Paris Olympics kick off with a stunning, never-seen-before ceremony: 10 points

It was truly sensational. France walked the talk after promising a never-seen-before Olympics opening ceremony. For the first time, the curtain-raiser of the biggest sporting spectacle was moved out of a traditional stadium and held outdoors. Boats were used to ferry athletes in a floating ‘Parade of Nations’ across a 6km stretch on River Seine as thousands and thousands of spectators lined up across the central part of the city, which played host to a four-hour-long opening ceremony. Rain did not dampen the spirits of the athletes, the performers, and the fans as the Olympic Games returned to the City of Lights after a century in some style.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Olympic Games open after International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach delivered a rousing speech, welcoming the athletes from across 206 NOCs, including the Refugee Olympic Team. Bach took help from John Lenon and stressed the need for people to come together in “a world torn apart by wars and conflicts”. Thomas Bach’s speech came after a sensational rendition of John Lenon’s Imagine by French singer and songwriter Juliette Armanet.

WATCH: TEAM INDIA’S ENTRY AT THE PARADE OF NATIONS IN PARIS

Decorated performers, including Lady Gaga and Celine Dion, added flavour to the opening ceremony, which featured Paris’s most famous monuments. The one-of-its-kind was based on 12 themes, including liberty, equality, fraternity, sisterhood, sportsmanship, and festivity.

“This is the pinnacle of your journey. You have come to Paris as an athlete. Now, you are Olympians. Stepping into the Olympic Village, you realise you are part of something bigger than yourself. We are all part of an event that unites the world. We all respect the same rules and each other. In our Olympic world, we belong. As Olympians, we care for each other. We do not only respect each other, we live in solidarity with each other,” Bach said.

The opening ceremony began with a funny pre-recorded video of football great Zinedine Zidane, redirecting the Olympic torch from Stade de Paris to the actual outdoor location of the opening ceremony. It ended with a sensational show that honoured legendary athletes, including Zidane, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Nadia Comaneci and Carl Lewis. Carlos Coste, France’s oldest living gold medalist at 100, also took part in the torch ceremony before the Olympic cauldron was lit by Teddy Riner and Marie-Jose Perec at the Gardens of the Tuileries.

The Olympic cauldron, which was attached to a hot air balloon, went up in the night sky while the iconic Eiffel Tower was lit up, leaving the athletes and spectators in awe.

More than 6,000 athletes and close to 300,000 spectators lined up along the River Seine during the opening ceremony, which will be remembered for a long, long time. While there were naysayers of the ceremony, the closing act, which saw Paris honour legends, made up for the drawbacks.

PARIS OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY: TOP HIGHLIGHTS

• 1. The Paris Olympics was declared open by French President Emmanuel Macron. IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed athletes from 206 nations, including the Refugee Olympic Team, with a rousing speech.
  

• 2. A light show of the Eiffel Tower on a rainy evening stole the show, and enthralled 6000-plus athletes and millions of spectators from across the world.
• 3. A floating Parade of Nations was held on the River Seine. Athletes braved rain to soak in the atmosphere. France and the USA sail the biggest boats during the spectacular show. PV Sindhu and Sharath Kamal were India’s flagbearers. 78 athletes and officials were part of the Indian contingent at the Parade of Nations.
  

• 4. France honoured their greats and welcomed Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Nadia Comaneci, and Carl Lewis to come up with a sensational cauldron-lighting ceremony. Football great Zinedine Zidane was part of a comical opening act and the sensational closing act of the opening ceremony.
  

• 5. The Olympics opening ceremony showcased the cultural significance, history, sporting legacy, and fashion of France. It also sent a strong message of promotion of peace, inclusivity and harmony.
• 6. A galloping horse delivered the Olympic flag before it was hoisted at the center of the city.
  

• 6. Pop icon Lady Gaga sang a French song to mark the start of the opening ceremony. She received one of the loudest cheers of the day. Gaga performed the popular French song “Mon truc en plumes”, which was originally sung by Zizi Jeanmaire back in 1962.
• 7. Celine Dione performed for the second time in the Olympic ceremony after 1996 in Atalanta.
• 8. Paris Olympics paid a tribute to 10 of France’s female heroes – Olympe de Gouges, Alice Milliat, Gisèle Halimi, Simone de Beauvoir, Paulette Nardal, Jeanne Barret, Louise Michel, Christine de Pizan, Alice Guy and Simone Veil thorugh a special song and special gold-themed statues.
• 9. The Minions also featured in the opening ceremony, enacting different sports from the Olympic Games. Their closing act also involved stealing the iconic Mona Lisa painting.
• 10. Popular French pop star Aya Nakamura knocked it out of the park with her performance.

10,500 athletes will compete in the Paris Olympics, which will be held from July 26 to August 11. 329 Gold medals are up for grabs in the first-ever full gender neutral Games.