For the first time in Olympic history, the Opening Ceremony ventured beyond the stadium, transforming the heart of Paris into a breathtaking stage for a global celebration. Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the Seine River, witnessing an unprecedented spectacle that redefined the very essence of an Olympic welcome. This Parisian extravaganza, directed by the visionary Thomas Jolly, unfolded across iconic landmarks and the shimmering waters of the Seine, offering a 360-degree immersive experience. Spectators were captivated from the quays to the bridges, even discovering surprises beneath the river’s surface. True to its promise, the ceremony seamlessly blended artistic performances, the athletes’ parade, and formal protocols into a harmonious whole. A mysterious, masked torchbearer guided the world through this remarkable journey along the Seine, setting the stage for the Games to come.
Before the athletes turned their focus to the pursuit of Olympic glory, 6,800 of them were treated to this groundbreaking Opening Ceremony, brimming with excitement, humor, and daring creativity. The memories of this historic evening will undoubtedly stay with them long after the Games conclude.
A Humorous Handover: From Stade de France to the Seine
The evening commenced with a touch of French humor, as comedian Jamel Debbouze playfully misled the audience into believing the ceremony would begin in an empty Stade de France. Carrying the Olympic Flame, he comically assumed he was launching the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with grand fanfare, only to be hilariously corrected by football legend Zinédine Zidane.
Zidane, a national icon who famously led France to victory in the 1998 World Cup final at the very same Saint-Denis stadium, emerged as the savior of the opening ceremony. Taking the torch from Debbouze, he redirected the Flame and the entire ceremony from the stadium to the banks of the Seine, setting the stage for the river spectacle.
Moments later, in a gesture of honoring athletic achievement, the Olympic medals themselves were presented by two of the most decorated Olympians of all time: Michael Phelps, the world’s most decorated Olympian, and Martin Fourcade, France’s most decorated Olympian. These two legends, who have amassed countless medals throughout their careers, unveiled the gold, silver, and bronze medals, each uniquely embedded with a piece of the Eiffel Tower.
The Water Curtain Rises: Athletes Parade on the Seine
In keeping with tradition, the Greek delegation led the athletes’ parade, but with a distinctly Parisian flair. A dramatic water curtain parted under the Austerlitz Bridge, revealing the first boat carrying the Greek athletes as they made their grand entrance onto the Seine.
Alt text: Greek athletes waving from a boat as they begin the parade on the Seine River during the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Adorning the bridge was a beautiful fresco celebrating the reunion of the Olympic Games and Paris, featuring the Olympic motto “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” alongside Paris’s motto, “Fluctuat Nec Mergitur” (Tossed by the waves, but never sunk).
Amidst a stunning ballet of water displays, athletes embarked on their boats for a 6-kilometer parade, a distance equivalent to 15 athletics tracks laid end-to-end. The athletes became both the privileged audience and the central figures of this 12-act show, receiving thunderous ovations from the public who gathered to celebrate these stars of the Games. “Enchanté!” Paris welcomed them with open arms.
Lady Gaga Channels French Music Hall Glamour
The artistic segment of the Opening Ceremony commenced in Place Barye with a captivating performance by Lady Gaga, paying homage to the iconic French music hall tradition. From a majestic staircase reminiscent of the Grand Palais’s nave, Lady Gaga delivered a powerful rendition of “Mon truc en plume” by Zizi Jeanmaire, a legendary figure of French revue.
Alt text: Lady Gaga performing “Mon truc en plume” on a grand staircase in Place Barye during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, celebrating French music hall tradition.
Chosen for her exceptional talent, multifaceted artistry, and deep appreciation for Parisian culture, Lady Gaga’s performance underscored the enduring global influence of French culture and the connection between two cultural icons from different eras. With her unique style, she demonstrated how French culture has inspired and been reimagined around the world.
Aya Nakamura and the Republican Guard: A Cultural Fusion
On the Pont des Arts, aptly named for its artistic significance, director Thomas Jolly masterfully highlighted the harmony between different eras and cultures, bridging both classical and contemporary styles. This was epitomized by a remarkable collaboration between Aya Nakamura and the Republican Guard. In a symbolic theatrical moment, the doors of the Institut de France opened to reveal Aya Nakamura, the most globally streamed French-speaking artist.
Alt text: Aya Nakamura performing with the Republican Guard on the Pont des Arts, showcasing a fusion of contemporary and classical French culture at the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Accompanied by the French Army Choir, Aya Nakamura performed her contemporary hits “Pookie” and “Djadja,” alongside timeless classics by Charles Aznavour, “For me formidable” and “La bohème.” This performance was a vibrant celebration of the richness and modernity of the French language.
To the rhythm of the Republican Guard’s music, a bridge was built connecting generations, musical genres, and languages, showcasing the unifying power of art and culture.
