Paris Olympics day one: Team GB medal hopes, the must-see event and TV details

There are 14 gold medals up for grabs on day one of the Olympic Games from rifle shooting to rugby sevens and Team GB could get off to a flying start in the cycling road time trial

Let the Games begin. The Paris 2024 opening ceremony is out of the way, now it’s time to see some medals being won.

A total of 327 athletes from Team GB are competing at the Games with star names including Keely Hodgkinson and Josh Kerr on the track, Max Whitlock in the gymnastics and Tom Daley on the diving platform. And they are tipped to break the 60-medal mark once again with a top-five place on the medal table the target.

But on day one the showpiece events are in the swimming pool and rugby sevens – with the first gold set to come 140 miles south of Paris in the rifle shooting and three decent shouts of a podium spot for British stars throughout a hectic day of action.

Here is your whistle-stop guide outlining what to watch, when and how, plus the day’s biggest names.

The medals

There are 14 golds up for grabs today with the first coming in the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, 140 miles south of Paris, when the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Team takes place. In the afternoon the women’s and men’s road race time trial takes place across a 20.1 mile course and later there are four finals in the swimming pool. For the hosts, however, attention is likely to be focused on Stade de France for the rugby sevens conclusion.

Team GB

Seonaid McIntosh and Mike Bargeron form the shooting team, while Wales’ Josh Tarling, 20, is confident of a medal in the time trial. The world bronze medalist has bullishly said: “I’m going there to win.” On the diving platform Yasmin Harper and Yasmin Mew-Jensen face a tall order to topple Chinese duo Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen but could well be next best.

Star to watch

Antoine Dupont, one of the world’s finest rugby union players, decided to temporarily step away from the full-sided game this year so he could lead the French team here and organisers had even moved the schedule forward in a deliberate attempt to help the host nation off to a dazzling start. The scrum half steered the XV a side team to their first Six Nations title in a decade two years ago and he has been crucial in guiding them to the last four.

Sevens may not carry the same cache as the full-sided code but a gold medal tonight could perhaps be a greater achievement. Should they fall short, expect much chin stroking around where it went wrong from the home media. The semi-finals take place at 3pm BST, the gold medal match at 6:45pm.

If you can only watch one event

The crowds will pack into Stade de France but for intrigue, a little something different, then the men’s skateboarding final at 4pm might be worth a watch. It will take place at the iconic Place de la Concorde, which has been converted into a venue for the “urban sports” that the IOC is desperate to show off in an attempt to engage younger fans.

How to watch

Every single kick, swing, stride and stumble will be shown live on discovery+, with a monthly package costing £3.99. BBC are broadcasting from the opening event until the last every day but can only show two pieces of live action and one of those will be on the iPlayer.

And of course you can follow all news, analysis and reaction from Team GB at mirror.co.uk/sport.

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