Emmanuel Macron, President of France, has officially opened the Paris 2024 Olympics. A hot air balloon floating over the Paris sky carries the Olympic flame, the final surprise of the Paris 2024 ceremony. Former speed champion Marie-Jo Pérec and judoka Teddy Riner were the last torchbearers to light the Olympic flame of Paris 2024. The flame, mounted on the balloon of the French capital, flew over the skies of Paris in the rain.
White, red, and blue fireworks illuminated the Austerlitz bridge, where the Paris Olympics opening ceremony began. The Olympic teams paraded, with Greece traditionally leading the way followed by the Refugee Team, all dressed in white and welcomed with applause.
Gianmarco Tamberi proudly carried the Italian flag at the Paris Games opening ceremony and accidentally lost his wedding ring in the Seine. When the Italian team noticed, they teased Gimbo, as he is affectionately known, joking that if he loses one gold, he’ll find another. The water polo players added that they would vouch for him with his wife if needed.
PARIS 2024 Italy Team on the Seine
The Italy boat sails on the Seine, with Gianmarco Tamberi and Arianna Errigo waving the tricolor from the boat’s rooftop. The decision to have the athlete delegations march on ‘bateaux mouches’ partially obscures the flag bearers, but the Italian team overcame this obstacle by standing taller than the rest. President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, was present at Trocadero to witness the ceremony, braving the constant rain under a poncho. He then departed.
President Sergio Mattarella accompanied by his daughter Laura
The Israeli delegation faced some boos from spectators between Pont d’Austerlitz and Pont de Sully during the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony on the Seine. The boos were quickly drowned out by cheers of “Italia! Italia!” from the Italian delegation. Alongside Italy and Israel on the boat, there were Iceland and Jamaica.
Loud applause from the audience lined along the Seine welcomed the Palestinian delegation at the bow of their boat, soaked flags and all, but filled with enthusiasm. Eight athletes from Palestine will compete in six different disciplines.
The boat with the Greece team
Paralympic champion Bebe Vio also graced the Paris 2024 opening ceremony, the only Italian featured aside from the athletes in the parade. The glittering dress-wearing champion paraded on the chapter dedicated to ‘Festivités,’ the celebrations. French organizers specifically invited Bebe Vio for her commitment to inclusivity.
American star Lady Gaga made a surprise appearance at the Paris 2024 Games opening ceremony to the applause of the audience. Instead of singing Edith Piaf’s “La vie en rose,” she performed a hit from French music hall, “Mon truc en plumes,” by Zizi Jeanmaire.
Emmanuel Macron and Thomas Bach
A roar greeted the appearance of the French athletes’ boat, a massive vessel with numerous sportsmen led by standard bearers Florent Manaudou, swimmer, and Mélina Robert-Michon, discus thrower. Amidst fanfare, the Eiffel Tower also lit up, Paris twinkling with lights to the tune of Michel Polnareff’s “Lettre à la France.” The boat had to pause multiple times for the athletes to be applauded. Every bridge they passed under sparkled, Emmanuel Macron cheering and smiling. For the entire 6-kilometer route, “The Final Countdown” by Europe and “Freed from desire” by Gala echoed. The party along the Seine had just begun and was set to last all night.
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