Where & How to Watch the Olympics for Free Online: 2024 Summer Games in Paris

Key Takeaways: How to Watch the Paris 2024 Olympics

1. Grab a subscription at a 76% discount from NordVPN’s website.
2. Download a VPN client. Connect to a U.K., Australian or Canadian server.
3. Create a free account with BBC iPlayer (UK), 9Now (AU) or CBC Gem (CA).
4. Watch the Olympics for free on your preferred service.

Best VPNs for watching The Olympics:

1. NordVPN — Best-in-class VPN for all use-cases. New NordVPN subscribers get up to 76% reduced rates on long-term commitments.
2. Surfshark — Unmatched value in multi-device protection. Explore Surfshark’s features with a 30-day return policy, and grab extended plans at a 87% discount.
3. Proton VPN — Swiss-based VPN with strong UK streaming performance and a free tier. Try the free plan or get 70% off paid plans.
4. ExpressVPN — Premium VPN protection made simple. A 73% discount is available for users who choose ExpressVPN’s extended subscription options.

Paris 2024 Olympics Medals: Top 3 Countries

Country	Gold🥇	Silver🥈	Bronze🥉	Total
🇺🇸 U.S.A	40	44	42	126
🇨🇳 China	40	27	24	91
🇯🇵 Japan	20	12	13	45

Best VPN for the Olympic Games

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With the Paris 2024 Olympics almost here, you probably already know what channel will cover it in your location. However, knowing how to stream it online for free is a different ball game. This guide shows you how to watch the Olympics for free online and from anywhere in the world. 

The events are shown on different channels and services internationally, so where you can watch it will depend on your location. This is also true if you stream it for free online — you’ll be blocked from accessing free services outside of your region. This is where a VPN comes in. 

In this guide, we provide step-by-step instructions for using a VPN to access a free streaming service. Not just any VPN, though. You need one of the best VPNs to ensure you not only unblock the service, but also have fast enough speeds for a decent stream. For a quick answer, we recommend using NordVPN.

How to Watch the 2024 Olympic Games Online Without Cable: Free & Paid Olympics Live Stream

Your best bet for watching the Olympics online is via a free streaming service, such as: 

• BBC iPlayer, in the U.K.
• 9Now in Australia 
• CBC Gem in Canada

All of these services have an Olympics live stream as well as individual events and highlights. If you’re not in any of those countries, you can use a VPN to get access. This will change your IP address and fool the service into thinking you’re in the correct country. We’ll show you how to do this further down.

Watch Olympics Online: Free Streaming in the U.S.

Of course, in the U.S., you can watch part of the Olympics on free-to-air channels NBC and Telemundo (Spanish): you can watch the opening and closing ceremonies, certain medal ceremonies and highlights from events for free on the NBC Olympics website.

If you want full access to those channels online, you’ll need a paid U.S. streaming service, such as fuboTV or YouTube TV — both have a free trial available. 

Other paid U.S. channels, such as USA Network, CNBC, E!, the Golf Channel and another Spanish channel, Universo, will broadcast events.

With NBC being the official broadcaster in the U.S. for the 2024 Olympics, it’s no surprise that its own streaming service, Peacock, will show every single bit of the competition. That includes every sport, every medal being awarded — literally everything. This comprehensive coverage also extends to the following weeks; for example, if you want to know how to watch the Paralympics, Peacock remains the primary destination for every event, highlight, and ceremony

Unfortunately, Peacock doesn’t offer a free trial. The service costs from $7.99 per month (or from $79.99 per year).

Are the Olympics Free to Watch?

Yes, there are several platforms where you can watch the Olympics for free, including BBC iPlayer, 9Now and CBC Gem. However, in the U.S., you need a VPN to stream the Olympics for free online. The only part of the Olympics streaming for free in the U.S. is the opening and closing ceremonies on the NBC website.

Olympic Streams: Where to Watch the Olympics for Free Online

In this section, we’ve provided a table to show you all of the services that will show the Olympics online, both free and paid.

How to Watch the Summer Olympics Free Online Outside the U.S.

Here’s a step-by-step guide showing you how to stream the 2024 Olympics completely free. We’ve used BBC iPlayer in the U.K. for this example, but you can use similar steps to watch for free on 9Now in Australia or CBC Gem in Canada — just switch to the relevant server location. 

1. Subscribe to a VPN Service

   Go to a VPN’s website and sign up for a plan. We suggest using NordVPN. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which means you can get a refund at the end.

   

2. Install the VPN

   Download and install the VPN app onto your computer or other devices you want to watch the Olympics on. Open the app and log in to your account.

   

3. Connect to a Server in the U.K.

   Find and connect to a server in the U.K. (or Australia or Canada if you want to use a different free service). NordVPN’s server list will open when you click on the country section. You can browse through the servers to find the one you need. Click on the server to connect.

   

4. Create a Free BBC iPlayer Account

   Go to the BBC iPlayer site and create a free account. You’ll need to provide a valid email for verification, a U.K. postcode (you can find a random one on Google) and click “yes” to having a TV License (you don’t need to prove this, it’s on an honor basis).

   

5. Start Streaming the Olympics for Free

   Next, search for the Olympics and start streaming it on BBC iPlayer.

