The countdown is on to the 2024 Olympics in Paris - with exactly a year to go until the opening ceremony.

Plans are already in place for the launch to be somewhat different to normal - held on the River Seine, right in the heart of the city.

The opening ceremony of the Olympics Games will take place on July 26, 2024 and will be an unprecedented event. The ceremony is normally held in a stadium in the host city.‌

A flotilla of nearly 200 boats will carry the flag-bearers from competing nations along the River Seine, with hundreds of thousands of spectators expected to line the banks of the river to watch the ceremony.

‌The official torch which will hold the Olympic flame was unveiled this week to start the one-year countdown.

The Paris torch will be made by the Indian steel giant ArcelorMittal from recycled and renewable sources.

The president of the organizing committee says Paris 2024 is trying to set an example of improved climate awareness, and gender equality.

Ninety five percent of the venues already exist or will be temporary, with only the aquatics venue and athletes village being built from scratch.

"The model of Paris 2024 is the best possible marriage between a spectacular Games, but also a Games with purpose, engaged," said Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organizing committee.

Estanguet told CGTN: "That's why we want to reduce by half the carbon footprint. That's why it will be also the first time ever that we will have the same number of male and female athletes."

He added: "We really want to demonstrate that this is feasible, to have on one side spectacular emotions and unique emotions, but on the other side, a new kind of delivery, more responsible, more engaging also with people."

French luxury giant LVMH is a premium sponsor of the 2024 Paris Olympics, a move that will help the organizers reach their sponsorship target of $1.37 billion.

Other major domestic sponsors include communications company Orange, electricity provider EDF, pharmaceuticals company Sanofi and retail giant Carrefour.

‌"In many ways, I believe, our brands are the symbol of France, of its elegance, its audacity and its style," said Bernard Arnault, chief executive of LVMH.

"It's only natural that we should lend our support to an event that will shine a worldwide spotlight on France, and Paris in particular."

There remains work to do on security arrangements for the ambitious opening ceremony, allocating the remaining tickets, finalizing the sporting schedule, and finishing the building or inspection work at the competition arenas.

But seven years after it was awarded the 2024 Games, the preparations in the French capital are now entering the home straight.

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