Highlights from the star-studded, culturally-rich opening ceremony that kicked off the 2024 Paris Olympics with a celebration of French tradition and global unity.
Captivating Cultural Experience of Paris Olympics
On Friday, the City of Light was illuminated by the successful execution of an elaborate opening ceremony for the Olympic Games in Paris. Céline Dion’s Comeback, an Enigmatic Masked Olympic Torchbearer, and an Abundance of French Style. The ceremony took place from the Seine River to the iconic Eiffel Tower, one of the most famous Paris landmarks. As reported by NBC News, the officials responsible for the Paris 2024 events accomplished this impressive feat.
The event signified the official beginning of the Paris Olympics 2024, was a captivating cultural experience that showcased the extensive French traditions and influence in the arts, featuring works from Monet to the renowned “Les Miserables.”
Parade of Nations and Team USA’s Arrival
The tour of Paris’ famous landmarks was filled with celebrities and Olympic legends from the world of sports and entertainment, such as Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, Lady Gaga, and Celine Dion. It was a star-studded experience, with appearances from Olympic athletes and pop culture icons.
During the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony, Celine Dion performed live on the Eiffel Tower. Olympic Broadcasting Services captured the event, which can be seen in this image.
Celine Dion at Birmingham’s NIA during her Céline Dion Live 2017 tour.
Egghead06, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
These are some of the major Paris Olympics highlights of the night
The Olympic Games in Paris saw a unique entry of Olympic athletes from different countries arriving by boat. The national delegations glided along the Seine River, known as the “main artery” of Paris, during the opening ceremony.
Greece held first in the Parade of Nations, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, a well-known NBA player, carrying the Olympic flag. The country has a longstanding Olympic tradition of leading the parade, a tribute to the ancient Greek origins of the Olympics, dating back 3,000 years.
Team USA’s boat, which consisted of flag bearers Coco Gauff and LeBron James, arrived as the second-to-last vessel during the opening ceremony. This placement represents the upcoming Olympic cycle, in which Team USA will be the host country for the Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
On Friday, during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024, Team USA, led by Lebron James and carrying the Olympic flag, sailed down the Seine River in Paris on a boat. The image captured by Lindsey Wasson / AP showcases this moment.
As the designated host, the nation of France was given the privilege of concluding the 2024 procession.
Performance by Lady Gaga featuring French traditions and feather adornment
The Olympic Games Paris opening ceremony featured a surprise performance by Lady Gaga, who sang a Seine-side version of Zizi Jeanmaire’s “Mon Truc En Plumes,” which means “My thing with feathers.”
Draped in a cloak of blush feathers, Lady Gaga emulated the legendary Jeanmaire’s rendition of the song during her appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. As she gracefully descended the stairs, she burst into a lively chorus line and showcased her piano skills, embodying the spirit of French musicians.
Lady Gaga at 2017 Grammy Awards Red Carpet
Photo credit: Rogue Artists, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
In an Instagram post, I expressed my deep connection with the French people and love for singing French music despite not being a French artist. My goal was to create a performance that would bring warmth to the hearts of France and honor their art and music. It was a momentous occasion to remind everyone of the enchanting city of Paris.
An enigmatic masked Olympic torchbearer enthralls the internet.
During the Paris Opening Ceremony, an unidentified person wearing a hood and a mask swiftly traveled on a zip line from one rooftop to another and also along the Seine River while carrying the Olympic torch.
The individual navigated through the most extensive global museum, the Louvre, which houses iconic artworks such as the “Venus de Milo” and the “Mona Lisa.”
The individual carrying the Olympic torch, whose name remained a secret, sparked numerous internet jokes and references to “Assassin’s Creed” and Fox’s “The Masked Singer.” A commenter on X quipped, “This feels like the longest episode of The Masked Singer ever.” In contrast, others expressed disappointment at never discovering the person behind the disguise of the Olympic torchbearer Paris.
Celebrating the Richness of French Culture
Axelle Saint-Cirel, a French mezzo-soprano, delivered a powerful performance of the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” while standing on top of the Grand Palais. The Seine river was adorned with statues honoring women who made significant contributions to French history, from the French Revolution to modern times.
Carl Lewis y Leroy Burell, 5 August 2019,
Legado Lima 2019, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Additionally, at the opening ceremony, there was a rendition of the French version of the song “Can You Hear the People Sing” from the musical Les Miserables, a metal performance featuring headless women in red, a nod to Marie Antionette, and people performing the cancan, a famous dance associated with the Moulin Rouge dancers.
At a particular moment, the camera captured a group of French artists leading the audience on a tour from the library to the bedroom, acknowledging Paris’s romantic reputation for everyone, including the LGBTQ community.
French Sports Icons Continue the Legacy.
Before reaching the cauldron, the Olympic flame was transferred from soccer icon Zinedine Zidane to tennis greats Nadal and Williams, track champion Lewis, and “Perfect 10” gymnast Nadia Comăneci.
The opening ceremony ended with twenty-four Olympic legends and Paralympic icons lighting the Olympic cauldron in the Jardin des Tuileries.
One of the individuals was Charles Coste, a centenarian at the age of 100, who is the oldest French Olympian to have won a medal. Born in 1924, he witnessed the last time the Olympics were held in France. Coste achieved gold in the team pursuit cycling event at the 1948 London Olympics, embodying the enduring Olympic spirit.
This year, the cauldron deviated from its usual tradition by soaring in a hot-air balloon adorned with the iconic Olympic rings, paying homage to the inaugural hydrogen-powered balloon that took flight from the Tuileries in 1783.
Dion’s comeback to the spotlight
The opening ceremony had a particularly touching moment as Dion delivered a powerful Celine Dion performance of “Hymne a l’amour” or “Hymn to Love,” originally sung by French artist Édith Piaf, at the base of the iconic Eiffel Tower.
Dion’s recent show marked her return to the stage after revealing her condition of stiff-person syndrome in 2022. There was speculation online about Dion and Lady Gaga’s performances, as the two renowned singers were seen together in Paris this week.
Dion, originally from Canada, has 27 albums, most of which are in French. Additionally, she opened the 1996 Atlanta Olympics with her performance of “The Power of the Dream,” making her appearance at the Paris Olympics 2024 all the more meaningful.
As the world eagerly awaits more Paris Olympics news and the chance to experience the Paris 2024 live events, the Olympic Opening Ceremony has set the stage for an unforgettable celebration of sports, culture, and enduring Olympic values. The Olympic anthem echoes through the streets of Paris, heralding the beginning of a new chapter in Olympic history, where Team USA and athletes from around the globe will come together to compete, inspire, and unite under the banner of the Olympic spirit.
Source:
Kaetlyn Liddy (26 July, 2024). Paris Olympic opening ceremony top moments: Céline Dion’s return, a mysterious masked torchbearer and plenty of French flair. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/paris-olympic-opening-ceremony-top-moments-rcna163888. Accessed July 28, 2024
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