Floriane Issert, a Gendarmerie non-commissioned officer of the National Gendarmerie, rides on a horse while leading volunteers carrying flags of Olympic teams on the Iena Bridge in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
It was the first ever time in the history of the Summer Olympics that the initiation ceremony was held outside the confines of the stadium as the French organisers opted for a parade along the scenic river Seine as national contingents waved at their adoring fans from boats in a picturesque piece of innovation.
The 33rd edition of the Summer Olympics was officially flagged off on Friday in the French capital city of Paris in a star-studded affair including the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and pop stars such as Lady Gaga, and Aya Nakamura before IOC President Thomas Bach and Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet addressed the crowd and declared the games open.
It was the first ever time in the history of the Summer Olympics that the initiation ceremony was held outside the confines of the stadium as the French organisers opted for a parade along the scenic river Seine as national contingents waved at their adoring fans from boats in a picturesque piece of innovation.
The ceremony was designed as a boat ride beginning at the Austerlitz Bridge and culminating near the Trocadero, which harbours the iconic Eiffel Tower.
The French did not shy away from innovation as they utilised advanced technology to design a high-concept featuring an enigmatic torchbearer, who guided the viewers through the narrative of the Olympics. The show went on despite light showers on the evening in the capital city.
The video in the build-up to the event featured French star and World Cup winner Zidane, which the organisers managed to carry on to the tail of the show as the starman was spotted handing over the torch to Nadal before the King of Clay Court Tennis ferried the flame across the Seine, accompanied by Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci and Williams, for torchbearers to light up the cauldron, which was attached to a hot-air balloon.
The French tried conveying an interesting tale encompassing the ethos the European nation held close with visual demonstrations of the culture of the country.
The torchbearer mounted a mechanical horse to cross the body of water before leading the nation’s flagbearers to the podium set to the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.
Indian Table Tennis stalwart Sharath Kamal and ace shuttler PV Sindhu served as the flagbearers for the national tri-colour as the 117-stong Indian contingent displayed a confident front.
All medals up for grabs at the latest instalment of the quadrennial spectacle carry a piece of history, literally, as the makers have ensured to include a piece of the historic monument in every accolade irrespective of the colour.
Stay updated with the latest from Paris Olympics 2024. Explore Paris Olympics 2024 events today. Check the updated list of medal tally for Paris Olympics 2024. Check Paris Olympics 2024 event results.
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