On this first day of the Olympic Games, we're still full of stars after the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, held this July 26. And what a ceremony it was! Completely off the beaten track, since it took place on the Seine instead of in a classic stadium, as is customary for the organizing countries. From a parade of athletes on barges to artistic happenings, here's a look back at some of the highlights (and a little unusual too) of this opening ceremony for the Games, which undoubtedly marked a turning point in the history of the event.
After Zinedine Zidane missed his metro with the Olympic flame, the Seine welcomed the festivities with a magnificent display of blue, white and red fireworks.
The American star worked on this performance for a year, learning the choreography, studying the steps of the transgressive Parisian artist and perfecting her French. And the result is a beautiful tribute to French culture, in a very simple way, in the company of dancers and many beautiful pompoms recovered from Lido, before it closed.
Throughout the ceremony, the athletes paraded boat after boat to the Place du Trocadéro. It was the usual parade, except for the setting, but we wanted to emphasize it all the same! And with Greece at the head of the gondola.
Next to a rat, you can't make that up... A Parisian cliché, but that doesn't mean we don't love it.
It's beautiful yet grounded in reality.
A French metal band making Marie-Antoinette 's decapitated head sing a revolutionary song ("Ah ça ira, ça ira, ça ira... Les Aristocrates à La Lanterne") over the Conciergerie is priceless... It's punk as hell, and we love it!
In duet with the Garde Républicaine orchestra, on the Pont des Arts opposite theInstitut de France. Quite a symbol...
But where did she go? The mystery remains, but not for long.
Yes, the Minions, the famous little yellow creatures from the Moi, Moche et Méchant films, were indeed created by a Frenchman, illustrator Eric Guillon. And since surprises never come alone, it was they who stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre.
As a proud Marianne, lyric singer Axelle Saint-Cirel gave a masterly rendition of the French national anthem. And that French dress/flag... just wow!
Several gold statues of women who have marked the country's history, fromOlympe de Gouges to Simone Veil, have appeared along the banks of the Seine. A magnificent tribute to the struggle for women's rights... Note that these statues will then be distributed and exhibited by the City of Paris.
Because Paris 2024 isn't just taking place in Paris, we had to stop off in Tahiti, where the surfing events were taking place, so as not to forget the athletes from all over the world who were on site (and therefore unable, for technical and obvious reasons, to come and greet the crowd at the opening ceremony, even though they had made a local of it). And that's a pretty grand thing to have done.
A fine illustration of the art and world of nightlife, accompanied, for the music, by the best of the French Touch.
And on the biggest boat of them all... Think what you will!
Is it really surprising...? The answer is no. But seeing him as a blue Smurf-like Bacchus in the middle of a dish of vegetables under a cloche... What can I say?
Nothing to add, one of the most beautiful scenes of this ceremony.
Now a classic at the Olympic Games.
Yes, the rain stopped at that point... Only to resume afterwards. And the Quebec singer's performance... A real jewel of emotion. The perfect way to end the opening ceremony!
A poetic moment, suspended in time, with Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Rinner.
