarks like Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. Cameras on the boats will provide close-up views for those watching at home. 

Around 300,000 people are expected to line the streets of Paris, making it the largest crowd for any Olympic opening ceremony. The show will have 12 parts, seamlessly woven together with traditional speeches and anthems. Over 100 heads of state and government officials, along with 10,500 athletes, will attend, with 45,000 police ensuring security.

In a historic move, the ceremony will not take place in a stadium. Instead, it will be held along the Seine, following a 6km route from the Austerlitz bridge past Île Saint Louis and Île de la Cité, ending at the Trocadéro. This unique parade will showcase glimpses of official Games venues and famous Parisian landmarks.

The grand opening ceremony tradition began in 1920 and has evolved, adhering to the International Olympic Committee's (I.O.C.) protocol. The ceremony includes the entrance of the head of state and the I.O.C. President, the host country’s National Anthem, a parade of athletes, a symbolic release of doves, and the awarding of the Olympic Laurel. Official speeches, the raising of the Olympic flag, the Olympic Oath, and the lighting of the Olympic Flame follow. The ceremony concludes with the Olympic Artists Program.

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director for the Paris Olympics, envisions a diverse, French-influenced music selection for the opening ceremony, featuring artists from Aya Nakamura to Celine Dion (recently featured in I Am: Celine Dion.) Celebrities like Snoop Dogg and BTS’s Jin will support the event, with hosts including Peyton Manning, Kelly Clarkson, and Mike Tirico. 

Security concerns have led to alternative plans and a scaling back of initial grand plans, as President Emmanuel Macron has stated.

Tickets for the event range from €90 to €2,700, with initial sales through a lottery system. Free tickets for seating areas along the upper quays of the Seine were also available, and the ceremony can be watched on big screens across Paris or on TV.

Olympics Stylist Daphné Bürki has envisioned a circular ceremony, as a nod to sustainability. To achieve that, she will be using a combination of vintage, and upcycled pieces, along with the new ones. 

Performers

Sports Categories (Olympics 2024)

Trailer

Final Thoughts

Stream Summer Olympics: Opening Ceremony on Peacock, CBC Gem, BBC iPlayer, Stan, and more. But if you're in a restricted region or traveling abroad, you'll need a VPN to bypass geo-blocks and enjoy the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony.

In the end, NordVPN ranks first on our list for media streaming, thanks to features like Smart DNS, Split Tunneling, Dedicated IP, Threat Protection, and a Dark Web Monitor feature, it ensures a seamless and secure viewing experience on macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android devices.



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