33rd Summer Olympics in Paris: Just hours until opening ceremony

Today, July 26, Paris will host the grand opening ceremony of the 33rd Summer Olympic Games. According to the organizers of the main quadrennial sports competition, for the first time, the traditional parade of athletes will take place not in a stadium but on the Seine River, the French capital’s main waterway, with each delegation traveling on a separate boat. The procession will feature over 10,000 athletes from 206 countries. Around 100 heads of state and government, along with more than 300,000 spectators, are expected to attend. Security across Paris will be provided by around 45,000 police officers, including special forces. A total of 329 sets of medals will be awarded across 32 sports. The Kazakhstan Olympic team will be represented by 80 athletes competing in 25 sports disciplines. Track and field athlete Olga Safronova and boxer Aslanbek Shymbergenov will have the honor of carrying Kazakhstan’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics.