The 2024 Paris Olympics begin with a groundbreaking opening ceremony featuring over 10,000 athletes parading on the River Seine. This marks the first time the ceremony is held outside a stadium. Notable flag bearers include LeBron James and Coco Gauff for Team USA. The event will be broadcast globally, with special performances rumored to include Céline Dion and Lady Gaga.
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are set to commence with an unprecedented opening ceremony on the River Seine, showcasing a vibrant parade of over 10,000 athletes from around the world. This historic event not only marks a departure from traditional stadium-based ceremonies but also celebrates the return of the Olympics to Paris after a century. With global viewership expected to be in the billions, the ceremony will feature cultural performances, the lighting of the Olympic torch, and speeches by French dignitaries.
Breaking from tradition, the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony will take place outside of a stadium for the first time in modern Olympic history. Athletes will parade along a 6-kilometer route on the River Seine, passing iconic landmarks like the Louvre and Notre-Dame. The parade will feature 94 boats, with larger nations having their own boats and smaller delegations sharing. This new format allows for a unique and immersive viewer experience, with cameras installed on each boat to capture the action up close.
The opening ceremony is expected to feature performances by internationally acclaimed artists, with rumors suggesting that Céline Dion and Lady Gaga might be among the performers. The event will also be hosted by notable personalities like Mike Tirico, Kelly Clarkson, and Peyton Manning, with additional coverage by NBC’s Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb from a bridge over the Seine. This blend of sports and entertainment is set to captivate a global audience, making the ceremony a not-to-be-missed spectacle.
The ceremony will be broadcast globally, with NBC providing live coverage starting from noon ET. It will also be streamed on Peacock and other digital platforms. For those in Paris, the event can be viewed on giant screens set up across the city. An estimated 324,000 spectators are expected to watch the ceremony along the Seine, with security measures in place to ensure a safe event for all attendees.
The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony is set to be a historic event that will captivate viewers worldwide with its innovative format and spectacular performances. As athletes parade down the Seine, the world will watch a truly unique celebration of sport and culture, marking a significant moment in Olympic history.
"An opening ceremony has never been held outside of a stadium. There is no model; it’s absolute creation." - Thomas Jolly