Snapshots of the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony
First-of-its-kind cauldron
Instead of the usual ground-bound cauldron used at most Summer and Winter Games, the special edition for the Paris Olympics is intended as a tribute to the first ride taken in a hydrogen-filled gas balloon — made in 1783 by two of that balloon’s French inventors.
PHOTO: Handout
Cauldron is illuminated
The cauldron was lit by French Olympians Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec. The ring is about 23 feet in diameter, and the balloon is about 100 feet tall and about 72 feet wide.
PHOTO: MOHD RASFAN
Iconic appearance
Charles Coste, the oldest living French Olympic champion at 100 years old, lights the torches of French Olympic gold medalists Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec.
PHOTO: Al Bello
First torch relay of its kind
The ceremony's torch relay featured Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal and other legendary athletes including Zinedine Zidane, Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, Tony Parker and scores of French Olympians.
PHOTO: Adam Pretty
Passing the torch
Serena Williams watches as tennis star Rafael Nadal of Spain hands over the torch to Former French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo during the Opening Ceremony.
PHOTO: Alex Davidson
Lighting up the night
A light show and the Olympic rings lit up the Eiffel Tower during the finale of the Opening Ceremony.
PHOTO: Ryan Pierse
Celine Dion returns
This handout released by the Olympic Broadcasting Services shows a view of singer Celine Dion performing Edith Piaf’s “L’Hymne à l’amour" on the Eiffel Tower.
PHOTO: Handout
Olympics officially open
After the Olympic anthem was played, President Emmanuel Macron said in French: “I declare the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad open!”
PHOTO: Pool
Colorful entrance
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.
PHOTO: Pool
'Imagine' tradition continues
Pianist Sofiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet performed a version of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s "Imagine." Their performance took place on a vessel in the Seine and used a piano that had flames coming out the top of it.
PHOTO: Alex Pantling
Gliding into the finale
Following the Parade of Nations, a silhouetted torch bearer wearing an Olympic flag made its way down an illuminated metal horse that glided down the Seine.
PHOTO: Richard Pelham
All smiles
Team USA's Tara Davis-Woodhall wears glasses with the Olympics rings next to Stephen Curry, while traveling along the Seine River in the Parade of Nations.
PHOTO: Pool
Painted patriotic
Team USA track and field athlete Sha'Carri Richardson showed off her nails ahead of the Olympic games.
PHOTO: Pool
Team USA makes its entrance
The United States' entrance featured basketball's LeBron James and tennis star Coco Gauff as flag bearers for the U.S. Olympic team.
PHOTO: picture alliance
A moment for the fashion
At one point in the ceremony, a bridge turned into a fashion show, with models strutting down a catwalk that eventually turned into a dance floor for a choreographed number.
PHOTO: MAURO PIMENTEL
Rainy day
It rained during much of the Opening Ceremony parade, prompting fans to take out their umbrellas and raincoats.
PHOTO: Jamie Squire
Olympic Refugee Team
The Olympic Refugee Team was met with huge cheers as it floated down the Seine. With dozens of athletes, this is the biggest Olympic Refugee Team since it was formed for the 2016 Games.
PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox
'Les Miserables' goes metal
A metal rendition of "Do You Hear the People Sing" from "Les Miserables" performed by rock musicians on balconies and in windows across the Conciergerie. As the music played, flames shot into the sky and red streamers burst out of the windows for a grand finale of the performance.
PHOTO: Buda Mendes
French cancan performers
Dancers in bright pink costumes performed French cancan choreography along the Seine.
PHOTO: Pool
Lady Gaga performs
Singer and actress Lady Gaga performed the French song “Mon truc en plumes” (“My thing in feathers”) by Zizi Jeanmaire.
PHOTO: picture alliance
First-of-its-kind cauldron
Instead of the usual ground-bound cauldron used at most Summer and Winter Games, the special edition for the Paris Olympics is intended as a tribute to the first ride taken in a hydrogen-filled gas balloon — made in 1783 by two of that balloon’s French inventors.
PHOTO: Handout
Cauldron is illuminated
The cauldron was lit by French Olympians Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec. The ring is about 23 feet in diameter, and the balloon is about 100 feet tall and about 72 feet wide.
PHOTO: MOHD RASFAN
Iconic appearance
Charles Coste, the oldest living French Olympic champion at 100 years old, lights the torches of French Olympic gold medalists Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec.
PHOTO: Al Bello
First torch relay of its kind
The ceremony's torch relay featured Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal and other legendary athletes including Zinedine Zidane, Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, Tony Parker and scores of French Olympians.
PHOTO: Adam Pretty
Passing the torch
Serena Williams watches as tennis star Rafael Nadal of Spain hands over the torch to Former French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo during the Opening Ceremony.
PHOTO: Alex Davidson
Lighting up the night
A light show and the Olympic rings lit up the Eiffel Tower during the finale of the Opening Ceremony.
PHOTO: Ryan Pierse
Celine Dion returns
This handout released by the Olympic Broadcasting Services shows a view of singer Celine Dion performing Edith Piaf’s “L’Hymne à l’amour" on the Eiffel Tower.
PHOTO: Handout
Olympics officially open
After the Olympic anthem was played, President Emmanuel Macron said in French: “I declare the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad open!”
PHOTO: Pool
Colorful entrance
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.
PHOTO: Pool
'Imagine' tradition continues
Pianist Sofiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet performed a version of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s "Imagine." Their performance took place on a vessel in the Seine and used a piano that had flames coming out the top of it.
PHOTO: Alex Pantling
Gliding into the finale
Following the Parade of Nations, a silhouetted torch bearer wearing an Olympic flag made its way down an illuminated metal horse that glided down the Seine.
