Opening Ceremony Entertainment Showcases Ballet, Les Misérables, Heavy Metal
The boat parade has paused to showcase performances along the Seine. They’re playing heavily with French tropes.
In one performance, a ballet dancer performed on a Parisian rooftop.
In another, a rendition of “Can You Hear The People Sing” from the musical "Les Misérables," which depicts the French Revolution, transitioned into a performance from French heavy metal band Gojira, who played amid flames and headless female mannequins in an apparent reference to Marie Antoinette. French-Swiss opera singer Marina Viotti then performed a portion of "Habanera" from "Carmen,” which was written by the French composer Georges Bizet.
In one performance, a ballet dancer performed on a Parisian rooftop.
In another, a rendition of “Can You Hear The People Sing” from the musical "Les Misérables," which depicts the French Revolution, transitioned into a performance from French heavy metal band Gojira, who played amid flames and headless female mannequins in an apparent reference to Marie Antoinette. French-Swiss opera singer Marina Viotti then performed a portion of "Habanera" from "Carmen,” which was written by the French composer Georges Bizet.
Simone Biles Not At Opening Ceremony, Mom Says
Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles is not at the opening ceremony and is instead resting up ahead of her first performance, her family said.
“The first competition is Sunday, which is the women's qualifier, and so that's, and of course she needs to rest up before that competition,” her mother, Nellie Biles, said in an interview from Paris with NBC’s Hoda Kota and Snoop Dogg.
"She is feeling really good," she added. "I spoke to her this morning and she's feeling great."
“The first competition is Sunday, which is the women's qualifier, and so that's, and of course she needs to rest up before that competition,” her mother, Nellie Biles, said in an interview from Paris with NBC’s Hoda Kota and Snoop Dogg.
"She is feeling really good," she added. "I spoke to her this morning and she's feeling great."
Delegation Boats Paused During Entertainment
No new delegations are being introduced on the Seine as video coverage breaks away for musical and dance performances, according to a blog post on the official Olympics website.
“No delegations are being introduced at this point in the ceremony. Unlike at past Games where the Opening Ceremony has been held in a stadium, this year, the Parade of Nations is being staggered throughout the duration of the ceremony,” the post read.
“No delegations are being introduced at this point in the ceremony. Unlike at past Games where the Opening Ceremony has been held in a stadium, this year, the Parade of Nations is being staggered throughout the duration of the ceremony,” the post read.
Notre Dame Restoration Highlighted During Olympics Opening Ceremonies
As the boats carrying the Olympic athletes proceed down the Seine, they’ll glide past the iconic Notre Dame cathedral, which was the site of a devastating fire in April 2019. Over the last five years, crews have worked to restore the historic site, including rebuilding the spire. The cathedral is set to reopen to the public this December.
The ceremony highlighted these efforts by showing “construction workers” dancing at the reconstruction site.
They also rang the cathedral's bells for the first time since the fire.
The ceremony highlighted these efforts by showing “construction workers” dancing at the reconstruction site.
They also rang the cathedral's bells for the first time since the fire.
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Lady Gaga Is The Opening Ceremony’s First Performer
Grammy-winning performer Lady Gaga is our first performer. She made her grand entrance walking down a set of stairs obscured by giant pink feathers and singing in French.
Where’s Team USA In This Boat Lineup?
Team USA will be the second-to-last team to appear, since the U.S. will host the next Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. France will be the final boat to appear in the lineup.
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Greece Is The First To Enter
Boats have begun going down the Seine. Per tradition, the first is Greece.
The River Seine Boat Procession Begins At The Olympics Opening Ceremony
Boats carrying athletes from 184 countries are now proceeding down the Seine.
French Soccer Star Dashes With Torch In Opening Video
Zinedine Zidane took off with the torch, running through Paris in a video launching the opening ceremony.
Zidane, popularly known as Zizou, was filmed taking the torch from French-Moroccan actor and comedian Jamel Debbouze in an empty stadium before dashing through the streets -- and over tables. He then passed it to some children from a stalled train. Trains across France have coincidentally been delayed throughout the day due to arson attacks.
Zidane, popularly known as Zizou, was filmed taking the torch from French-Moroccan actor and comedian Jamel Debbouze in an empty stadium before dashing through the streets -- and over tables. He then passed it to some children from a stalled train. Trains across France have coincidentally been delayed throughout the day due to arson attacks.
The Olympics Opening Ceremony Has Begun
And we’re off! The ceremony should last between three and four hours.
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What To Look Forward To With The Lighting Of The Olympic Cauldron
We still don’t know who will light the Olympic Cauldron – one of the games’ highest honors – but some have speculated it could be Zinedine Zidane, the French soccer star, or Marie-José Pérec, a French track and field star. Non-athlete possibilities include French President Emmanuel Macron or survivors of the 2015 terrorist attack in Paris.
There is sometimes extra fanfare with the cauldron lighting. At the 1992 games in Barcelona, Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo lit it by shooting a burning arrow over it, igniting gas rising from the cauldron. At the 1994 games in Lillehammer, Stein Gruben skied down a ramp and flew through the air with the flame.
There is sometimes extra fanfare with the cauldron lighting. At the 1992 games in Barcelona, Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo lit it by shooting a burning arrow over it, igniting gas rising from the cauldron. At the 1994 games in Lillehammer, Stein Gruben skied down a ramp and flew through the air with the flame.
