Paris, France – The Paris 2024 Olympic Video games commenced with a groundbreaking and unforgettable opening ceremony on Friday evening, remodeling the River Seine right into a spectacular stage.
In a first for Olympic history, the opening ceremony moved exterior the normal stadium setting, embracing the center of Paris with a vibrant celebration.
The sight of 85 boats carrying 6,800 athletes alongside the Seine in direction of the Eiffel Tower, culminating within the ascent of the Olympic flame into the sky on a cauldron hooked up to a sizzling air balloon, captivated the viewers. The four-hour extravaganza, directed by artistic director Thomas Jolly, invited Parisians and international spectators alike to partake on this historic occasion.
“Some could say, we within the Olympic world, we’re dreamers. However we aren’t the one ones,” mentioned Worldwide Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. “And our dream is coming true tonight: a actuality for everybody to see. Olympians from throughout the globe, displaying us what greatness we people are able to. So I invite all people: dream with us. Just like the Olympic athletes, be impressed with the enjoyment that solely sport can provide us. Allow us to have a good time this Olympic spirit of residing life in peace, because the one and solely humankind, united in all our variety.”
The parade of countries
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The parade started at Pont d’Austerlitz, with Girl Gaga setting the tone with a energetic efficiency of “Mon truc en plume.” Athletes from 205 Nationwide Olympic Committees journeyed west alongside the Seine, passing iconic landmarks such because the Esplanade des Invalides, the Place de la Concorde, Notre-Dame, and the Grand Palais, earlier than arriving on the Trocadero reverse the Eiffel Tower. This distinctive parade featured athletes from completely different nations celebrating collectively, embodying the spirit of unity and camaraderie.
“Pricey athletes, we are able to’t wait to stay all of it with you. The enjoyment, the tears, and the love you’ll put in every second. Thanks for being right here. You made it! Bravo! I do know what it means. I do know what it took. I do know the trail you might have adopted to be right here. Paris will give again to you. It’s the Metropolis of Love… and for the following 16 days, it’s your metropolis,” mentioned Tony Estanguet, triple Olympic champion and President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee. “Welcome house. Welcome to Paris. Welcome to your second in historical past. Dwell it. Like it and carry us with you! The world is in your facet.”
Because the athletes traveled alongside the river, they had been handled to a journey via French historical past and tradition, cut up into 12 inventive tableaux that includes 2,000 artists. Highlights included an operatic scene from Les Miserables, a firing of cannons by the Conciergerie, and a celebration of Parisian lovers. The Seine reworked into an artwork museum with portrait masterpieces from the Louvre Museum rising from the water.
A poignant second got here when mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel carried out the French nationwide anthem, “La Marseillaise,” from the rooftop of the Grand Palais, draped in a Dior-made gown resembling the French flag. This was complemented by statues of historic feminine figures rising subsequent to the Nationwide Meeting, symbolizing the complete gender parity on the sector of play for the primary time in Olympic historical past.
Embracing Parisians and the world
The ceremony continued with a style present and extra athlete boats arriving amid enthusiastic spectators. Not like the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which had been restricted by Covid measures, Paris 2024 welcomed roughly 320,000 spectators alongside the Seine quays, along with hundreds of thousands watching worldwide. The loudest cheer was reserved for the French boat, symbolizing nationwide pleasure and pleasure.
“I hope that it’s going to present the French group an amazing increase from the beginning and that we’re going to deliver again plenty of medals and, above all, many of the athletes are going to be marked, are going to have reminiscences for all times,” mentioned French flagbearer, seven-time Olympian Melina Robert-Michon.
The Olympic flame’s journey to its closing vacation spot at Jardin des Tuileries started with French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane taking it on a visit via the French metro. The flame was handed to Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal, who, together with different sports activities legends together with Serena Williams and Carl Lewis, carried it by boat to the Louvre. From there, French sporting heroes Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec introduced it to the cauldron, a sizzling air balloon, which ascended into the sky as Edith Piaf’s “L’hymne à l’amour” performed, carried out stay by Celine Dion.
The spectacle culminated with Dion, ethereal in a glittering white gown, saluting Paris and the Olympic Video games from the Eiffel Tower balcony, because the Olympic flame soared into the evening sky, marking the official begin of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
