Bienvenue à Paris! More than 10,000 of the world’s finest athletes will descend on the French capital for the Olympic Games, a celebration of global sport beginning Friday 26 July until Sunday 11 August. If it doesn’t seem like the standard four years since the last one, that’s because it isn’t: Tokyo 2020 was delayed until 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which also meant spectators weren’t allowed.

The crowds will be back in 2024, though, creating a superb atmosphere at all the venues. But if you didn’t get tickets, don’t worry – the next best thing is watching on TV at home! There’s comprehensive coverage on Virgin TV, live and on demand from Eurosport, with extra channels (including an Ultra HD channel) for the duration of the Olympic Games in Paris just to fit in all the action. You’ll also find daily coverage on BBC TV channels and BBC iPlayer. Click here to find out how to watch.

Although the Olympic Games is all about people coming together from all around the world in the spirit of sportsmanship and friendly competition, we really want the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team to do well. Team GB has been remarkably consistent in recent Olympic Games: after setting a new benchmark with 65 medals at London 2012, they surpassed it with 67 at Rio 2016, and maintained their place near the top of the medal table at Tokyo 2020 with 64.

There were a few disappointments last time round, such as the rowing team’s failure to win any golds, and the huge number of fourth places – so Paris 2024 is a chance to put those right. We’ve picked out 10 of Britain’s brightest medal hopes for the Olympics in Paris so you know who to look out for when you’re planning your TV watching across the event. 

And unlike Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, it’s happening just one time zone away, so everything’s on at a reasonable hour. Absolute win! Read on and store these names away in your memory – you’ll be seeing them on Parisian podiums before too long. And keep an eye on our weekly TV sport guide for what’s on telly and when. 

Having defended her European 800m title in Rome in June, Keely Hodgkinson comes into the Olympics in Paris in terrific form. She set her PB at the end of last year, she’s the fastest woman in the world in 2024, and she nabbed the silver in a world-class field at Tokyo 2020 behind double champ Faith Kipyegon. She was only 19 then, and at 22 she’s ready to take the step up to the top of the podium.

Other Team GB hopes: Katarina Johnson-Thompson (heptathlon), Laura Muir (women’s 1,500m), Dina Asher-Smith (women’s 200m), Josh Kerr (men’s 1,500m) women’s 4x400m relay, women’s 4x100m relay, men’s 4x100m relay

When can I watch it? 1-11 August

The 21-year-old Emma Finucane burst on to the cycling scene in 2022 when she won four medals at the National Track Championships, then claimed four titles the following year – and went on to win a gold at the world championships in the individual sprint. She’s got a huge opportunity to add an Olympic Games gold to her collection in that event.  

Other Team GB hopes: Ethan Hayter (men’s omnium), women’s team sprint, men’s team sprint, women’s team pursuit, men’s team pursuit, women’s madison, men’s madison – plus Bethany Shriever and Kieran Reilly in BMX

When can I watch it? 5-11 August

It’s one of the nation’s traditional sporting strengths, but Tokyo 2020 was a disaster for Britain’s rowers as they took just two medals and no golds. New performance director Louise Kingsley has shaken things up and and now Team GB is fancied to win a hatful of medals, after dominating at the 2023 world championships. Ollie Wynne-Griffith and Tom George, both of whom were in the eight that won a Tokyo 2020 bronze, are firm favourites for men’s pairs gold this time.

Other Team GB hopes: women’s lightweight double sculls, women’s four, men’s four, women’s quadruple sculls, men’s eight

When can I watch it? 27 July-3 August

GB finished third in the swimming medals table at Tokyo 2020 with golds going to Tom Dean, Adam Peaty and two relay teams. Ben Proud missed out because of injury, and the 50m freestyler will be extra determined to add an Olympic Games gold to the world title he won in 2022. Peaty’s on the comeback trail too and the former 50m breaststroke world record holder can never be ruled out of contention.

Other Team GB hopes: Freya Colbert (women’s 400m individual medley), Duncan Scott (men’s 200m individual medley), men’s 4x200m freestyle, men’s 4x100m medley

When can I watch it? 27 July-4 August

British athletes bossed the triathlon at Tokyo 2020, winning the relay gold and two individual silvers to top the sport’s medal table. It’s arguably a stronger field this time but we’re confident about the prospect of GB scoring multiple medals again, with new addition Beth Potter strengthening the relay team as well as having a good chance of a medal herself.

