All you need to know about an Olympic Test Event

In a nutshell, Olympic Test Events are sporting competitions held prior to the main Olympic Games.

The test events are usually scheduled around a year before the Olympics to ensure that playing conditions and infrastructure readiness at the venues are as close to perfect as possible before the main event. These are essentially stage rehearsals for the Olympics.

Additionally, athletes participating in test events get first-hand exposure to the conditions a year in advance before the Games officially start. It’s a win-win situation for both athletes and organisers, while helping the volunteers, as well as the technical teams, to prepare for the main event.

The setup allows the organisers to oversee preparedness and other factors to make sure that the venues are optimally equipped, for both athletes and spectators, during the main Olympic Games.

How are Olympic Test Events organised?

Test events are organised by the Organising Committee, relevant international and national federations and other stakeholders if required. The events help the organisers identify and meet the unique requirements for each sport at different competition venues.

Some test events are organised in host city to enlighten volunteers about select sports or venues.

The organising committee will also collaborate with national and international federations or other third parties to organise test events at the Olympic venues.

Paris 2024 Olympics testing programme

To ensure preparedness for the Paris 2024 Olympics, three different types of test events were identified - those operated by Paris 2024, those operated by international or national federations and operational tests, which are closed-doors events featuring a limited number of invited athletes.

The first test event for the Paris 2024 Olympics, an international sailing event, was held at the Marseille Marina - the actual competition venue for the Olympics - from July 9 to 16, 2023.

Some of the world’s top sailors competed in 10 Olympic disciplines, enabling the host city to test the sporting, medical and technology infrastructure at the competition venue. The final test event was held in June 2024.

Paris 2024 Olympic Test Events schedule

Type 1: Olympic Test Events operated by Paris 2024

• July 9-16, 2023 - International sailing competition, Marseille
• August 17-20, 2023 - International triathlon competition, Paris
• September 24, 2023 - International mountain bike competition, Élancourt
• May 4-5, 2024 - Yves du Manoir Stadium, Colombes (hockey)

Type 2: Olympic Test Events operated by international/national Federations:

• July 26-27, 2023 - French Youth Championships, Golf National, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
• August 2-6, 2023 - World Rowing Junior Championships, Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium
• August 5-6, 2023 - World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup 2023 – Meet 4
• August 11-20, 2023 - WSL SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro, Teahupo'o, Tahiti
• August 19-20, 2023 - Archery World Cup at Invalides, Paris
• August 30-September 1, 2023 - Canoe Sprint and Para Canoe International Open, Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium
• October 5-8, 2023 - Canoe Slalom World Cup Finals, Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium
• April 8-14, 2024 - National Shooting Centre, Châteauroux (shooting and shooting Para sport).
• April 29-May 8, 2024 - Olympic Aquatics Centre (artistic swimming, diving, water-polo)

Type 3: Operational tests

• July, 2023 - Roland-Garros Stadium, Paris (transition from tennis to boxing)
• August, 2023 - South Paris Arena 4 and 6, Paris (table tennis and para table tennis, handball, weightlifting)
• August, 2023 - Grand Palais, Paris (fencing, taekwondo and para taekwondo)
• August, 2023 - La Concorde, Paris (site)
• August 19, 2023 - Invalides, Paris (para archery)
• August, 2023 - Chateau de Versailles (para archery)
• August - September, 2023 - Champs de Mars Arena, Paris (wheelchair rugby, judo, para judo, wrestling)
• September - Bercy Arena, Paris (transition from artistic gymnastics to basketball and wheelchair basketball)
• January-February, 2024 - Boccia (details and venue to be confirmed)
• March, 2024 - Port de La Chapelle Arena, Paris (rhythmic gymnastics, Para powerlifting)
• April, 2024 - Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Vélodrome (BMX racing)
• May, 2024b - Château de Versailles (modern pentathlon)
• June, 2024 - Le Bourget (climbing), Paris La Défense Arena (swimming, water-polo), Stade de France (athletics, Para athletics)