PHOTO: Richard Pelham
All smiles
Team USA's Tara Davis-Woodhall wears glasses with the Olympics rings next to Stephen Curry, while traveling along the Seine River in the Parade of Nations.
PHOTO: Pool
Painted patriotic
Team USA track and field athlete Sha'Carri Richardson showed off her nails ahead of the Olympic games.
PHOTO: Pool
Team USA makes its entrance
The United States' entrance featured basketball's LeBron James and tennis star Coco Gauff as flag bearers for the U.S. Olympic team.
PHOTO: picture alliance
A moment for the fashion
At one point in the ceremony, a bridge turned into a fashion show, with models strutting down a catwalk that eventually turned into a dance floor for a choreographed number.
PHOTO: MAURO PIMENTEL
Rainy day
It rained during much of the Opening Ceremony parade, prompting fans to take out their umbrellas and raincoats.
PHOTO: Jamie Squire
Olympic Refugee Team
The Olympic Refugee Team was met with huge cheers as it floated down the Seine. With dozens of athletes, this is the biggest Olympic Refugee Team since it was formed for the 2016 Games.
PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox
'Les Miserables' goes metal
A metal rendition of "Do You Hear the People Sing" from "Les Miserables" performed by rock musicians on balconies and in windows across the Conciergerie. As the music played, flames shot into the sky and red streamers burst out of the windows for a grand finale of the performance.
PHOTO: Buda Mendes
French cancan performers
Dancers in bright pink costumes performed French cancan choreography along the Seine.
PHOTO: Pool
Lady Gaga performs
Singer and actress Lady Gaga performed the French song “Mon truc en plumes” (“My thing in feathers”) by Zizi Jeanmaire.
PHOTO: picture alliance
First-of-its-kind cauldron
Instead of the usual ground-bound cauldron used at most Summer and Winter Games, the special edition for the Paris Olympics is intended as a tribute to the first ride taken in a hydrogen-filled gas balloon — made in 1783 by two of that balloon’s French inventors.
PHOTO: Handout
Cauldron is illuminated
The cauldron was lit by French Olympians Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec. The ring is about 23 feet in diameter, and the balloon is about 100 feet tall and about 72 feet wide.
PHOTO: MOHD RASFAN
Iconic appearance
Charles Coste, the oldest living French Olympic champion at 100 years old, lights the torches of French Olympic gold medalists Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec.
PHOTO: Al Bello
First torch relay of its kind
The ceremony's torch relay featured Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal and other legendary athletes including Zinedine Zidane, Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, Tony Parker and scores of French Olympians.
PHOTO: Adam Pretty
Passing the torch
Serena Williams watches as tennis star Rafael Nadal of Spain hands over the torch to Former French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo during the Opening Ceremony.
PHOTO: Alex Davidson
Lighting up the night
A light show and the Olympic rings lit up the Eiffel Tower during the finale of the Opening Ceremony.
PHOTO: Ryan Pierse
Celine Dion returns
This handout released by the Olympic Broadcasting Services shows a view of singer Celine Dion performing Edith Piaf’s “L’Hymne à l’amour" on the Eiffel Tower.
PHOTO: Handout
Olympics officially open
After the Olympic anthem was played, President Emmanuel Macron said in French: “I declare the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad open!”
PHOTO: Pool
Colorful entrance
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.
PHOTO: Pool
'Imagine' tradition continues
Pianist Sofiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet performed a version of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s "Imagine." Their performance took place on a vessel in the Seine and used a piano that had flames coming out the top of it.
PHOTO: Alex Pantling
Gliding into the finale
Following the Parade of Nations, a silhouetted torch bearer wearing an Olympic flag made its way down an illuminated metal horse that glided down the Seine.
PHOTO: Richard Pelham
All smiles
Team USA's Tara Davis-Woodhall wears glasses with the Olympics rings next to Stephen Curry, while traveling along the Seine River in the Parade of Nations.
PHOTO: Pool
Painted patriotic
Team USA track and field athlete Sha'Carri Richardson showed off her nails ahead of the Olympic games.
PHOTO: Pool
Team USA makes its entrance
The United States' entrance featured basketball's LeBron James and tennis star Coco Gauff as flag bearers for the U.S. Olympic team.
PHOTO: picture alliance
A moment for the fashion
At one point in the ceremony, a bridge turned into a fashion show, with models strutting down a catwalk that eventually turned into a dance floor for a choreographed number.
PHOTO: MAURO PIMENTEL
Rainy day
It rained during much of the Opening Ceremony parade, prompting fans to take out their umbrellas and raincoats.
PHOTO: Jamie Squire
Olympic Refugee Team
The Olympic Refugee Team was met with huge cheers as it floated down the Seine. With dozens of athletes, this is the biggest Olympic Refugee Team since it was formed for the 2016 Games.
PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox
'Les Miserables' goes metal
A metal rendition of "Do You Hear the People Sing" from "Les Miserables" performed by rock musicians on balconies and in windows across the Conciergerie. As the music played, flames shot into the sky and red streamers burst out of the windows for a grand finale of the performance.
PHOTO: Buda Mendes
French cancan performers
Dancers in bright pink costumes performed French cancan choreography along the Seine.
PHOTO: Pool
Lady Gaga performs
Singer and actress Lady Gaga performed the French song “Mon truc en plumes” (“My thing in feathers”) by Zizi Jeanmaire.
PHOTO: picture alliance
The Paris Olympics got underway after a rough start to the Summer Games on Friday, with rainy skies over the Seine and suspected acts of sabotage targeting France’s flagship high-speed rail network. Here's a look at the most memorable moments from the Opening Ceremony.