Other Team GB hopes: Georgia Taylor-Brown (women’s), Beth Potter (women’s), Alex Yee (men’s)

When can I watch it? 30-31 July, 5 August

After a record-breaking haul of seven at Rio 2016, Team GB claimed just two gymnastics medals at Tokyo 2020. One of those was a bronze in the women’s team event, and Jessica Gadirova – the Ireland-born gymnast of Azerbajiani heritage whose twin sister Jennifer was also in the quartet – is ready to break out and win individual glory on the floor at Paris 2024. The discipline where they perform on the floor, that is. Not just lying around on the floor. Obviously.

Other Team GB hopes: women’s team, Jake Jarman (men’s vault)

When can I watch it? 27 July-1 August, 3-5 August

Despite a strong team, GB missed out on a taekwondo gold at Tokyo 2020, although Bradly Sinden and Lauren Williams came agonisingly close. Sinden will be back for another crack at the featherweight gold while 2016 champ Jade Jones also returns, but the new kid on the taekwondo block is Caden Cunningham. The 23-year-old Huddersfield heavyweight took gold at both the Grand Prix and the European Championship in 2023 and looks more than ready for the Olympic Games stage.

Other Team GB hopes: Bradly Sinden (men’s featherweight), Jade Jones (women’s featherweight), Rebecca McGowan (women’s heavyweight)

When can I watch it? 7-10 August

At Rio 2016, Bryony Page became the first British trampolinist to win an Olympic Games medal with a silver, then she followed that with a bronze at Tokyo 2020. Paris 2024 is her time to complete the set. She’s won individual gold at the last two world championships and at 33, this could well be her final Olympic Games. It’s now or never – and she’s the favourite.

Other Team GB hopes: Izzy Songhurst, Zak Perzamanos

When can I watch it? 2 August

One of those esoteric sports that comes to the fore during Olympic Games summers, modern pentathlon (fencing, shooting, equestrian showjumping, pistol shooting and cross-country running) has been a strong event for Team GB, with nine medals including four golds. Two of those came at Tokyo 2020, where Joe Choong and Kate French both ascended to the top of the podium. While French will face a strong field this time, Choong looks in great shape to defend his Olympic Games title in at Paris 2024.

Fun fact 1: he could face competition from his brother Henry, who’s switched nationalities to Slovakia. Fun fact 2: this is the last time showjumping will feature in modern pentathlon at the Olympic Games – it’ll be replaced by an obstacle course in 2028.

Other Team GB hopes: Kate French

When can I watch it? 8-11 August

With 20 medals from global events, including gold at Rio 2016, Joe Clarke is the most successful kayaker in the history of the sport – so it was a shock when he missed out on selection for Tokyo 2020. He made no mistake this time, though, and the 31-year-old will be the firm favourite to add another kayak cross gold to his collection at the National Olympic Nautical Stadium in Vaires-sur-Marne. He’s also competing in K1 class and it would be no surprise if he picked up a medal there too.

Other Team GB hopes: Kimberley Woods (women’s kayak cross), Mallory Franklin (women’s C1)

When can I watch it? 27 July-1 August, 3-10 August

How do I watch the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Virgin TV?

There’s absolutely loads of live coverage across Eurosport and the BBC. You’ll be able to watch every moment of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live or on demand on Eurosport’s channels: Eurosport 1 HD (CH 521) is focusing on the traditional events like athletics, swimming, gymnastics and track cycling, while Eurosport 2 HD (CH 522) puts the emphasis on newer sports like skateboarding, BMX, climbing and surfing.

Both Eurosport 1 HD and 2 HD are broadcasting live and uninterrupted from 7am to 10.30pm every day throughout the Olympic Games, with highlights and replays available through the night.

There are also extra pop-up Olympic Games channels on Eurosport for even greater live coverage of the games. On these you’ll find racket sports, golf, football, basketball, boxing, judo, taekwondo, volleyball and more. There’s also a pop-up Eurosport UHD channel that will allow anyone with a UHD-ready TV to watch the action in sparkling, crystal-clear 4K – it’s the next best thing to being there.

The BBC is also showing daily live action across BBC One HD (CH 101), BBC Two HD (CH 102) and Apps > BBC iPlayer, starting at 8am on Saturday 27 July. On BBC iPlayer, you’ll find Olympics Extra, a dedicated live stream, throughout the event and there’s a highlights round-up at 10.40pm each evening on BBC One HD. The opening ceremony from the River Seine in Paris is at 5.45pm on BBC One HD on Friday 26 July.

Get day-by-day details with our weekly TV sport guide