Welcome to our Saturday coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games, which officially kicked off in Paris on Friday evening with a dazzling opening ceremony.
In case you missed it, here are some key takeaways from the presentation:
Paris reviews: The City of Light, its culture and its people were on full display on Friday. Riverboats on the Seine offered stunning views of Paris, passing historic landmarks on their way to the end of the Parade of Nations at the Trocadéro, with the Eiffel Tower adorned with the Olympic rings as a backdrop. The lights illuminated the iconic landmark in all its glory, serving as a real beacon on what could have been a gloomy night.
It was a powerful preview of how the rest of the Games will look, with the Olympics using some of the city’s most famous landmarks as backdrops for the competition.
Rain tries to steal the show: The gray skies of Paris opened up about 30 minutes into the three-and-a-half-hour show.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the banks of the Seine in ponchos and raincoats, and a canopy of umbrellas appeared at the first hint of rain. But after about an hour of downpours, some of the exposed spectators ran to hospitality tents and other nearby covered areas. Cameras captured the occasional thinning of the crowd along the riverbank.
But the Olympic spirit did not wither in the rain. The athletes seemed so excited that they waved to the crowd, and it seemed as if France was truly embracing the Games.
Celine Dion is back: After a spectacular light show on the Eiffel Tower, one of the most famous singers of the past few decades has returned to singing after four years. Celine Dion had been suffering from stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition.
Dion closed the show with a stunning performance of “L’Hymne à l’amour.” Dressed in a stunning white gown, Dion’s performance sent shivers down her spine as she relived the past and her incredible voice echoed along the Seine.
Party in Paris on Friday night: There was a long dance break in the middle of the show, which embodied the mood that had prevailed throughout: it was party time in the French capital.
Lots of techno and Europop music accompanied the colorful dancers who wore all sorts of dance costumes – including a singer painted all blue singing on a bed of flowers.
The opening ceremony included performances by heavy metal band Gojira, French mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cyril, and Lady Gaga, who sang a new version of “Mon truc en plumes,” originally sung by French superstar Zizi Jeanmaire.
Lighting a great torch: The torch was carried by dozens of French athletes and other famous Olympians of today and yesterday – including Zinedine Zidane, Rafael Nadal (who carried the torch on a boat on the River Seine), Serena Williams (who rode alongside Nadal), Carl Lewis and Tony Parker, and was lit by judo star Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-Josée Perec in the 400m.
When the Olympic flame exploded inside its cauldron, which was attached to a giant balloon, it began to float.
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