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The Paris Olympics kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony on July 26, 2024. Ditching the traditional stadium venue, the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony held on the Seine River was a dazzling showcase of French culture, history, and fashion.
From American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga enthralling the spectators to Thomas Bach addressing the fans and athletes, the ceremony left the world in awe. On that note, let's take a look at 10 pictures from the ceremony that captured the festive essence of the event.
#10 Lady Gaga stuns the spectators with a feathered-filled performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony
The American songwriter and singer Lady Gaga displayed a performance with bubblegum-pink feathers. She delighted the fans with a saxophone-rich performance of “Mon Truc en Plumes” (which means “My Thing With Feathers”) in French along the Seine River. Beginning her piece by donning a majestic feather coat, she then shed the coat to unveil her stunning black dress.
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#9 Zinedine Zidane carries the Olympic torch
Zinedine Zidane shined as the Olympic torch bearer during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. The former French footballer, who led his national team to victory at the 1998 World Cup, handed over the torch to the Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal.
#8 Ariana Grande was present at the opening ceremony along with her "Wicked" movie co-star Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande graced the Paris Olympics opening ceremony by attending the red carpet. The pair expressed their excitement to watch Sha'Carri Richardson and Simone Biles perform at the Games.
Their movie "Wicked" is all set to release in November 2024. Grande and Erivo were seen posing on the red carpet ahead of the Eiffel Tower, sporting sophisticated attire.
#7 IOC President Thomas Bach delivered the message of peace ahead of the GaS
President Thomas Bach delivered a heart-warming message as the opening ceremony neared its conclusion. He spoke in front of a thousand athletes, who participated in the opening ceremony, cruising through 6 km of the Seine River. The Paris Olympics will be the last Olympic Games edition under President Bach's tenure.
#6 Rafael Nadal received the torch from football legend and passed it to Amelie Mauresmo
Rafael Nadal, who secured Olympic gold medals in the men's single event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and in the doubles event at the 2016 Rio Games, received the honor of being the torch bearer before passing it to Amelie Mauresmo, a former French tennis player.
#5 Olympic Rings at the Eiffel Tower
Olympic rings were illuminated on the Eiffel Tower at the end of the opening ceremony. With all eyes on Paris, the whole world witnessed the majestic moment as the rings shone bright on the tower amidst the electrifying light show.
#4 Rafel Nadal, Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci, and Serena Williams carried the Olympic torch through the Seine River
Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci, and Serena Williams carried the Olympic torch on a boat and cruised through the Seine River before handing it over at the last leg of the relay.
The view of a boat filled with sporting icons dazzled through the ceremony. Lewis, who secured four gold medals at a single Olympics edition, Williams23 Grand Slam women's singles titles under her belt, and Comaneci, the first gymnast to earn a perfect 10 elevated the festive environment with their presence.
#3 Hot air balloon
The Cauldron lighting ceremony is one of the oldest traditions of the Olympics. Former French athlete Marie-Jose Perec and judo athlete Teddy Riner lit the cauldron which was attached to a huge hot air balloon. The ballon raised to the sky marking the commencement of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
#2 Refugee team at the opening ceremony
The Refugee team will participate in the Olympics for the second time. 37 athletes from 11 countries will represent the Refugee Olympic Team in Paris. They will compete in 12 different sports. The team made their presence felt at the opening ceremony of the Games, with Yahya Al Ghotany and Cindy Ngamba receiving the honor of being the flagbearers.
#1 LeBron James and Coco Gauff were the U.S. flag bearers
Team USA was the last contingent before France to make their appearance at the ceremony, cruising on the flotilla. The basketball legend, LeBron James who helped the national team secure two gold medals at the Olympics, was honored as the flag bearer alongside the 2023 U.S Open tennis champion, Coco Gauff.
