BTN News: As the sun set over Paris, the River Seine became the stage for an amazing event. The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics took place along six kilometers of the Seine. It featured 85 boats, 205 delegations, 6,800 athletes, and over 300,000 spectators.
The event began at the Stade de France with a film starring comedian Jamel Debbouze and former footballer Zinédine Zidane. After that, the athletes’ parade started, with Greece leading, followed by the Refugee Team, Afghanistan, South Africa, and Albania. At the same time, a musical show directed by Thomas Jolly took place. He is known for the rock opera “Starmania.” Nearly 2,000 dancers and performers took part, and famous artists performed. American pop star Lady Gaga amazed the crowd with her version of “Mon truc en plumes” by Zizi Jeanmaire.
The ceremony also honored important French women like Olympe de Gouges, Simone Veil, and Gisèle Halimi. Their silhouettes appeared from the Seine, celebrating their work for women’s rights and social progress. Notre Dame Cathedral was also a key part of the event.
Legendary athletes Carl Lewis and Peyton Manning walked the red carpet, adding more excitement. Carl Lewis, who trained Mexican sprinter Cecilia Tamayo for the 200-meter race, was especially notable. Despite the rain, the ceremony continued, though there were some problems. An IT glitch canceled some tickets, causing long lines and delays at security checkpoints. A huge security team of 45,000 people worked to keep everyone safe, even after a cyber-attack disrupted France’s railway system earlier in the day.
Among the 85 world leaders at the event, the absence of Vladimir Putin stood out. Russia was excluded from the Olympics due to the invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also not invited. A touching moment came when singer Juliette Armanet performed John Lennon’s “Imagine,” promoting peace. Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal watched the ceremony from a nearby building with his family before he joined the Olympic tournament.
One of the highlights was a silver mechanical horse that moved down the Seine. It symbolized the Olympic spirit and the river goddess Sequana. The horse, made by Blam workshop, took a year to build. It ended its journey at the Eiffel Tower, with flags of the participating nations. The ceremony also showed support for LGBTQ+ people, featuring drag queens and a transgender model in a scene called “Festivity.” This part of the show had mixed reactions.
In a surprise, Céline Dion performed “The Hymn to Love” by Edith Piaf from the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. She has been away from the stage due to illness but returned for this special event. Despite her health challenges, Dion’s performance was a memorable highlight, reminding many of her Olympic act in Atlanta 1996.
The Paris 2024 opening ceremony was a grand and unique event on the River Seine. It celebrated sportsmanship, diversity, and French culture, setting a new standard for Olympic ceremonies.
