2024 Olympic Games – IN BRIEF 

The parade for the Olympic Opening Ceremony is expected to last approximately three hours this Friday, July 26. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. (Paris time) and end around 11:15 p.m. The boats will depart from the Pont d'Austerlitz and travel to the Pont d'Iéna, a distance of 8 kilometers. Since the parade will be held on the Seine, not all athletes will be able to participate in the parade. There will be nearly 6,800 of them on 85 boats.

MADAGASCAR: Seven members of the Malagasy delegation will participate in the opening ceremony parade on the Seine this Friday, July 26. Four athletes and three sports leaders are involved. Rosina Randafiarison and Fabio Rakotoarimanana will simultaneously carry the Malagasy flag during the parade.

IVORY COAST: According to the National Olympic Committee of Côte d'Ivoire (CNO-CIV), ten of the thirteen athletes will participate in the parade on the Seine. They will, of course, wear traditional Ivorian attire. 

OUTFITS: The Airness brand donated equipment to the Malian delegation this Thursday, July 25. The donation, consisting of 45 tracksuits and leisure outfits, was received by the president of the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Mali, Habib Sissoko. He thanked Malamine Koné, a Malian living in France and CEO of the clothing brand. However, during the opening ceremony, the delegation will parade wearing the "Faso dan fani" (woven loincloth of the homeland), a traditional outfit offered by the Malian company Perle d'or africaine. 

IVORY COAST BIS: With 13 athletes, the Ivorian delegation will move up to... fiftieth place. Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith and Cheick Salah will be the flag bearers.

ENTERTAINMENT: French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura will be joining Canadian superstar Celine Dion to host the 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. She is expected to perform two of her hits, Djadja and Pookie. American singer Lady Gaga may also be in attendance.

FESTIVITY: The opening ceremony will be broadcast live in more than 200 countries. In France, France Télévisions holds the exclusive broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games. The group will broadcast the entire ceremony live on France 2 starting at 7:30 p.m. In Africa, TV5 Monde and Sporty TV will broadcast the competition free-to-air.

Compiled by Kiady Arivony, Sory Ibrahima Coulibaly and Ange Kouadio