Paris 2024 Olympics: The 33rd Olympic Games Open with a Ceremony on the Seine

Paris: The Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games opened today with an official ceremony on the Seine. The opening ceremony, which was held for the first...

Paris: The Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games opened today with an official ceremony on the Seine.

The opening ceremony, which was held for the first time outside the stadium, began with a video clip of French actor Jamel Debbouze and former French footballer Zinedine Zidane at the Stade de France. 6,800 athletes from 205 countries, transported on 85 boats in front of historical landmarks in the capital, Paris, participated in the opening that lasted three hours and 45 minutes.

The ceremony was witnessed by 320,000 spectators from specially built stands on the banks of the river, and about 200,000 from the balconies of neighboring buildings.

The first boat included the Greek delegation, which is considered the cradle of ancient and modern games and hosted the first edition of the Olympics in 1896, followed by a boat carrying the Olympic refugee team, before being followed by boats of other delegations at the beginning of a celebration in which the famous American singer Lady Gaga participated.

Olympic champion Mutaz Essa Barshim raised the flag of the State of Qatar at the opening ceremony alongside athlete Shahd Mohammed, noting that 14 male and female athletes represent Qatar in this version of the Olympics, participating in five different sports.