List of Olympic Sports in 2024: Complete Guide

How many Olympic sports are there in 2024

The Paris 2024 Olympic programme features 32 sports and approximately 329 events across summer and traditional disciplines. Governed by the IOC, the programme balances global popularity with geographic and gender balance, while capping total athletes near 10,500. Each sport must meet inclusion criteria such as international reach and anti-doping compliance. Summer and mixed events highlight broad participation, while some traditional Olympic sports are temporarily excluded. The following sections explain what counts, how decisions are made, and what this means for athletes and fans.

What counts as an Olympic sport

An Olympic sport is a discipline recognized and added to the Games by the International Olympic Committee. Sports must meet criteria including governance, anti-doping rules, event and athlete limits, and broad international participation. The IOC recognizes international federations, reviews programme recommendations on a regular cycle, and updates the programme based on strategic priorities for each edition. In practice, a sport is any discipline staged under IOC sanction at the Games.

IOC recognition vs programme inclusion

Recognition means an international federation follows IOC governance and rules, while inclusion means the sport appears on a specific Olympic programme. Not all recognized sports compete at every edition; inclusion depends on quotas, venues, and the overall size of the event. For 2024, several recognized sports did not stage events, and some non-Olympic sports were added through experimental or demonstration pathways.

32 sports on the Paris 2024 programme

Paris 2024 includes 32 sports encompassing a wide range of athletic disciplines. The programme combines traditional events like athletics and swimming with newer additions such as breaking, aiming to engage younger audiences and reflect global interest. Each sport contributes a set number of medal events, with strict caps on overall athletes and team sizes. This structure enables predictable planning for broadcasters, venues, and National Olympic Committees.

• Aquatics (including Diving, Swimming, Water Polo)
• Archery
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Basketball (including 3x3)
• Boxing
• Breaking
• Canoe Slalom
• Cycling (including BMX Freestyle, Mountain Bike)
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Field Hockey
• Football
• Golf
• Gymnastics (including Rhythmic)
• Handball
• Judo
• Modern Pentathlon
• Rowing
• Rugby Sevens
• Sailing
• Shooting
• Skating (Figure Skating)
• Sport Climbing
• Surfing
• Table Tennis
• Taekwondo
• Tennis
• Triathlon
• Volleyball (including Beach Volleyball)
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling

Olympic medal events by sport at Paris 2024

Across 32 sports, there are approximately 329 medal events. High-participation sports such as athletics, swimming, and gymnastics contribute the most events, while niche sports contribute fewer. The programme is designed to manage venue logistics and athlete quotas across a two-week period. The table below summarizes verified detail for each sport, including event counts and sources.

How sports are added or removed from the Olympic programme

The IOC evaluates sports through a transparent selection process that considers popularity, governance, cost, and youth appeal. Core Olympic sports are regularly reviewed, and changes between editions can include new entries, removals, or experimental formats. Summer sports often feature broader global participation, while some traditional events are occasionally rotated to manage the size of the Games. Governing bodies must meet strict requirements, and the IOC may grant temporary or permanent status through defined review cycles.

Key changes for Paris 2024 compared to previous Games

Paris 2024 introduced breaking as an Olympic medal sport and maintained a balanced mix of established and emerging disciplines. Compared to Tokyo 2020, some sports were adjusted or not featured, reflecting evolving priorities for gender equality, youth engagement, and venue feasibility. These adjustments are part of the IOC’s ongoing effort to keep the programme relevant while managing practical constraints.

What this means for athletes and fans

For athletes, inclusion in the Olympic programme provides a major competitive goal and can increase funding and visibility. Fans benefit from a diverse, accessible lineup that mixes traditional events with fresh formats. Understanding how sports are selected helps you follow the Games with context, whether you track long-standing disciplines like athletics or newer additions like breaking.

Where to verify status for any sport

To confirm whether a sport is an official Olympic event for 2024, consult the IOC’s published programme factsheet or the official Paris 2024 website. National federations and recognised international bodies also publish qualifying criteria and event schedules. Treat temporary or experimental formats as distinct from core Olympic sports until they achieve permanent status.

How the 2024 programme balances tradition and innovation

The 2024 programme blends long-standing Olympic sports with new disciplines to attract global audiences and younger viewers. Traditional events anchor the identity of the Games, while additions like breaking reflect cultural trends and evolving definitions of sport. Organisers use sport-specific rules and event caps to keep the schedule manageable and broadcast-friendly, ensuring both heritage and novelty remain central to the Olympic experience.

Notable inclusions and adjustments

Breaking’s debut highlights a shift toward urban and youth-centric formats, while established sports retain large event counts due to their global reach. Other sports may move between programme categories based on performance, governance, and alignment with gender parity goals. These changes are outlined well before each edition to give federations and athletes time to prepare.