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 in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics
Paris Olympic Games 2024 Opening Ceremony: FRA Prez Declares The Games Open - In Pics
Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River. Renowned singers Celine Dion and Lady Gaga enthralled the spectators with sporting stars such as Zinedine Zidane, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams making an appearance on Friday, July 26. Opening Ceremony was held on the Seine River, in a first for the Olympic Games. Moreover, the Opening Ceremony was troubled by the rain but that did not dither the athletes and the artistes at large. French judo champ Teddy Riner and three-time Olympic champion runner Marie-Jose Perec lit the Olympic cauldron attached to a giant balloon, which floated into the Paris night. The Paris Games aim to be the first with equal numbers of men and women competing.
2024 Paris Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
| Photo: Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP
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Photo: Petr David Josek,Pool
Athletes travel by boat down the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Canadian Singer Celine Dion
Photo: Olympic Broadcasting Services via AP
This photo released by the Olympic Broadcasting Services shows Canadian Singer Celine Dion performing on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
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Olympic Flame rises on a balloon during the opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Francisco Seco
The Olympic Flame rises on a balloon after being lit in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Artists perform during the opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/David J. Phillip
Entertainer's perform in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Chinese Surfer Yang Siqi dances during an opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Gregory Bull
Surfer Yang Siqi, of China, dances with dancers during an opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics surfing competition in Papara, Tahiti.
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IOC President Thomas Bach
| Photo: AP/David J. Phillip
IOC President Thomas Bach speaks as Tony Estanguet, president of 2024 Paris Olympics looks on in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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View of Trocadero venue with the Eiffel Tower
| Photo: Francois-Xavier Marit/Pool Photo via AP
An overview of the Trocadero venue with the Eiffel Tower in the background, in Paris, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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An artist performs Summer Olympic opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Christophe Ena
An artist performs in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympic.
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China's Olympic athletes
| Photo: Cao Can/Pool Photo via AP
China's Olympic athletes wave national flags from a boat for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics on the Seine River in Paris.
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The cauldron rises by the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris
| Photo: AP/Vadim Ghirda
The cauldron rises by the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower lightened up during the opening ceremony
| Photo: Olympic Broadcasting Services via AP
This photo released by the Olympic Broadcasting Services shows the Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower lightened up with the Olympic Rings during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
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The Eiffel Tower is lit in the rain during the opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Natacha Pisarenko
The Eiffel Tower is lit in the rain in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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The Olympic rings illuminated
| Photo: Loic Venance/Pool Photo via AP
The Olympic rings are illuminated as lights emanate from the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
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Zinedine Zidane carries the 2024 Olympic torch
| Photo: AP/Natacha Pisarenko
Zinedine Zidane carries the torch in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Torchbearer Rafael Nadal
| Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II
Torchbearer Rafael Nadal, of Spain, waves in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Rafael Nadal carries the Olympic flame flanked by Serena Williams
| Photo: AP/Christophe Ena
Rafael Nadal carries the Olympic flame flanked by Serena Williams, right, in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Indian athletes during the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Aijaz Rahi, Pool
Indian athletes wave from a boat on the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Stephen Curry of the United States
| Photo: Quinn Rooney/Pool Photo via AP
Stephen Curry of the United States takes a photo prior to the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
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Lebron James
| Photo: Quinn Rooney/Pool Photo via AP
Lebron James looks on prior to the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
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2024 Olympic Refugee team
| Photo: AP/Lindsey Wasson
The boat carrying the Olympic Refugee team makes its way down the Seine in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Israel athletes during the opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Israel's Andrea Murez and Peter Paltchik carry their country's flag in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Palestinian athletes during the opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Palestinian flag bearers Wasim Abusal and Valerie Rose Tarazi travel with teammates along the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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United States athletes during the opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Matthias Schrader
Athletes from the United States travel by boat down the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Israel and Italy athletes during the opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Christophe Ena
Israel and Italy, top, teams parade along the Seine river in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Franch athletes during the opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Christophe Ena
France team parades along the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Security patrol by boat before the opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell
Security patrol by boat in Paris, France, before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Egyptian athletes during opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Egyptian athletes leap while participating in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
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Spain athletes David Vega and Noemi Romero
| Photo: Violeta Santos Moura/Pool Photo via AP
Spain athletes David Vega, left, and Noemi Romero kiss during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, in Paris, France.
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Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo
| Photo: AP/Natacha Pisarenko
Entertainers Ariana Grande, right, and Cynthia Erivo arrive in Paris, France, before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Serena Williams
| Photo: AP/Natacha Pisarenko
Serena Williams arrives in Paris, France, before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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A tight rope walker performs during the opening ceremony
| Photo: AP/Aaron Favila
A tight rope walker performs in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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French Air Force elite acrobatic flying team perform during the opening ceremony
| Photo: Julien de Rosa/Pool Photo via AP
A heart shape made with red smoke by the French Air Force elite acrobatic flying team "Patrouille de France" floats in the air near Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Lasers are displayed at the Eiffel Tower in Paris
| Photo: AP/Brian Inganga, Pool
Lasers are displayed at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Ceremonial smoke in the colors of the France flag
| Photo: AP/Matthias Schrader
Ceremonial smoke in the colors of the France flag appear over the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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