Paris Olympics (unofficially) start tonight

Australian rugby sevens captains Charlotte Caslick and Nick Malouf. | Newsreel
Australian Rugby Sevens captains Charlotte Caslick and Nick Malouf will be in action at the Paris Olympics. | Photo: Supplied by Rugby AU

Forget the opening ceremony, the Paris Olympic Games start tonight.

Australia’s Rugby Sevens Men’s team will launch the country’s Paris campaign as the first Australian side to compete at the 2024 Games.

Australia Men’s Sevens coach John Manenti said the Aussie Men were one of several teams who will be in action before the official opening ceremony on Saturday to accommodate scheduling.

Mr Manenti said captain Nick Malouf would lead the Aussies against Samoa in the side’s first match of Pool B at 11:30pm AEST tonight.

The Aussies then take on Kenya at 3am AEST on Thursday morning, followed by a match against Argentina at 10:30pm AEST the following evening.

“We kick off the Australian Olympic Teams Paris campaign and are ready for the challenge. This will be an extremely competitive field but we’re up for it,” Ms Manenti said.

FYI: The opening ceremony in Paris is set to begin at 7:30 pm local time on Friday, July 26, which is 3:30 am AEST on Saturday, July 27. It can viewed on Channel Nine.