Paris Olympic Games 2024 – The Olympic Opening Ceremony

On Friday, July 26, 2024, the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris broke away from the traditional stadium setting for the first time in history, taking over the heart of the city.

Athletes paraded along the Seine River, with hundreds of thousands of people lining the banks. The ceremony featured spectacular performances by Lady Gaga, Aya Nakamura, and Céline Dion, creating a grand show directed by Thomas Jolly.

 

The event included various highlights, such as a humorous moment with comedian Jamel Debbouze and football legend Zinédine Zidane, a parade of athletes on boats along the Seine, and a reimagined version of “La Marseillaise” sung from the roof of the Grand Palais. The ceremony also paid tribute to French culture, featuring performances that merged classic and contemporary styles, including a duet between Aya Nakamura and the Republican Guard.

Significant sporting legends, including Rafael Nadal, Nadia Comaneci, Carl Lewis, and Serena Williams, participated in a final team relay. The lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, by French sports icons Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner, marked the climax of the ceremony. The Cauldron, designed by Mathieu Lehanneur, soared into the sky as a symbol of the Games.

Céline Dion concluded the event with an emotional performance from the Eiffel Tower’s balcony, singing “L’Hymne à l’amour.” The ceremony, blending artistic spectacle and sporting tradition, set a memorable and innovative tone for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which are now officially open.