The Olympics countdown is on: what to book for Paris 2024

It's been a century since Paris last hosted the Olympic Games, in 1924. The city also played host in 1900, which was only the second Olympic Games of the modern era.

To kick things off in style, for the first time in modern Olympic history, the opening ceremony will take place in the heart of the city rather than in a stadium. The athletes will parade in a flotilla of 116 boats that will cruise along six kilometres of the Seine from Pont d'Austerlitz, not far from the Jardin des Plantes, to the Pont d'Iéna at the Eiffel Tower. The cultural spectacle will take place at key points along the Seine.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators will be able to watch from the river banks. Tickets are being sold for seating on the lower banks and in special stands while the upper banks will be free for standing-room-only spectators. Details will be released soon about how spectators can enter the draw for free tickets. For the rest of the Olympics, there are 10 million spectator spots across 750 events in 35 venues across Paris as well as outside the city.

Some of the city's iconic monuments are the venues for key sporting events. Fencing will take place at the Grand Palais. Beach volleyball will be played under the Eiffel Tower. BMX freestyle, basketball 3X3 and breaking (also called break dancing, one of this year's new sports) will be staged at the Place de la Concorde while marathon swimming and triathlon water components will take place in the Seine.

The men's and women's marathon will link the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) in Paris to the Palace of Versailles, following the route taken by the Women's March in 1789, which saw several thousand women march on Versailles to bring the king back to Paris, where people faced starvation. This was a major turning point of the French Revolution and became a symbol of emancipation and advocacy. As a result, Louis XVI signed the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens.

In another first, members of the public can register to go into a draw to run the Olympic marathon route the evening after the men's marathon. Interested participants can download the "marathon pour tous" app to discover the daily challenges to undertake in order to accumulate points for a chance to win a jersey to enter the marathon.

Olympic soccer matches are being hosted in several cities around France including Marseilles, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon, Nice and Saint-Etienne, while Marseilles is hosting all the Olympic sailing events. And, for those who can't make it all the way to Paris, the Olympic surfing event will be held at Teahupo'o in Tahiti, which has the most famous reef break in the world.

Paris 2024 is the only official ticketing website for spectators from all over the world. You must first register an account, where purchased tickets records will be stored. Each registered account can have a maximum of 30 tickets, with six (sometimes four) tickets per event.

One million tickets at 24 euros are or were available for every sport. After that, pricing varies and depends on the event type and seating options. The public will also be able to cheer on the athletes free of charge in events such as the marathon, road cycling, race walking and triathlon.

The third sales phase is currently under way and it offers real-time ticket sales, in France and abroad, on a first come, first served basis. This phase highlights regional competitions including football, handball, basketball and sailing. Not all sports are being sold and some of the most popular events may have temporarily sold out, however more tickets will likely be released as venue plans become more refined. An official Paris 2024 resale platform will be available in the northern spring of 2024.

International visitors can also purchase Olympics ticket packages through the Paris Hospitality Program, which is managed by On Location, the Paris 2024 official hospitality partner.

Packages for sports that are popular in France and that take place in iconic Parisian locations are among the most in demand. On-site hospitality packages for judo at Champ de Mars Arena and equestrian events in the Palace of Versailles gardens are already sold out, with 3x3 basketball, BMX and skateboarding selling fast.

Prices range from 490 euros per person for one night in a three-star hotel and one ticket to the women's hockey to 36,220 euros per person for six nights in a five-star hotel with six Olympic events including the opening ceremony, artistic gymnastics, handball, rugby sevens, swimming and tennis, a tour of Paris, entertainment and a special event.

Hotel bookings are now open for the Paris Olympics period but be prepared for seriously increased prices. Airbnb is an official partner of the Games and have also opened bookings. Accommodation prices will continue to soar as more people get tickets. Look at the locales of your sporting events and consider staying in small towns on the periphery of Paris, with direct train lines into the city.

Most airlines are not opening flight schedules until at least 330 days before departure. Prices are predicted to be in the nose-bleed category so consider flying in and out of other European cities, such as London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rome or Madrid and travelling to and from Paris by train. You could also look at European regional destinations that are serviced by low-cost carriers.