Joe
Paris – The city of Paris transformed into a grand amphitheatre on Friday as the iconic Seine River served as a track for the athletes’ parade in the opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games. The event showcased France’s cultural diversity, revolutionary spirit, impeccable craftsmanship, and rich architectural heritage.
The ceremony broke tradition with a spectacular ‘Parade of Nations’ as athletes from 205 countries and a refugee team sailed down the Seine on boats. Despite heavy rain, the event proceeded with grandeur.
In a notable moment, the ceremony paid tribute to the contributions of prominent French women during the ‘sisterhood’ segment, using Hindi among six languages in the infographics.
French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Games open, signaling the start of 16 days of intense competition.
The torch relay featured sports icons Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comaneci, who journeyed by boat. Retired French tennis player Amélie Mauresmo, now the French Open director, passed the flame to French basketball legend and former NBA star Tony Parker.
The torchbearers, now a group of 18 Olympians and Paralympians, approached the cauldron. Final torchbearers Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec lit the cauldron in the Jardin des Tuileries, aligned with the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe. As the cauldron was ignited, a balloon lifted it high into the Paris sky, marking a breathtaking start to the Olympics.
