Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony highlights
1. A giant plume of blue, white, and red smoke was sent high above a bridge over Seine River
The opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics began in Paris on Friday, taking place on the Seine River and featuring the arrival of the Olympic flame. The event kicked off with a feather-filled performance by singer Lady Gaga.
The ceremony showcased a star-studded lineup of commentators, including Alex Cooper and Snoop Dogg, as well as athletes like Simone Biles, Sha’Carri Richardson, Katie Ledecky, and Coco Gauff.
A giant plume of blue, white, and red smoke marked the start of the ceremony, creating a dramatic effect above a bridge over the river.
“We are super excited; it happens once in a lifetime,” said 17-year-old Elise Boukorrass before the event.
The extravagant show began with French soccer superstar Zinedine Zidane running across Paris to bring the flame from the Stade de France to the Seine, as reported by Vogue.
The procession continued with American singer Lady Gaga exclaiming, “Bonsoir, bienvenue en Paris!” She performed surrounded by dancers wearing flamingo-pink pompoms, delivering a long-rumored rendition of Zizi Jeanmaire’s classic “Mon Truc En Plume.”
The opening ceremony featured a theatrical display, incorporating musical phrases from "The Phantom of the Opera," "Les Misérables," Georges Bizet’s "Carmen," and a thrilling set by the French heavy metal band Gojira at the Conciergerie.
French pianist Alexandre Kantorow gave an outstanding performance of one of Ravel’s best-known pieces, translating the themes of “Fountains” and “Playing Water” as rain fell during the ceremony.
The event concluded with a highly anticipated performance by Céline Dion from the Eiffel Tower. Dressed in a shimmering beaded dress, Dion performed “Hymne à L'Amour,” a song by Edith Piaf from the 1950s.
The Olympics run from July 26 (Friday) to August 11 (Sunday).