“La Marseillaise” Reimagined at the Grand Palais
At the Grand Palais, a traditionally formal moment was transformed into a spectacular visual and auditory experience. On the building’s rooftop, opera singer Axelle Saint-Cirel, adorned in a striking bleu-blanc-rouge dress with an impressive 6-meter train, appeared. To the powerful notes of Victor Le Masne’s reorchestrated version of “La Marseillaise,” the French national anthem, the spectators gathered along the Seine joined in a spine-tingling chorus.
Alt text: Opera singer Axelle Saint-Cirel performing “La Marseillaise” on the rooftop of the Grand Palais during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, with French flag colors.
Simultaneously, near the National Assembly, gilded statues of iconic women from French history emerged from the Seine: Olympe de Gouges, Alice Milliat, Gisèle Halimi, Simone de Beauvoir, Paulette Nardal, Jeanne Barret, Louise Michel, Christine de Pizan, Alice Guy, and Simone Veil. Through these figures and their prominent role in the ceremony, Thomas Jolly paid tribute to the significant contributions of women throughout French history.
A Grand Banquet for Team France
The Debilly Footbridge, a quintessential Parisian bridge, was transformed into a grand banquet venue for the evening. The table became a catwalk, showcasing an XXL fashion show highlighting fashion and emerging French designers. The Debilly footbridge then morphed into a massive dance floor for an electrifying electronic set by DJ Barbara Butch.
Alt text: The Debilly Footbridge transformed into a banquet and fashion show venue during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, celebrating French fashion and design.
The final 69 delegations received a jubilant welcome to this immense celebration and energetic atmosphere. As the parade neared its end, the French team’s boat made a triumphant entrance, cheered on by a dedicated fan zone of nearly 2,300 people. The beaming French athletes caught a glimpse of the unwavering support that awaited them – the true spirit of hosting the Games.
Olympic Spirit Gallops Down the Seine
Thomas Jolly subverted the traditional protocol of the Opening Ceremony, turning it into an integral part of the spectacle. A rider, cloaked in a cape emblazoned with the Olympic rings, galloped down the Seine on a metallic horse, traversing the ceremony’s course. As the Olympic flag passed by, the spirit of Olympism, characterized by friendship and solidarity, permeated the global audience.
Alt text: A rider on a metallic horse carrying the Olympic flag down the Seine River during the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony, symbolizing Olympic spirit.
Passing beneath the Parisian bridges, the rider unfurled dove wings, a symbolic echo of the dove releases that historically represented the ideal of peace among nations during the Olympic Truce.
The rider concluded their journey at the Trocadéro, presenting the Olympic flag for a majestic entrance before it was raised. Alongside it, flags of the 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were carried by dedicated Games Volunteers, representing the global unity of the Olympic movement.
Tony Estanguet Declares France’s Love for the Games
On a podium shaped like the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadéro, Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, eloquently articulated the deep-seated love affair between France and the Games. Recalling the inception of the modern Olympic Games 130 years prior, when Pierre de Coubertin proposed their revival, he emphasized how this love story has grown with the Games in Paris, Chamonix, Grenoble, and Albertville. On Friday, July 26, 2024, after a century of anticipation, he underscored the “great honor” and “huge responsibility” of hosting the Games once more.
Welcoming the world to Paris and France, Estanguet highlighted the city’s profound commitment to the next two weeks, offering athletes “everything that is most precious to us.” He noted, “you will find a piece of the Eiffel tower at the heart of each medal,” and “the richest treasures of our national heritage will be the stages on which we compete.”
He emphasized that the Games remind France of its capacity to “come together in moments that count” and to “achieve unprecedented feats, such as hosting this Opening Ceremony in the city, a first in Olympic Games history.”
After expressing gratitude to those who helped realize the Paris 2024 Games dream, particularly Bernard Lapasset, Estanguet, a three-time Olympic champion himself, addressed the athletes directly: “For the next 16 days, you will embody the best version of humanity. You’ll remind us that the emotions of sport form a universal language we all share.”
He extended a special message to French athletes, acknowledging their ability to unite and inspire the entire nation. “With each of your victories, France will unite; with each of your victories, France will demonstrate its collective pride.”
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, and Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, then took to the lectern, with Macron officially declaring the Olympic and Paralympic Games open.
Sporting Legends Ignite the Relay
Having guided the audience through this extraordinary Opening Ceremony, the masked torchbearer arrived at the Trocadéro for the symbolic return of sport. Zinédine Zidane reappeared to receive the Torch and pass it to Rafael Nadal, the “most Parisian of international athletes” with his 14 Roland Garros victories. The two-time Olympic champion ran along the Seine alongside other sporting icons: Nadia Comaneci, a five-time Olympic champion and the first gymnast to achieve a perfect 10 at the Olympics; Carl Lewis, considered by many to be the greatest athlete with 9 Olympic athletics titles; and Serena Williams, a women’s sports icon and the most successful Grand Slam champion. Together, they returned to the quays of the Seine to launch the ceremony’s grand finale.
