The 2024 Olympics in Paris commenced with a spectacular opening ceremony along the River Seine, where thousands of athletes sailed past lively performers on bridges, banks, and rooftops. This marked the first time a waterway was used instead of a stadium for the opening of the "greatest show on Earth." The nearly four-hour event culminated in French judo champion Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-Jose Perec lighting a cauldron shaped like a hot air balloon that ascended into the Parisian sky. Blue, white, and red fireworks illuminated the Tricolore above Austerlitz Bridge as 6,800 athletes from 205 delegations traveled on 85 boats and barges, passing iconic Parisian landmarks.
The ceremony featured surprise performances, including a cabaret number from US singer-songwriter Lady Gaga and an emotional return of Canadian icon Celine Dion. However, the day began with disruptions due to arson attacks on the French train network and heavy rain, which altered artistic director Thomas Jolly's plan to use the Parisian sun to "make the water sparkle." Despite the weather, athletes in rain ponchos and umbrellas enjoyed a lively journey through French history, art, and sport, narrated by 2,000 musicians, dancers, and artists.
The final two boats, carrying athletes from the US as the next hosts for Los Angeles 2028 and France, had the largest contingents, while other barges carried several delegations together. Rower Helen Glover and diver Tom Daley were Great Britain's flagbearers in Paris, which is hosting the summer Games for the third time and the first time in 100 years. International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach, in opening the 33rd summer Olympics, emphasized the unifying power of the event amid a challenging international and domestic political climate.
Over 10,500 athletes will compete in 32 sports until the Games close on August 11. Initially, plans for the river-based opening ceremony raised concerns about security and logistics. The Seine's water cleanliness was scrutinized, and transporting thousands of athletes without a rehearsal seemed ambitious. However, backed by a massive security operation involving tens of thousands of police, Paris executed the plan flawlessly. The ceremony included moments like Lady Gaga singing in French, Bangladesh's athletes being introduced, and an array of artistic performances, including ballet, cancan, opera, and famous artworks coming to life.
Segments of the ceremony highlighted rebuilding Notre Dame, French history with music from Les Miserables, and a performance by French-Malian R&B star Aya Nakamura. The ceremony concluded at the Trocadero, where the nearby Eiffel Tower lit up as the flame, carried by athletes and para-athletes including 100-year-old cyclist Charles Coste, was ultimately passed to Riner and Perec. They lit the 30-meter high hot air balloon cauldron, creating a magical scene.
Dion's powerful rendition of Edith Piaf’s L’Hymne a l’amour at the Eiffel Tower, her first performance since revealing a serious neurological condition in December 2022, added to the ceremony's emotional impact. IOC president Bach, addressing athletes, called for peace in a world "torn apart by wars and conflicts," emphasizing the solidarity of the Olympics. The ceremony included the peace anthem "Imagine," performed by Juliette Armanet on a drifting raft, reinforcing the Games' message of unity and tolerance.
The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza impacted the Games, with Russians and Belarusians banned. Only 15 Russian and 17 Belarusian athletes, competing as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), were absent from the parade. The Refugee Olympic Team and the Palestine Olympic Committee received some of the loudest cheers. Over 100 heads of state and government attended, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
On the first day of competition, 14 gold medals will be awarded, starting with shooting's mixed team air rifle. Great Britain's medal prospects include divers Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen, and cyclists in the road time trials. Highlights also feature swimmer Adam Peaty in the 100m breaststroke heats, the men's gymnastics qualification, and the men's rugby sevens final. Swimming finals include the women's 400m freestyle with Katie Ledecky, Ariarne Titmus, and Summer McIntosh. The eventing competition begins at Versailles, and tennis matches at Roland Garros feature Novak Djokovic and the men's doubles pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal. Great Britain's men will also start their hockey campaign against Spain.