Paris impressed the world with an amazing and unique opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. During a boat parade of athletes, Lady Gaga, Aya Nakamura, and others welcomed the world to the Parisian capital, with musical performances in rainy conditions.
The event began with a man carrying the torch into an empty Stade de France. Taking the torch away from him was Zinedine Zidane, former captain of the French Soccer team, who ran through the city and onto the metro to get to the Trocadero. As the torch made its way into the Seine, the athletes on ships began to sail west on the river starting with Greece and NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo carrying the flag.
In the middle of the river parade, the ceremony moved to the steppes near the Seine where Lady Gaga performed a French revue. The parade continued as they flipped to cover the path of the Olympic torch, with children carrying it. A mysterious man took charge of the torch and parkoured on the roofs of Paris as the parade went forward. The French revue took the form of the famous can-can dancers before the mystery person flew across the Seine by zip line.
They landed on the roof of Notre Dame, where they honored the builders who helped revive the Cathedral after the devastating fire five years ago. The Olympic flame was walked into the craft workhouse of Louis Vuitton as they carried out giant luggage trunks on bell carts. One was brought down to the spot where USA’s Michael Phelps and French biathlete Martin Fourcade standing by the river. Music took on a stronger position at the ceremony, with Les Misérables taking place in a theater and then heavy metal rock.
Love and literature took their place in a short montage as operatic songs were sung. The music went to the Bridge de Concorde, with the French Republican Guard Band and Aya Nakamura singing one of her songs, blending the old and new. A short video depicted some of the Louvre’s famous paintings coming to life to see the boat parade of athletes.
As it reached the Grand Palais, a woman holding the French Drapeau sang Le Marseillais on the roof. While the song continued, large statues of famous French women, who have contributed their skills to benefit the country were shown to the world and will be placed in different parts of Paris.
The athletes approached the end of their trip to the Eiffel Tower, where a man, who could break dance, sang a beautiful aria in front of the world. Fashion made its mark on a bridge with a consistent runway show. The delegations of Australia, the United States, and France made their way down the Seine as the lights on the Eiffel Tower began to flash.
Imagine, the John Lennon classic was sung by Juliette Armanet on a makeshift barge with a piano on fire. A metal horse rode down the river, images and video of previous Olympics were shown, while the 205 flags of the world were placed inside the Trocadero. An individual carried the Olympic flag and lifted it into the sky as the Olympic anthem played.
President Emmanuel Macron opened the games of the 33rd Olympics of the modern era before the final relay of the Olympic Torch arrived at the Trocadero. Zidane had the torch back and handed it to the King of Clay of Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal. After a light show on the Eiffel Tower, Nadal was on a boat with Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comaneci. Each held the torch as they journeyed down the Seine.
Waiting at a quay for them was two-time grand slam champion Amelie Mauresmo, who ran the torch up and into the gates of The Louvre where NBA champ Tony Parker waited. He and Amelie met, with 22 other French Olympic athletes, who together met and exchanged the torch to one another. Teddy Riner and Marie-Jose Perec were chosen to light it together. They in turn walked to a hot air balloon-style cauldron, which once lit, rose above The Louvre. A final song at the Eiffel Tower performed by Celine Dion ended the four-hour opening ceremony and opened the action to 15 days of sporting competition.
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