Paris Dazzles with Unforgettable Opening Ceremony.

Multi Sports Paris 2024 Olympics

Posted 1 months ago

Paris Dazzles with Unforgettable Opening Ceremony.

The 2024 Olympics kicked off in Paris with a stunning display. Thousands of athletes sailed along the River Seine, passing lively performers on bridges, banks, and rooftops, making for a truly unique opening ceremony.

For the first time, the Olympics opened on a waterway instead of a stadium. The nearly four-hour spectacle concluded with French judo legend Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-Jose Perec lighting a cauldron shaped like a hot air balloon, which then ascended into the Parisian sky.

Before that, blue, white, and red fireworks raised the Tricolore above Austerlitz Bridge. 6,800 athletes from 205 delegations traveled on 85 boats past Paris's famous landmarks.

Surprise performances included a cabaret number by Lady Gaga and a heartfelt return by Canadian icon Celine Dion.

The day began with disruptions due to arson attacks on the French train network. Heavy rain in the evening altered the artistic director Thomas Jolly's plan to use the sun to "make the water sparkle."

Despite the rain, which forced athletes to wear ponchos and use umbrellas, the lively journey through French history, art, and sport was beautifully portrayed by 2,000 musicians, dancers, and artists.