Hundreds of millions of on-site spectators and TV viewers worldwide were treated to an opening ceremony like no other as an impressive fleet of 85 boats, ferrying 206 delegations did a six-kilometre journey down the Seine on Friday night to mark the start of the 2024 edition of the Paris Olympics.
Laetitia Maissiad, a spectator positioned on a lower dock under City Hall, expressed her appreciation despite the rain that drenched the crowds of onlookers. “These visuals are moving and represent our French values. I’m hardly aware of the rain. I can’t wait for the rest of the show, it’s magnificent,” she said.
A few kilometres downstream, another exalted voice emerged from the rain-soaked crowd: “We can be proud to be French, it’s beautiful!”
Dazzling performances by French and international artistes
As the delegations boated down the Seine, the parade was accompanied by dazzling visual displays and artistic performances by French and international artistes, including Lady Gaga, Celine Dion and French star Aya Nakamura.
In the popular town of Saint-Denis, beyond the city’s ring road, families gathered in a fan-zone, watching the ceremony on a large screen installed along the canal beneath the Stade de France. Nonna Kallee, a 34-year-old local resident, told French news agency AFP, “I’m pleasantly surprised by how modern and vibrant it is. I had envisaged something more solely French.”
The Olympic oath was taken by French flag bearers Mélina Robert-Michon, an athlete, and swimmer Florent Manaudou.
A highlight of the evening was the arrival of the Olympic torch, lit by French football icon Zinedine Zidane, who then passed it to Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal. A double Olympic champion and 14-times French Open winner, Nadal then took the boat trip along the Seine, sharing the torch with US tennis player Serena Williams, Romanian gymnast and 1976 Olympic icon Nadia Comaneci, and US Olympian Carl Lewis, who has won nine Olympic titles.
Torchbearers include centenarian French cycling champion
Back on land near the Louvre, the torch was carried in turn by French stars, including Amélie Mauresmo, Tony Parker, Paralympians Alexis Hanquinquant (para triathlon) and Nantenin Keïta (para athletics), and Paralympic chief Marie-Amélie Le Fur.
Other contributors included centenarian Charles Coste, the oldest living French Olympic champion, born in 1924 and team pursuit cycling winner in 1948.
The final torch bearers were Marie-José Pérec, a three-time Olympic gold medallist in athletics, and Teddy Riner, a triple judo gold medallist aiming for a fourth title in Paris. They ignited the Olympic cauldron located in front of the Tuileries garden. It then ascended on a hot air balloon against the Paris night sky to the tune of ‘Hymne à l’amour’ by Edith Piaf, sung by Céline Dion, marking her first public performance in four years.
The formal part of the ceremony, held at the Trocadero, was addressed by Tony Estanguet, chairman of the organising committee, and International Olympic Committee. Estanguet welcomed all athletes, stating, “Paris 2024 belongs to you.”
First Olympics with full gender parity
Bach, the global Olympics executive, expressed his delight, “Thank you for welcoming us in such a spectacular way," he said. "All of us will experience Olympic Games that are more inclusive, more urban, younger and more sustainable – the first Olympic Games with full gender parity on the field of play.”
French President Emmanuel Macron officially opened the 33rd modern Olympiad at 10:54 p.m.. It will conclude on Sunday, 11 August, after 329 events across 32 sports.
Belgium will be represented by 165 athletes competing in 21 sports.
