Since the Barcelona 1992 Games, football has begun before the official opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics. This tradition continued at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where football matches kicked off on July 24. The tournament featured games such as Argentina versus Spain, which sparked controversy when Morocco fans stormed the field after a disputed goal. Despite this, Morocco claimed a 2-1 victory over Argentina.
Other sports like archery, handball, and rugby sevens also started early in Paris. Archery, held at Invalides near the River Seine where the opening ceremony will take place, kicked off India’s participation. Handball and rugby sevens began earlier than usual to streamline the competition schedule. Handball matches for women, for example, started a day before the official opening to allow shared use of venues with other sports like athletics and weightlifting.
These adjustments in scheduling aim to ensure smooth organization and provide ample recovery time for athletes during the Summer Games.