Alt text: Rafael Nadal, Nadia Comaneci, Carl Lewis, and Serena Williams participate in the torch relay during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, representing international sporting excellence.
Arriving at the Jardin des Tuileries in the Louvre, these four international legends joined twenty French sporting legends, totaling twenty-four champions, a number significant to the 2024 Games.
Continuing this relay of champions, Serena Williams passed the Torch to Amélie Mauresmo, the first and only French tennis player of the Open era to reach world number 1. Then, Tony Parker, a four-time NBA champion who paved the way for a generation of French basketball players, took his turn.
The Torch then went to Marie-Amélie Le Fur, President of the French Paralympic and Sports Committee and a three-time Paralympic champion, followed by the future flag bearers of the French Paralympic delegation, Nantenin Keïta and Alexis Hanquinquant, bridging the Olympic and Paralympic movements.
Michaël Guigou and Allison Pineau, Olympic champions in handball, Jean-François Lamour, a fencing legend, track cyclists Félicia Ballanger and Florian Rousseau, gymnast Emilie Le Pennec, judokas David Douillet and Clarisse Agbegnenou, swimmers Alain Bernard and Laure Manaudou, pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, fencer Laura Flessel, and the centenarian cycling champion Charles Coste completed this exceptional relay of French sporting heroes.
This final team relay, a Paris 2024 innovation that characterized the entire Olympic Torch Relay, culminated in a procession of extraordinary champions, both international and French, embodying the pinnacle of athletic achievement.
Eiffel Tower Illuminates Coubertin’s Rings
As the final torchbearers progressed towards the Cauldron, the Opening Ceremony continued to amaze at the Trocadéro. In an unprecedented moment, the Eiffel Tower’s beacon ceased its sweeping beams across the Parisian sky and stood still. Previously concealed beneath the Eiffel Tower-shaped stage in the Place du Trocadéro, Pierre de Coubertin’s original 1913 design of the Olympic rings was revealed under the projected lights of the Iron Lady. For the founder of the modern Olympic Games, these five interlaced rings symbolized “the five continents united by Olympism and the colors of all nations.”
Alt text: The Eiffel Tower illuminated with Pierre de Coubertin’s original Olympic rings design during the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony, symbolizing global unity.
Perec and Riner Light the Flying Cauldron
The lighting of the cauldron was among the most anticipated moments of the Opening Ceremony. Situated in the heart of Paris, in the Tuileries gardens of the Louvre, the Paris 2024 Cauldron is positioned within one of the city’s most stunning vistas, aligned with the Palais du Louvre and its Pyramid, the Obelisk of Place de la Concorde, and the Champs-Elysées culminating in the Arc de Triomphe and the Paralympic Agitos.
Following the final relay, Marie-José Perec and Teddy Riner stepped forward above the garden’s grand fountain to ignite this unique and groundbreaking Cauldron. Created by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, a giant ring of fire was crowned by a large hot air balloon, creating an unforgettable image: once lit and released, the Cauldron ascended into the Parisian sky. With this gesture, Riner officially commenced the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and concluded the Olympic Torch Relay.
Alt text: Marie-José Perec and Teddy Riner lighting the flying Olympic Cauldron in the Tuileries Garden during the Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony, a symbol of innovation and spectacle.
This flying, puncture-proof Cauldron broke from tradition. Through remarkable technological innovation, the Olympic Flame shines with electricity, a luminous haze illuminated by a beam of light. Soaring in the skies of Paris each night throughout the Games, the Cauldron will descend daily for public viewing, allowing everyone to experience the Olympic Flame up close with free tickets starting from July 27.
Céline Dion’s Triumphant Eiffel Tower Encore
Her return to the stage was globally anticipated, and it was nothing short of magnificent. When Céline Dion appeared on the balcony of the Eiffel Tower to conclude this extraordinary evening, cheers erupted from the quays of the Seine and the Trocadéro.
Alt text: Céline Dion performing from the Eiffel Tower balcony during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony finale, a triumphant return and emotional tribute.
Céline Dion’s rendition of “L’Hymne à l’amour,” her tribute to Edith Piaf’s masterpiece, brought Paris to its feet. This compelling artistic choice celebrated the power and emotion of a timeless classic, the exceptional legacy of two of the greatest singers of all time, and ultimately, Paris itself, and all the beauty that France represents.
In this sublime and emotionally charged finale, Céline Dion brought this most remarkable of opening ceremonies to a close, creating another timeless moment for the world to cherish. Perhaps, in a century, this night will still be celebrated. But for now, it was time for the sport and the athletes to take center stage. Let the Games begin.
