As the 2024 France Olympics began on Friday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) made a big statement with a pompous opening ceremony.
For the first time in Summer Games history, the opening ceremony was not held in a stadium.
Instead, the more than 200 national delegations sailed across the Seine through the center of Paris, passing sights such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Musée d’Orsay.
The parade of athletes started at 7:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. Nigerian time) at the Pont d’Austerlitz and ended its six-kilometer route at the Trocadéro.
This is right next to the Eiffel Tower, where the remaining elements of Olympic protocol and final shows took place, including the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
The festivities for the opening ceremony were adorned with music and dance performances as well as light shows, with famous multiple Grammy award winner Céline Dion performing with great energy.
About 400 dancers and 3,000 artists performed during the show on the bridges over the Seine.
The organizers aimed at presenting French cultural heritage in 12 different scenes.
Skate and BMX stars also put up a tantalizing show.
Céline Dion will be performing with pop icon Lady Gaga.
Dion's performance at the opening ceremony was a special and emotional moment for her and her fans.
Those among the 300,000 lucky people who were able to get a ticket followed the opening ceremony on the banks of the Seine.
In addition, 80 giant screens and strategically placed speakers also allowed fans to enjoy the magical atmosphere of the show throughout the French capital.
Around 120 heads of state and government, as well as representatives, attended the opening ceremony, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US First Lady Jill Biden.
The Games were formally opened by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Security played a major role at the Olympic Games in France as about 45,000 security personnel were on duty for the opening ceremony.
The airspace within a 150-kilometer radius of Paris was closed for the evening, while the areas of the Seine along which the parade took place were closed to car traffic.
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