Set against the rainy backdrop of iconic French landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Seine River, thousands of athletes poured into the nation’s capital to compete for their chance at Olympic gold.
The day included musical performances, starting with Lady Gaga, who performed a cabaret-style performance, including massive pink feathers and a brief piano number.
Later, French stars Aya Nakamura and Rim’K performed.
The musical performances continued with a moving performance of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” rendered by pianist Sofiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet.
The Olympic rings were displayed on the Eiffel Tower as a light show illuminated the Paris sky.
French leaders, including the nation’s President Emmanuel Macron, officially launched the ceremony.
And for the prestigious honor of passing the Olympic torch, France broke tradition, allowing French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane to pass the torch to Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal — a symbol of France’s dedication to using the Olympic games to unite the world.
Later, Nadal left the temporary stadium by boat, where he was joined by Olympic legends Serena Williams and Carl Lewis of the United States, and Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci.
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First image: A general view inside an apartment as Parisians wait for Opening Ceremony festivities to reach them for the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games. Second image: Athlete boats travel along the River Seine as spectators shelter from the rain during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26.
First image: Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports/Reuters. Second image: Alex Pantling / Getty Images.
First image: Security patrol by boat in Paris, France, before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26. Second image: Tightrope walker Nathan Paulin performs on a high rope during the athletes parade on the River Seine near the Supreme Court during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. Third image: Smoke billows near windows as performers participate during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26. Fourth image: Actors perform during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26. Fifth image: In this aerial view taken from helicopter shows Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral as delegations boats navigate on the Seine past the Ile de la Cite Island during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26. Sixth image: Snoop Dogg carries the Olympic torch at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, France. Seventh image: Team Marshall Islands are seen on a boat on the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26. Eighth image: Athletes of Team Spain holding Spanish flags on their delegation boat during the opening ceremony. Ninth image: A spectator gestures as the Olympic rings are seen dyed into their hair prior to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26. Tenth image: Spectators cheer as Athletes of Team Great Britain pass under a bridge during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26. image: Artists performing during the Opening Ceremony of the XXXIII Olympic Games, Paris 2024 by the River Seine in Paris, France. image: Italy athletes aboard a boat in the floating parade on the river Seine during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26. image: TOPSHOT - The horsewoman walks with the Olympic flag past athletes at the Trocadero during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) image: General view as flags of participating countries are carried during the opening ceremony. image: A worker sweeps rain water at the Trocadero during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26. image: Athletes of Canada wave their flags after arriving at the Trocadero during the opening ceremony. image: Rafael Nadal holds the Olympic torch alongside Serena Williams on a boat on the river Seine ahead of lighting the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony. image: The cauldron is lit by torch bearers Marie-Jose Perec and Teddy Riner in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26. image: Athletes of France during the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26.
First image: Rebecca Blackwell / AP. Second image: Buda Mendes / Getty Images. Third image: Bernat Armangue / AP Pool. Fourth image: Wang Dongzhen / Pool Photo via AP. Fifth image: Lionel Bonaventure / Pool/Getty Images. Sixth image: Aurelien Morissard / AP. Seventh image: Lars Baron / Getty Images. Eighth image: Violeta Santos Moura / Pool via Reuters. Ninth image: Alex Broadway / Getty Images. Tenth image: Naomi Baker / Getty Images. undefined image: Richard Callis / Sports Press Photo via Reuters. undefined image: Image Photo Agency / Getty Images. undefined image: Oli Scarff / AFP via Getty Images. undefined image: Stephanie Lecocq / Pool via REUTERS. undefined image: Stephanie Lecocq / Pool/Getty Images. undefined image: Edgar Su / Reuters. undefined image: Paul Childs / Reuters. undefined image: Dolores Ochoa / AP. undefined image: Maxim Thore / Reuters.
