The Paris 2024 Olympic Games opened with a spectacular ceremony, marking a unique departure from tradition by being held throughout the streets of Paris rather than in a stadium. The Olympic flame, which began its journey in Olympia, Greece, was carried by approximately 10,000 torchbearers and traveled across Greece and France before arriving at the River Seine for the final leg of its journey.

The ceremony commenced with a video featuring French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane running through the streets of Paris with the Olympic Torch. As the torch floated down the River Seine, Team Greece led the Parade of Nations, followed by nearly 10,500 athletes from around the world. For the first time, the athletes traveled by boats, showcasing Paris’s landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, adorned with Olympic rings.

Lady Gaga took the stage, performing “Mon truc en plumes” by Zizi Jeanmaire, expressing her gratitude for French culture. Despite the cold, driving rain, spirits remained high among the thousands of fans lining the Seine, sheltering under umbrellas and ponchos.

A historic moment occurred when the bells of Notre Dame rang for the first time since the 2019 fire, during a performance of “Do You Hear The People Sing?” from “Les Miserables.” The ceremony also included a nod to the French revolutionary spirit with a dramatic depiction of the French Revolution, featuring heavy metal music and red streamers symbolizing blood flowing into the Seine.

French mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel sang La Marseillaise, France’s national anthem, from atop the Grand Palais. A fashion show-turned-dance break took place on a covered bridge near the Eiffel Tower, followed by a silhouetted torch bearer riding a steel horse down the Seine.

A rendition of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Imagine” by pianist Sofiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet served as a call for peace. The Olympic flag was raised above the Trocadéro in a serene moment, accompanied by the Olympic anthem.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Paris Olympic Games officially open. Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal, who has won the French Open 14 times, carried the torch with a big smile. The torch was passed between legendary athletes including Zinedine Zidane, Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, and Tony Parker. Ultimately, French Olympians Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec lit the Olympic flame in a cauldron at the Trocadéro, with a gas balloon rising into the sky in a nod to the first balloon flight in 1783.

Celine Dion made a poignant comeback, performing from the first level of the Eiffel Tower. Wearing a white gown adorned with pearls and beads, Dion sang Edith Piaf’s “L’Hymne À L’Amour,” marking her first performance since announcing her battle with stiff person syndrome.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games were inaugurated with a blend of historic symbolism, artistic performances, and a celebration of French culture, setting the stage for the upcoming competitions.