The opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris was a dazzling event filled with performances, cultural showcases and a unique Parade of Nations. Held on July 25th along the Seine River, this year’s ceremony was a grand display that celebrated the host nation’s rich history.
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The 2024 Summer Olympics chose an innovative venue for its opening ceremony by hosting the event along the Seine River.
This decision provided a backdrop of Paris’s iconic landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Louvre.
Athletes made their grand entrance on boats rather than the traditional stadium walk. Despite rainy weather, thousands of athletes from around the world were greeted with cheers as they floated down the Seine.
Team USA, consisting of over 500 athletes, donned outfits designed by Ralph Lauren, showcasing a mix of style and patriotism.
The athletes were seen waving American flags and chanting USA with enthusiasm as they made their way along the Seine.
Tennis sensation Coco Gauff and basketball legend LeBron James had the honor of being the flagbearers for Team USA.
This is the first time a tennis player and a basketball player led the team in this role.
The Olympics opening ceremony featured a stunning performance by Lady Gaga, who expressed her love for French culture.
Clad in a chic black corset and skirt designed by Dior, Gaga captivated the audience with her rendition of Mon Truc en Plumes by Zizi Jeanmaire, sung in French.
The highlight of the night was Céline Dion’s emotional performance atop the Eiffel Tower. Wearing a Dior haute couture gown, Dion sang “Hymne à L’amour,” a classic by Édith Piaf.
This is her first performance since revealing her battle with Stiff-Person Syndrome and her powerful vocals resonated throughout Paris as fireworks lit up the sky.
In a special segment for NBC’s telecast, Beyoncé introduced Team USA with a remix of her single “YA YA” from the Cowboy Carter album.
The remix featured American athletes such as Caeleb Dressel, Katie Ledecky and Sha’Carri Richardson.
The Olympics opening ceremony torch relay was a thrilling sequence involving some of the greatest athletes in history. The journey began with French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane, who passed the torch to Rafael Nadal.
The speedboat relay included iconic athletes like gymnast Nadia Comăneci, tennis stars Serena Williams and Amelie Mauresmo and track legend Carl Lewis.
The final act of the torch relay saw French Olympians Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec lighting the cauldron, which was uniquely shaped like a hot air balloon.
French singer-songwriter Juliette Armanet performed John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Imagine,” an Olympic tradition, on a barge in the Seine. The performance featured a flaming piano played by Sofiane Pamart.
A special segment celebrated French fashion featuring young designers like Alphonse Maitrepierre, Gilles Asquin and Kevin Germanier.
Models showcased their creations on a runway on the Debilly Bridge, set to the beats of DJ Barbara Butch.
Dancers performed atop the scaffolding at Notre-Dame Cathedral during the “Synchronicité” segment.
The performance was accompanied by the ringing of the cathedral’s bells, it is their first sound since the 2019 fire.
French artist Aya Nakamura lit up the Pont des Arts with a golden performance of her hit song “Pookie,” wearing a stunning Dior dress.
The Olympics opening ceremony paid homage to Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables with a scene featuring the revolutionary song “Ah, ça ira,” performed by French band Gojira and opera singer Marina Viotti.
The performance unfolded on the Pont-Neuf Bridge against the Gothic backdrop of the Conciergerie.
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French mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel delivered an ethereal rendition of “The Marseillaise” from the Grand Palais. Dressed in a patriotic red, white, and blue gown by Dior.
Comedian Colin Jost reported live for NBC from Tahiti, where the Olympic surfing competition took place.
Jost humorously documented his experience on Instagram showcasing the local celebration 10,000 miles away from Paris.
Tennis player Emma Navarro captured a fun moment with LeBron James during Team USA’s boat ride. Sharing a group selfie, Navarro humorously referenced a viral meme with the caption “Smiling through it all! Can’t believe this is my life.”
In a playful animated segment the Minions were depicted stealing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, only to drop it into the Seine.
Approximately 10,500 athletes from 205 delegations participated in a parade on the Seine River. They sailed on a flotilla of 94 boats.
The Olympics opening event utilized hundreds of cameras placed in drones, helicopters, boats and even smartphones to capture the action. Some felt the potential of these tools was not fully realized as many shots appeared disjointed.
The Malian-born French pop star delivered a vibrant mashup of her hits Pookie and Djadja.
French metal band Gojira delivered a rousing cover of “Ah! Ça Ira,” blending heavy metal with revolutionary tunes. Opera singer Marina Viotti’s collaboration added a unique fusion of genres.
At over four hours, many viewers felt the ceremony was too long with multiple false endings that tested the audience’s patience.
NBC’s coverage was critiqued for its fragmented presentation which struggled to convey the grandeur of the live event to television audiences.
Some commentators said the absence of French hip hop, despite the Olympics being the first to include breakdancing as an official event.
The lack of Daft Punk and Cirque du Soleil also disappointed some who expected these iconic French acts.
An extended segment featuring the Minions and a stolen Mona Lisa seemed like a concession to NBC and Universal, detracting from the ceremony’s authenticity.
In response to terrorist threats and a disrupted rail system, 40,000 police and military personnel were deployed to ensure the safety of the Games.
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