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Breaking with tradition, the fascinating spectacle began with the ‘Parade of Nations’, where athletes from 205 countries and a team of refugees sailed down the Seine in boats. Despite the looming threat of heavy rain before and during the ceremony, the participants were undaunted, showing their resilience and determination.
The ceremony featured an emotional recognition of Hindi, which was one of the six languages used in infographics during the “sisterhood” segment, which celebrated the achievements of notable French women, PTI reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open, marking the formal start of competitions over the next 16 days.
But the real spectacle of the event was undoubtedly the march of the athletes along the River Seine, which captivated the public with its grandeur and symbolism.
The ceremony began with a pre-recorded video featuring the football icon. Zinedine Zidaneworld champion, running through the streets of Paris carrying the Olympic flame.
The camera then focused on French President Emmanuel Macron, and Thomas Bachthe head of the International Olympic Committee, marking the official start of the event.
The six-kilometre parade began at the Austerlitz bridge, with 85 boats carrying more than 6,800 athletes, and was greeted with loud cheers by the assembled crowd. However, a significant number of athletes missed the extraordinary event due to their competitions on Saturday.
The order of arrival followed the French alphabetical order. The Greek contingent, considered the spiritual homeland of the Games, led the procession, followed by the refugee team.
The Indian contingent, comprising 78 athletes and officials, made its entry at the 84th position during the event. Leading the contingent were two iconic figures of Indian sport: PV SindhuTwo-time Olympic medalist and A Sharath Kamala legendary table tennis player, who served as his nation’s flag bearer.
The female members of the Indian contingent were elegantly dressed in saris, a traditional Indian garment, while the male athletes and officials wore ‘kurta-payjama’ in shades of the Indian tricolour, demonstrating their national pride and unity.
(Photo Reuters)
The boats passed by iconic sites in the city, including the restored Notre Dame Cathedral, which was destroyed by fire five years ago, the famous Louvre Museum and several of the Games venues.
In April 2019, the world was shocked by images of the Cathedral on fire and the collapse of its spire.
American pop superstar Lady Gaga was one of the first international artists to captivate the assembled crowd. The ceremony was conducted by artistic director Thomas Jolly.
(Photo Reuters)
Amidst the colourful proceedings, a mysterious torchbearer captured everyone’s attention as he toured the city and its most famous landmarks, carrying the flame.
He even crossed the Seine from the Île Saint-Louis on a zip line after the cabaret artists finished their performance.
Adding a touch of childlike fun to the ceremony were the world-famous Minions and the missing Mona Lisa, who was eventually found floating in the Seine.
Bridges along the parade route featured dance performances for fans, who gathered at various points after more than 200,000 free tickets were distributed, in addition to the more than 100,000 sold.
(Photo Reuters)
In tribute to the city’s renowned craftsmanship, a tour was presented of the workshops at the Monnaie de Paris, where the medals for the Games are forged. A total of 5,084 medals are being produced for the 2024 Games, each containing a piece of the Eiffel Tower.
The ceremony also included a political theme in a segment titled “Emancipation,” which paid homage to the 18th-century French Revolution, sparked by the extravagance of King Louis XVI.
A figure depicting Marie Antoinette’s decapitated torso was part of the performance, referencing her infamous line, “Let them eat cake,” which she supposedly said upon learning of the economic hardships of French commoners.
Organizers promised an unforgettable spectacle, overcoming unprecedented logistical and security challenges to transform an entire city into the venue for the ceremony. They claimed the event would be the biggest in Olympic history, with more than 300,000 spectators lining the Seine and billions watching on television.
This will be the third time that Paris has hosted the Olympic Games, after those of 1900 and 1924.
India is represented at the sporting extravaganza by 117 athletes, including 47 women.
