After years of waiting, training and preparation, the world's fittest athletes take to the games at the 2024 Olympics following a spectacular Opening Ceremony on the Seine in Paris on Friday (July 26).
The celebrations began with athletes from each participating country sailing in boats in a parade down France's famous river and waving excitedly to fans gathered to watch, marking the first time in history that the opening ceremony of the Summer Games has not been held in a stadium. As each took part, hundreds of singers, dancers and instrumentalists gathered simultaneously for a series of big-budget performances, undaunted by the torrential rain that pelted Paris throughout the four-hour showcase.
The launch event took place at several Parisian landmarks, divided into different symbolic chapters named after French terms such as “Synchronicité”, “Liberté” and “Egalité”. Through each display of music, lights and special effects, a mysterious hooded figure carried the Olympic torch on its way to the cauldron, the lighting of which at the end of the ceremony — after a months-long relay that included Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams , BTS Jin and thousands of others as torchbearers — marked the start of the two-week competition.
From thrilling performances led by international superstars such as Lady Gaga, Celine Dion and Aya Nakamura to riveting artistic tributes to French culture and values, the 2024 Olympic Games launched with unprecedented levels of pizzazz.
Keep reading to see Advertising signHighlights from the Opening Ceremony, in order of appearance, below.
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Lady Gaga delivers
After days of rumors that she would perform at the ceremony, Mother Monster showed up – and she did. The superstar — at first hidden by fluffy pink pom poms — teased her presence by doing a sassy dance with only her legs showing. After the props were finished to show Gaga in all her glory, she dropped into a pristine, exquisitely choreographed number on a set of golden stairs, singing Zizi Jeanmaire's “Mon Truc en Plumes” entirely in French.
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Synchronicity
During the “Synchronicité” section, members of an orchestra played a wonderful number while standing in the windows of a Parisian building. Dancers in metallic costumes splashed and danced their way along the Seine, while footage showed how the gold, silver and bronze medals are plated, while others suspended in the air, tied to a tall structure, paid tribute to the craftsmen and builders who made the Games loudly.
Although Gaga's performance was difficult to follow, the dozens of performers used in this segment were a wonderful display of unity and cohesion.
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Olympics Go Metal
Go ahead, Olympic medals — here comes Olympiacos metal. The “Liberté” part of the opening ceremony began with a tribute to the French Revolution through a short performance Les Misérables“Do you hear the people singing?” from the Théâtre du Chatelet, followed by opera singer Marina Viotti and heavy metal band Gojira rocking the crowds with a fiery showcase of 'Ah, ça ira', a famous French revolutionary song, in front of flames and dozens of Marie Antoinettes holding their own decapitated heads. The whole thing was as tough as the Olympics themselves.
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Aya Nakamura won the gold
French musician Aya Nakamura won a gold medal during her performance in the 'Egalité' section, appearing in a glittering feather dress alongside a troupe of dancers and the orchestra of the French Republic Guard. The singer nailed her track 'Pookie, Djadja', as well as Charles Aznavour's 'For Me Formidable' and 'La Bohème' while using the Pont des Arts – a bridge connecting the Institut de France to the Louvre Museum – as runway.
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La Marseillaise
Mezzo soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel delivered a stunning operatic rendition of the French national anthem, or La Marseillaise, while standing on the roof of the Grand-Palais. She nailed every note of a performance of the piece revamped by composer Victor le Masne for the event while dressed in a dress inspired by Dior's French flag, while the country's flag was officially unveiled at the ceremony.
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Walk, Walk, Fashion, Baby
France took a moment to show off one of the things it does best – fashion – in a runway show DJ'd by French producer Barbara Butch that went down as the athletes paraded nearby. Young designers from the country showed their work on various models, one of whom was Italian Paralympic fencer Bebe Vio, while dancers and drag performers such as Nicky Doll – presenter Drag Race France — brought the party from both sides of the aisle. Wild.
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The Eiffel Tower shimmers
An emotional climax came after the procession ended, all the boats gathered at the base of the Eiffel Tower. Some of the athletes looked thoughtful as they reached the finish, while groups of American competitors — after being led across the river by flag bearers Lebron James and Coco Gauff — cheered “USA! USA!” while watching the landmark shimmer with flashing lights, adorned with the Olympic rings.
Later, just before the cauldron was lit, the tower wowed the audience by putting on a colorful light show, with lasers beaming into the city around it.
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I imagine
Symbolizing the unity achieved by the nations of the world each Olympic Games, pianist Sofian Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet performed a delicate rendition of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's “Imagine” while on a raft on the Seine. Any danger of the musicians falling from the rain that persisted into the evening was neutralized by the fact that their piano was on fire the whole time.
“We stand and call for peace,” read a message on the screen after the final notes.
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The lighting of the torch
Finally, it's time to light the cauldron. Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Carl Lewisand and Nadia Comaneci took turns carrying the Olympic torch as they cruised down the Seine in a small boat as a sign language interpreter theatrically interpreted an EDM track for the athletes waiting behind the Eiffel Tower.
Tennis legend Amélie Mauresmo took charge of the flame once the boat docked near the Louvre, followed by a line-up of other French athletes ending with Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec jointly lighting the balloon boat, which rose to the air upon receipt. the fire, in the Tuileries garden.
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Celine is back
Finally, Celine Dion made her glorious, long-awaited return to the world stage, sounding better than ever with a triumphant rendition of Edith Piaf's “Hymne a L'amour” in French while embedded in the Eiffel Tower, dripping with sparkling lights . . The stunning ballad made the perfect finale to the ceremony, moving the NBC commentators to tears.
It was her first time singing live since she halted her 2022 performance schedule after being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a neurological disorder that affects a person's muscles – not that you'd ever guess from her gorgeous, pitch-perfect delivery Dion. Well done.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/2024-olympics-opening-ceremony-best-moments/
