2004 Olympics Opening Ceremony in Paris features spectacular river show

Paris launched the 2024 Olympics with a spectacular River Seine ceremony, featuring athlete parades, artistic performances, and celebrity appearances. Despite rain and logistical challenges, the event showcased French culture and Olympic spirit, setting the stage for the Games.

The Paris 2024 Olympics opened on Friday with a breathtaking opening ceremony that was held by the river Seine unlike in the previous Olympic Games where they were opened in a stadium. Despite the rain this show attracted the viewers and gave them a colorful impression of French culture, history and Olympics.

Some 6,800 competitors from 205 delegations paraded in boats and barges along the Seine passing by the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, etc. The parade was punctuated with artistic displays by 2000 musicians, dancers, and other performers who danced to ballet to heavy metal.

Other features that included performances by stars from other countries also helped to make the performance thrilling. Lady Gaga sang and danced in her cabaret way, and Celine Dion sang her first song, ‘L’Hymne a l’amour,’ in tribute to Edith Piaf with such passion that everyone could feel her emotion.

This was followed by maiden lighting of the cauldron by Teddy Riner, the French judo champion and Marie-Jose Perec the sprinter who lit a hot air balloon shaped cauldron that was later hoisted high into the air in the city.

The president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, also spoke to the athletes, urging them to remember that they represent a unified world that is “divided by wars and conflicts. ”

There were some issues with the event, such as the arson attacks on the French train network that happened earlier in the day and the rain that changes some plans of the event. Nevertheless, considering these challenges, the organizers managed to create an unforgettable ceremony.

There are expected to be more than 10,500 athletes in competition across 32 sports and the games will be until the 11th of August. The Games proper get under way this Saturday with 14 golds at stake across the shooting, diving and swimming programme.

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With Paris getting the opportunity to host summer Olympics for the third time and for the first time in one hundred years, the city plans to display that it is ready to deliver a sustainable and innovative Olympic Games while promoting the Olympic spirit of unity and peace.