How long is the Olympic Games?

The Olympic Games, whether summer or winter, are one of the world’s most eagerly awaited sporting events. Held every four years, they bring together athletes from around the world in a competition that celebrates sporting excellence and the Olympic spirit. The official duration of the modern Olympic Games is generally 17 days, although some competitions begin before the opening ceremony.

For several editions, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set the duration of the Olympic Games at around two and a half weeks, or 17 days, including the opening and closing ceremonies. This format guarantees optimum organization of events and effective media coverage.

The Summer Olympic Games generally follow this duration, with possible variations depending on the number of disciplines and logistical requirements. For example, the Tokyo 2020 Games, postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic, took place from July 23 to August 8, thus respecting the traditional 17-day calendar. Similarly, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are scheduled to run from July 26 to August 11, a similar duration.

The Winter Olympics, although shorter due to the reduced number of disciplines, also adopt this format of around 17 days. For example, the Beijing 2022 Games took place from February 4 to 20.

Although the Olympic Games are officially inaugurated at the Opening Ceremony, some competitions start a few days earlier for organizational reasons. This is particularly true of sports requiring several qualifying rounds, such as soccer, baseball/softball and handball.

For example, at the Tokyo 2020 Games, the first soccer and softball matches began as early as July 21, two days before the official opening. This practice makes it possible to spread certain competitions over several days without overloading the calendar.

In ancient times, the Olympic Games were held in the Greek city of Olympia and were much shorter in duration. Initially, they lasted just one day, before being gradually extended to five days with the addition of new disciplines.

The Ancient Games, unlike the modern ones, comprised just a few sports, mainly running, wrestling, pugilism and pentathlon. They were part of a religious and cultural framework in honor of Zeus, and attracted spectators from all over Greece.

The 17-day duration ensures that the competitions run smoothly, avoiding overloading the infrastructure and guaranteeing a good spread of events. This format also facilitates media coverage, enabling TV channels to offer a balanced program to viewers around the world.

By way of comparison, other major sporting events have different durations: the Football World Cup lasts around a month, while the Tour de France lasts three weeks. The Olympic Games, on the other hand, find a compromise between intensity and organization by concentrating their events over just over two weeks.

The modern Olympic Games last an average of 17 days, although some events start before the opening ceremony. This length of time optimizes organization and media coverage, while offering a high-level sporting spectacle. A perfect balance between tradition and modernity, making the Games one of the most closely followed events in the world.

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