The 2024 Summer Olympics, which will last until August 11, opened with a grand ceremony in Paris.
It was remembered for the performance of Lady Gaga and Celine Dion, a performance with a mention of the French Revolution and the beheaded Marie Antoinette, a reference to the ménage à trois, as well as the actual parade of participants on boats and the lighting of the flame.
Opening of the 2024 Olympics: how the ceremony went
It was cloudy in Paris during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics, and then it started to rain. Traditionally, Greece led the parade of teams, paying tribute to the origins of the sporting competition.
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The procession itself took place on the Seine River, and boats with teams followed a 6 km distance. During the parade, the first to perform was the American singer, winner of Grammy and Oscar awards Lady Gaga. She performed the iconic French song Mon truc en plumes Zizi Jeanmaire — by the French singer who gained her fame in the 1950s.
Photo: Getty Images
The ceremony's creators later made a reference to a bloody page in French history with a spectacular show, combining the theme of the historical novel Les Miserables and a heavy metal performance by the French band Gojira.
Photo: Getty Images
The word Liberté, flashed across the screen and then a beheaded Marie Antoinette appeared, after which the performance of ~60 began ~strong>Gojirafrom the windows of the Conciergerie —, the former royal castle and prison of Paris. Their performance was accompanied by opera singer Marina Viotti, who sang the revolutionary song Ah! Ca ira.
This was followed by a passionate performance of the French opera Carmen by Georges Bizet, interpreted by Viotti.
During the ceremony, the organizers also made a striking video reference to the ménage à trois — it is a term used to describe a family bond where three people are in a polyamorous romantic or sexual relationship with each other and often live together.
Throughout the ceremony, a faceless figure ran through the streets of Paris carrying a torch. It is unknown who exactly was behind the mask, but towards the end of the ceremony, the mysterious figure did a somersault while holding the Olympic torch.
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The ceremony broadcast even showed minions. In the animated video, they worked hard under the Seine to keep the Olympic ceremony going.
Pianist Sophiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armand performed John Lennon and Yoko Ono's song Imagine — while on the Seine with a piano. After the song ended, the screens showed the inscription in English: We all stand and call for peace.
The Ukrainian team was represented at the opening of the 2024 Olympics by 58 members of the delegation. Among them are flag bearers Mikhail Romanchuk and Elina Svitolina.A total of 140 Ukrainian athletes will compete in 23 different sports at the Games in Paris.
Photo: NOC
Since Paris is famous as one of the world's fashion capitals, this also did not go unnoticed by the organizers of the ceremony. During the show in Paris, a fashion show was held — nine young French designers showed clothes.
At the end of the ceremony, the Olympic flag was raised over the Trocadero in central Paris. It was carried along the bus by a rider — first on the Senoi horse structure, and then on the real horse. During the procession, volunteers with flags of all participating countries followed the rider, creating a real procession.
The ceremony ended with a performance by singer Celine Dion, who performed the song L’Hymne À L’Amour by the French pop legend Edith Piaf.
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As for the Olympic torch relay, it ended with the lighting of the flame of the cauldron torch by French Olympians Teddy Riner and Marie-Josée Perec. The flame was lit after French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open and the two French flag bearers took the Olympic oath.
The flame will burn in it for the next two weeks, as long as the 2024 Olympic Games continue. The torch was passed on by legendary athletes Zinedine Zidane, Rafael Nadal (who carried the torch on a boat along the Seine), Serena Williams (who rode next to Nadal), Carl Lewis, Tony Parker and dozens of French Olympians.
