Breaking from tradition, the mesmerizing spectacle began with the ‘Parade of Nations,’ where athletes from 205 countries and one refugee team navigated the Seine on boats.Despite the looming threat of heavy rain before and during the ceremony, the participants remained undeterred, showcasing their resilience and determination.
The ceremony featured a heartwarming acknowledgement of the Hindi language, which was one of the six languages utilized in infographics during the “sisterhood” segment, celebrating the achievements of notable French women, PTI reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open, marking the formal beginning of competitions for the next 16 days.
However, the true spectacle of the event was undeniably the athletes’ march along the Seine river, captivating the audience with its grandeur and symbolism.
The ceremony commenced with a pre-recorded video showcasing football icon Zinedine Zidane, a World Cup winner, sprinting through the streets of Paris while carrying the Olympic flame.
he camera then focused on French President Emmanuel Macron and Thomas Bach, the head of the International Olympic Committee, signaling the official start of the event.
The six-kilometer parade commenced from the Austerlitz Bridge, with 85 boats carrying over 6,800 athletes, greeted by loud cheers from the assembled crowd. However, a significant number of athletes missed the remarkable event due to their competitions on Saturday.
The order of arrivals followed the French alphabetical sequence. The Greek contingent, honored as the spiritual home of the Games, led the procession, followed by the Refugee team.
The Indian contingent, consisting of 78 athletes and officials, made their entrance at the 84th position during the event. Leading the contingent were two iconic figures in Indian sports: PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, and A Sharath Kamal, a legendary table tennis player, who served as the flag-bearers for their nation.
The female members of the Indian contingent were elegantly attired in sarees, a traditional Indian garment. Meanwhile, the male athletes and officials wore “kurta-payjama” in the shades of the Indian tricolor, showcasing their national pride and unity.
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The boats sailed past iconic city landmarks, including the restored Notre Dame Cathedral, which was gutted by fire five years ago, the renowned Louvre Museum, and several of the Games’ venues.
In April 2019, the world was shocked by images of the Cathedral ablaze and the collapse of its spire.
American pop superstar Lady Gaga was among the first international artists to captivate the gathered crowd. The ceremony was directed by artistic director Thomas Jolly.
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Amid the colorful proceedings, a mysterious torchbearer captured everyone’s attention as he darted around the city and its most famous landmarks, carrying the flame.
He even crossed the Seine from Ile Saint-Louis on a zip-line after the cabaret performers finished their act.
Adding a touch of childlike fun to the ceremony were the world-famous Minions and the missing Mona Lisa, which was eventually found floating on the Seine.
The bridges along the parade route featured dance performances for fans, who gathered at various spots after more than 200,000 free tickets were distributed in addition to the over 100,000 sold.
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A glimpse into the workshops of the Monnaie de Paris, where the medals for the Games are forged, was presented to honor the city’s renowned craftsmanship. A total of 5,084 medals are being produced for the 2024 Games, each containing a piece of the Eiffel Tower.
The ceremony also included a political theme in a segment titled ‘Emancipation,’ which paid homage to the 18th-century French Revolution, sparked by the extravagance of King Louis XVI.
A figurine depicting the decapitated torso of Marie Antoinette was part of the performance, referencing her infamous quote, “Let them eat cake,” which she reportedly said upon learning of the French commoners’ financial hardships.
The organizers promised an unforgettable spectacle, overcoming unprecedented logistical and security challenges to transform an entire city into the venue for the ceremony. They claimed that this event would be the largest in Olympic history, with more than 300,000 spectators along the Seine and billions watching on television.
This will be Paris’s third time hosting the Olympics, following the events of 1900 and 1924.
India is being represented by 117 athletes, including 47 women, in the sporting spectacle.