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The Dazzling Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Took Place with a Parade on the Seine River under the Rain

  • The Dazzling Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Took Place with a Parade on the Seine River under the Rain
    The Dazzling Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Took Place with a Parade on the Seine River under the Rain
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The Paris 2024 Olympic Games commenced with a breathtaking opening ceremony that featured a parade along the Seine River. The Olympic flame journeyed across Parisian rooftops to the tune of "La Marseillaise," performed by French singer Axelle Saint-Cyrel from the top of the Grand Palais. The event also saw performances by pop superstars Aya Nakamura and Lady Gaga, with the French metal band Gojira making history as the first heavy metal band to perform at the Olympics.

Despite constant rain, over 80 boats carrying nearly 7,000 athletes sailed along the Seine for the ceremony, which began at 7:30 PM and lasted approximately three hours and 45 minutes. The spectacle was witnessed by more than 80 heads of state and government, and over 300,000 spectators along the riverbanks, according to organizers.

Security officials reported that up to 45,000 police officers and thousands of soldiers and private security guards were deployed to protect the ceremony and the sporting events spread across Paris.

Lady Gaga's performance of a classic French cabaret song was a highlight of the ceremony, and Franco-Malian singer Aya Nakamura captivated the audience with her hit song "Djadja."

The Olympic flag was raised at the Trocadero in a moment of iconic serenity. The flag, which traveled down the Seine along the parade route with a rider on a galloping steel horse, was carried by a real horse to the final stage. Volunteers carrying the flags of all the participating nations formed a cinematic procession leading the flag to its destination. The Olympic anthem played as the flag was raised in the cool Parisian night.