“Paris Illuminates the Seine in Dazzling Olympic Opening Ceremony”

Paris became a grand amphitheater as the Seine River served as a track for the athletes’ parade, showcasing France’s cultural diversity, revolutionary spirit, craftsmanship, and architectural heritage in a dazzling opening ceremony for the 33rd Olympic Games.

The Parade of Nations featured athletes from 205 countries and a refugee team sailing down the Seine despite heavy rain. The ceremony honored Hindi among six languages used to pay tribute to prominent French women during the ‘Sisterhood’ segment.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open, marking the start of 16 days of competitions. French judo great Teddy Riner and sprint legend Marie-Jose Perec lit the Olympic cauldron, attached to a giant hot-air balloon, symbolizing the most gender-neutral Games.

The ceremony included a handover of the Olympic flame by French football legend Zinedine Zidane to Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, and Carl Lewis, culminating with wheelchair-bound Charles Coste passing the flame to Riner and Perec.

Athletes paraded on the Seine in a six-kilometer route from Austerlitz bridge, with 85 boats carrying over 6,800 athletes. The sequence of arrivals followed the French alphabetical order, with India, led by flag-bearers PV Sindhu and A Sharath Kamal, being the 84th contingent.

The parade route passed iconic landmarks like the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre Museum. Performances included American pop superstar Lady Gaga, cabaret acts, and childlike fun with the Minions and the Mona Lisa. The ceremony honored Paris’ craftsmanship, showcasing workshops where the Olympic medals were forged.

The segment titled ‘Emancipation’ paid homage to the 18th-century French Revolution, featuring a figurine of Marie Antoinette’s decapitated torso. The ceremony, overcoming logistical and security challenges, was watched by more than 300,000 people along the Seine and billions on television. This marks Paris’ third time hosting the Olympics after 1900 and 1924, with India represented by 117 athletes.