Paris Olympics 2024: Takeaways From The Opening Ceremony, From Surprises To Performances

The Paris Olympics officially began on Friday on the River Seine, with athletes from 206 nations sailing through the city. This marks the first time in the summer event’s history that athletes have entered the Olympics via a river. The Indian contingent was led by PV Sindhu and Sharath Kamal.

This is the first time the ceremony has not been held inside a stadium. Instead, the city’s iconic landmarks provided a stunning backdrop for the parade of nations, with the athletes traveling on boats along a six-kilometer route through Paris from the Pont d’Austerlitz to the Trocadero.

The Olympic Flame

Four Olympic legends — Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, U.S. tennis player Serena Williams, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci, and U.S. track and field star Carl Lewis — carried the Olympic flame to its final destination on a French speedboat that looked straight out of a “James Bond” film.

Greece Makes History

Greece, with flag bearer Giannis Antetokounmpo, led the procession, followed by the Refugee Olympic Team. Antetokounmpo became the first Black Olympic flagbearer for Greece, calling it a “huge honor.”

France, as the host nation, was the final country represented in the parade, preceded by the hosts of the next two Summer Games: Australia (2032) and the United States (2028). The other countries were ordered alphabetically in French.

Opening Ceremony Performances

It was a guarded secret, even as she walked down the golden staircase covered by pink feathers held by dancers, but Lady Gaga emerged to sing the first notes of the opening ceremony. (In French, of course.)

There were numerous performances throughout the four-and-a-half-hour affair, including a dance sequence from France’s world-renowned Moulin Rouge and a head-banging performance that combined heavy metal band Gojira with headless Marie Antoinettes, pyrotechnics, and traditional opera singers.

They saved the best for last. Celine Dion, who is battling stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes muscle spasms and affects her vocal cords, performed a powerful ballad from the Eiffel Tower after the Olympic Cauldron was officially lit.

Dion performed at the opening ceremony nearly 30 years ago at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Underwater Show of Minions

The waters of the River Seine have been a point of contention leading up to the Paris Games, but viewers got a peek at what’s under the water during the opening ceremony:  Minions.

The camera playfully panned underwater to show a submarine full of Minions, stars of the “Despicable Me” franchise, practicing for various Olympic sports, including gymnastics, weightlifting, archery, volleyball, and track and field. They even stole the Mona Lisa.

It didn’t go so well for the Minions. An errant arrow pierced a window and sank their submarine.

Team India

Two-time Olympic medallist shuttler PV Sindhu and five-time Olympian Sharath Kamal were India’s flag-bearers at the marquee opening ceremony, leading the 117-athlete strong contingent for the Games. However, India did kickstart the Olympics campaign a day before the opening ceremony with archery ranking rounds, where both men’s and women’s teams qualified for the quarter-finals.

In the previous edition of the Games, India finished with its best-ever medal tally of 7, which included javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s coveted gold medal. Expectations, hence, will be high from the Indian contingent to better the previous mark, with medal contenders like Neeraj (athletics), Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty (badminton), Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain (boxing), Vinesh Phogat (wrestling), and the Indian men’s hockey team, among others, aiming to put their best foot forward.

France Did Stand On Its Promises

French President Emmanuel Macron assured attendees that the event would be one of the most memorable opening ceremonies ever witnessed. The ceremony was a vibrant celebration, reflecting France’s ambitious vision for the Games and showcasing its unique cultural flair. The lineup of performers was kept a secret, but speculation pointed to major stars such as US pop sensation Lady Gaga and French-Malian artist Aya Nakamura, the most listened-to French-speaking musician worldwide.

However, this bold approach came with risks. France remained on high alert for potential terrorism threats, as the decision to host the ceremony along the Seine prompted concerns about security and safety. On Friday, France’s rail network SNCF was hit with widespread acts of vandalism, including arson attacks. Many trains to and from Paris have since been either canceled or diverted.