   

Best Olympic VPN: The 4 Top VPNs to Stream 2024 Olympics Coverage

To ensure you pick the best Olympics VPN, you need to make sure it includes certain features. Most importantly, it should have a great track record for unblocking streaming services. After that, the VPN should have fast speeds so you don’t suffer from buffering or poor resolution, and servers in the country you need them, such as the U.K. Here are our top picks.

www.nordvpn.com

$2.99 / month

(save 76%) (All Plans)

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1. NordVPN — Has the fastest VPN speeds and can unblock streaming services with ease. It also has a huge server network with an interactive map, though it’s a bit clunky on mobile. Learn more in our NordVPN review.

surfshark.com

$2.49 / month

(save 86%) (All Plans)

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2. Surfshark — Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited connections. It has fast speeds, plenty of servers and great unblocking ability. Read our Surfshark review to learn more.

protonvpn.com

$2.99 / month

(save 70%) (All Plans)

Visit ProtonVPNReview

3. Proton VPN — Swiss-based VPN that reliably unblocks BBC iPlayer and Peacock for lag-free Olympic streaming. UK speeds averaged ~277 Mbps (on a 300 Mbps baseline) with stable US performance at ~274 Mbps. Get more details from our Proton VPN review.

www.expressvpn.com

$3.49 / month

(save 73%) (All Plans)

Visit ExpressVPNReview

4. ExpressVPN — Great VPN for sports streaming. It has excellent speeds, servers in more than 100 countries and can easily unblock any platform. Read more in our ExpressVPN review. 

Schedule: Paris Olympics 2024 Dates

With more than 10,000 athletes from 209 nations taking part in various sports, you can imagine just how big the Olympic schedule looks. Here, we’ve provided a more simplified version of the official schedule. 

Summer Olympics 2024 Event Schedule

If you have a specific sport you want to follow through the Olympics, take a look at the event schedule for each category below.

When Is the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony?

The Paris Olympics opening ceremony took place on July 26. It’s been 100 years since the Olympics were hosted by France, and this opening ceremony was unique because it was the first that wasn’t held in a stadium. Instead, it took place on the River Seine, allowing around 300,000 spectators to enjoy it. 

The parade of athletes was still part of the tradition, with each nation having its own boat. A burst of blue, white and red smoke over the Austerlitz Bridge marked the start of the parade of nations, traveling six kilometers through the center of Paris on the Seine and ending at the Trocadero Gardens where the rest of the Olympic protocol commenced. 

Although it rained for most of the four-hour-long ceremony, everyone was in high spirits and the show went as planned. There was fashion, performing arts and music, showcasing France’s culture and diversity.

Many Paris landmarks featured in the show, including the Louvre and the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral. The Eiffel Tower was at the center point too, with its very own light show as the torch made its way to the Olympic Cauldron.

Other highlights included performances from Lady Gaga, French pianist Alexandre Kantorow and Axell Saint-Cirel, as she sang the French national anthem from the roof of the Grand Palais. Celine Dion closed the ceremony at the base of the Eiffel Tower with a performance of ‘L’Hymne a l’amour.’

How to Watch the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Recording

If you missed the action live, there are a few ways you can tune in to the replay on-demand and for free, including:

• BBC iPlayer (UK) — Full ceremony
• CBC Gem (Canada) — Full ceremony
• 9Now (Australia) — Full ceremony in four parts, plus highlight videos
• NBC website (US) — highlight videos

Remember, if you’re not in the correct region for the service, use a VPN to get access.

Final Thoughts

As the excitement builds, you now know how to catch all the action for the 2024 Olympics, and for free. As usual, various sports events will be included, such as swimming, handball and basketball — we have a separate guide if you want to know how to watch NBA games too. If you’re already looking forward to the snow and ice of the next global competition, be sure to check out our guide on how to watch the Winter Olympics as well.

All you need is a VPN, and NordVPN has repeatedly won gold for streaming sports. It’s compatible with lots of devices and if you have friends who want to watch too, it supports ten simultaneous connections. You can try NordVPN risk-free using the 30-day money-back guarantee — that’s long enough to watch every sport in the 16-day event. 

Where will you watch the games? Will you watch the Olympics live or via highlight videos? Will you need to use a VPN? If so, which one will you choose? Let us know in the comment section and, as always, thank you for reading.

FAQ: Olympics 2024 Live Stream

• When’s the Next Olympics?

  The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics starts on July 26 and ends on Aug. 11. After that, the next Olympics event will be in 2028 and it will be held in Los Angeles, USA. That said, in a bid to keep costs down, two of the events — softball and canoe slalom — will be held more than 1,000 miles away in Oklahoma City.

• Where Can I Watch the Olympics 2024 for Free?

  You can stream the 2024 Olympics for free on BBC iPlayer in the U.K., 9Now in Australia and CBC Gem in Canada. You can only access those services from within the country, but if you’re not located there, you can use a VPN to spoof your way in.

• Can You Watch the Olympics 2024 Without Cable?

  Yes, you can watch it for free online with services like BBC iPlayer (U.K.), CBC Gem (Canada) and 9Now (Australia). You can use a VPN to get access if you’re not in the country. Alternatively, you can use a live TV streaming service in the U.S. to stream NBC Olympics coverage.

• How Can I Watch All the Olympics?

  In the U.S., Peacock will show coverage for every moment of the Olympic events, live and on-demand, from the beginning in late July, right up until the end in August.