France delivers promise of a bold original and unique Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Olympic Games

This is the first time in history that an Olympic opening ceremony was held outdoors, and fittingly, the cleanliness of the River Seine was a topic of controversy due to the suggestion of using the river as a pool for swimmers.

Considering the fact that Paris banned swimming in the Seine in 1923 due to the high level of bacteria and pollutants,.

The city spent approximately $1.3 billion on improving the cleanliness and quality of the water. Countries participating in the games arrived on boats across the river, with small performances taking place on the bank of the river with visual effects like fireworks and French dancers.

Kicking off with traditions, Greece was the first country in the parade as it was the birthplace of the ancient Olympic games and the modern Olympic games in 1896.

French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura, sang her hits ‘Pookie’ and ‘Djadja’ alongside the French Republican Guard orchestra. The Jamaican ‘Looney Tunes’ choreography by Dancehall Family Tree 876 (DFT) was performed by dancers apart of her performance.

Other acts from Lady Gaga and Celine Dion at the end of the ceremony, brought of excitement to the dreary atmosphere due to scattered showers.

Focused on breaking traditions, the ceremony was designed to be accessible to tourists and residents alike, with eighty large screens and speakers deliberately placed throughout Paris, making this the largest opening ceremony in the Game’s history.

Despite the setbacks caused by arson attacks on the French high-speed rail network early Friday morning, the ceremony went decently well and ended with the cauldron being lit by French judo practitioner Teddy Riner, and former French track star Marie-José Pérec. The cauldron was in the shape of a hot-air balloon and then floated to the atmosphere.