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Open-Air Ceremony Dampened By Constant Rain
Spectators eagerly awaiting the opening ceremony along the Seine have been taking cover under umbrellas and ponchos amid a mix of heavy and light rain throughout the day.
France’s meteorological office had warned of potential flooding in Paris ahead of the opening ceremony while predicting that that the rain will be continuous until the middle of the night.
Temperatures are meanwhile hovering around 70-degrees Fahrenheit.
France’s meteorological office had warned of potential flooding in Paris ahead of the opening ceremony while predicting that that the rain will be continuous until the middle of the night.
Temperatures are meanwhile hovering around 70-degrees Fahrenheit.
Fan Favorite Tongan Flag Bearer Spotted During Olympic Torch Relay
Tongan athlete Pita Taufatofua, a fan favorite in previous Olympics opening ceremonies, joked on Instagram that he “couldn’t bring the oil” this year because he was part of the Olympic torch relay.
He recently shared that he didn’t qualify to compete at this year’s Games, but “while not competing, the spirit of the Games called me, opportunities arose and I couldnt say no.”
The taekwondo star, who has also competed in cross-country skiing in the Winter Olympics, has been a beloved opening ceremony staple since his first oiled up, bare-chested appearance in 2016.
He recently shared that he didn’t qualify to compete at this year’s Games, but “while not competing, the spirit of the Games called me, opportunities arose and I couldnt say no.”
The taekwondo star, who has also competed in cross-country skiing in the Winter Olympics, has been a beloved opening ceremony staple since his first oiled up, bare-chested appearance in 2016.
2 German Athletes To Miss Opening Ceremony Due To Train Delays
Two German athletes in showjumping will miss the opening ceremonies due to lengthy train delays, the Associated Press reported citing German news agency dpa.
“It’s a real shame, but we would have arrived too late,” Philipp Weishaupt said of himself and Christian Kukuk. “There was no longer a chance of making it on time.”
Kukuk made his Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2020 but missed advancing to the individual final by one place. Weishaupt was set to complete in the 2012 Olympics in London but had to bow out after his horse suffered an injury, according to reports at the time.
“It’s a real shame, but we would have arrived too late,” Philipp Weishaupt said of himself and Christian Kukuk. “There was no longer a chance of making it on time.”
Kukuk made his Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2020 but missed advancing to the individual final by one place. Weishaupt was set to complete in the 2012 Olympics in London but had to bow out after his horse suffered an injury, according to reports at the time.
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The Route Of The First-Of-Its-Kind Opening Ceremonies
Today marks the first time in Olympics history that the opening ceremony will not take place inside an arena, but rather down Paris’ legendary River Seine – a path marked with some of France’s most famous landmarks.
The parade of boats will take off from Pont d'Austerlitz, a bridge near the Jardin des Plantes, the city’s botanical garden. Around 100 boats will take the athletes past several famous sites along the Seine, including the Notre Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, before finishing at Pont d'Iéna, a bridge right by the Eiffel Tower.
Le Monde, the daily French newspaper with an English edition, has an interactive map that’s worth checking out.
The parade of boats will take off from Pont d'Austerlitz, a bridge near the Jardin des Plantes, the city’s botanical garden. Around 100 boats will take the athletes past several famous sites along the Seine, including the Notre Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, before finishing at Pont d'Iéna, a bridge right by the Eiffel Tower.
Le Monde, the daily French newspaper with an English edition, has an interactive map that’s worth checking out.
Arson Attacks Snarl French Rail Networks Ahead Of Olympics Opening Ceremony
Coordinated early morning attacks on France’s high-speed rail network continue to cause transportation delays ahead of the Olympics opening ceremony, with one out of four Eurostar trains canceled through the weekend, the train service said.
Fires set in remote locations, far from the capital where the ceremony is preparing to take place, were apparently started in a bid to cut off rail routes into the city from all directions, The Associated Press reported.
There was no immediate sign that the arson attacks, which is estimated to have snarled travel for some 800,000 people across Europe, is directly linked to the Olympics, government officials said.
Fires set in remote locations, far from the capital where the ceremony is preparing to take place, were apparently started in a bid to cut off rail routes into the city from all directions, The Associated Press reported.
There was no immediate sign that the arson attacks, which is estimated to have snarled travel for some 800,000 people across Europe, is directly linked to the Olympics, government officials said.
Snoop Dogg Carries Olympic Torch In Paris, Sets Internet Ablaze With Memes
Snoop Dogg marked the start of the Paris Games by taking a stroll with a large, burning, conical item — the Olympic torch, of course.
The “Gin and Juice” rapper on Friday carried the flame in the final stretches of its journey, in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis, marking the commencement of the Olympic Games in the French capital.
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The “Gin and Juice” rapper on Friday carried the flame in the final stretches of its journey, in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis, marking the commencement of the Olympic Games in the French capital.
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Simone Biles And Teammates Give Sneak Peek At Paris Olympics Routines
Team USA’s female Olympic gymnasts appear ready to rock Paris 2024.
Simone Biles and her teammates were filmed practicing at the Bercy Arena on Thursday and they gave a sneak peek at some of the stunning and exquisite moves that may end up in their competitive routines.
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Simone Biles and her teammates were filmed practicing at the Bercy Arena on Thursday and they gave a sneak peek at some of the stunning and exquisite moves that may end up in their competitive routines.
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Opening Ceremonies Set To Begin At 1:30 ET.
Stay tuned for all the latest updates from the Olympics' opening ceremonies in Paris.