French President Emmanuel Macron officially opened the Paris Olympics 2024 on Friday, despite rainy weather, with a ceremony featuring athletes cheered along the Seine, dancers on Paris rooftops, and Lady Gaga performing a French cabaret song.
Olympic champions Marie-Jose Perec and Teddy Riner lit the Olympic cauldron, which was suspended from a hot-air balloon, while Celine Dion delivered a powerful rendition of Edith Piaf’s “Hymn to Love” in her first public performance in years. The balloon, bearing a 7-meter ring of fire, floated above the city from sunset until 2 a.m. daily.
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Paris 2024 organizing president Tony Estanguet expressed pride in the show, celebrating the integration of sport and culture despite the weather.
The opening ceremony, held outside a stadium for the first time, featured a 6 km parade of competitors on barges alongside iconic Paris landmarks and performances on floating platforms, adding complexity to the security operation. The event followed a sabotage attack on the TGV rail network that disrupted travel.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach urged everyone to embrace the Olympic spirit of peace and joy. The Games, marking 100 years since Paris last hosted them, began on Wednesday, with the first gold medals to be awarded on Saturday.
The ceremony included a giant plume of French flag-colored smoke, a cancan line from Moulin Rouge dancers, and a performance by French-Malian pop star Aya Nakamura, whose inclusion sparked debate over French cultural identity.
Heavy Rain
While the celebration of French culture, fashion, and history was enthusiastically received by many of the 300,000 spectators along the river, hundreds left early due to the heavy rain.
“It was enjoyable despite the rain; the unique river setting instead of a stadium was a positive change,” said Avid Pureval, 34, who traveled from Ohio for the Games. He noted that once you’re wet, it’s manageable but decided to return to his hotel after the French boat passed, well before the ceremony concluded.
Josephine from Paris, who paid 1,600 euros ($1,736) for her seat, agreed it would have been better if the weather had been sunny.
The ceremony was heavily guarded, with snipers on rooftops, the Seine’s riverbed cleared for bombs, and Paris’ airspace closed. A massive security presence, including 45,000 police and thousands of soldiers, ensured safety, with armed police patrolling in inflatable boats as the flotilla navigated the Seine.
Received Warmly in Tahiti
A blend of French and international celebrities, including soccer legend Zinedine Zidane, 14-time French Open champion Rafa Nadal, 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams, and three Paralympic athletes, were among the final torchbearers before the cauldron was ignited. The flame will continue to burn until the closing ceremony on August 11.
The parade began with applause for the Greek boat, the traditional first delegation, followed by even louder cheers for the boat carrying the refugee team. The French, U.S., and Ukrainian delegations also received enthusiastic support.
Michael Phelps and Martin Fourcade, the two most decorated athletes in the Games’ history, presented the gold, silver, and bronze medals. There was also a live broadcast from the early morning welcome ceremony at the surfing venue in Tahiti, located 16,000 km away in the Pacific.
