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After a year’s delay due to COVID-19 for the Tokyo Games, the Olympics have returned to their regular schedule. The world’s best athletes have worked tirelessly to represent their countries and themselves, hoping to bring home gold. The 33rd edition of the modern Summer Olympic Games began with a roughly four-hour-long Opening Ceremony in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. Paris is the second city in the world, after London, to host the Olympic Games three times, having previously hosted in 1900 and 1924.
Paris 2024 will take place across France, with events held in 16 additional cities in Metropolitan France and one location in Tahiti, French Polynesia. This grand event will run from July 26 to August 11, 2024. There are plenty of viewing options, with NBC’s Peacock being the exclusive host network for the Olympics in the U.S. Multiple NBCUniversal channels, including CNBC, the Golf Channel, USA Network, and MSNBC, will air a plethora of specific events, ensuring specific coverage for fans.
Remember that Paris is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time and nine hours ahead of Pacific Time, meaning most events will broadcast early in the morning in America. To accommodate viewers, NBC will air two daily Olympic shows: one during Paris’ prime time and another during traditional U.S. prime time.
Raining on the Parade
From drizzles to full-on, nonstop rain, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics was a wet affair. Athletes and spectators brought out their ponchos, tarps, and umbrellas, yet many still found themselves soaked. Despite the downpour, the crowd remained cheerful, watching the unfolding spectacle along the Seine River, while Olympians paraded on the river with excitement and pride.
This year has been unusually wet for Paris, and the trend continued on Friday, July 26. Although the skies were gray with sporadic drizzle throughout the afternoon, the Paris skies briefly cleared as the ceremony began, only for the overcast to return as the event progressed down the river. Some athletes were more prepared for the weather than others, but no one let the rain dampen their spirits or enthusiasm.
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A Boat Parade
Long, beautiful, and inspiring, a boat parade featuring 6,800 athletes from 205 national delegations floated down a roughly 3.7-mile stretch of the Seine River. This Olympian entrance marked a historic moment as the first modern Olympic opening ceremony held outside a stadium. As they journeyed across the river, athletes caught glimpses of iconic landmarks, including the Grand Palais and other renowned sites. Although the rain was unfortunate for such a historic event, everyone persevered, making the day even more memorable. The spirit and enthusiasm of the participants shone through, turning a rainy day into a remarkable and unforgettable celebration.
Greece led the parade, with NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo proudly carrying the flag. As tradition dictates, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics 3,000 years ago, always opens the ceremony. The following delegations proceeded in alphabetical order based on their French names.
Team USA, appearing second to last of the Seine River parade, featured flag bearers Coco Gauff and LeBron James. Gauff, the 2023 US Open Tennis champion, made history as the youngest American flag bearer at 20 and the first tennis player to receive the honor. James, at 40, brought his Olympic experience to the City of Lights, having previously competed in the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Games.
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James’s first Olympic appearance came after winning Rookie of the Year for the 2003-04 NBA season, where he was the youngest member of the 12-man roster that won bronze in Athens. His subsequent appearances in 2008 and 2012 saw Team USA secure gold medals. Now, as he potentially embarks on his final Olympic run, James continues to inspire, turning 40 in December.
As the host country, France’s boat came down last, closing the 2024 parade. As the French delegation made its way through, the Eiffel Tower lit up the night sky, hours before its usual midnight illumination. Team USA’s boat caught a spectacular glimpse of this iconic moment, adding to the flair of the historic ceremony.
Flame Lighting Ceremony
In the final stretch of the ceremony, the torch lit the cauldron, a large hot-air balloon that ascended into the night sky. Straying away from tradition, where cauldrons are typically grounded at the Summer and Winter Games, Paris chose to create a unique extravaganza. This special gesture paid homage to the first hydrogen-filled gas balloon flight in 1783 by its French inventors.
While the illusion suggested the cauldron was flying, it was tethered to the ground, appearing to float in the air. The balloon itself was not a traditional hot-air balloon, and its flame was electric. Designed by French artist Mathieu Lehanneur, the cauldron symbolized liberty, adding a profound touch to France’s history.
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The Celine Dion
Celine Dion makes an unforgettable appearance! The French-Canadian icon dazzled attendees of the Olympics with a stunning performance after the lighting of the cauldron. From the Eiffel Tower, she delivered an emotional rendition of Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à l’amour,” marking her first performance since announcing her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome in 2022. The performance was incredible and moving, not only because of the conviction in her voice but also due to Dion’s inspiring story.
The performance, set against the historic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, was an extraordinary and emotional moment. Dion, who has remained private about her life-altering illness, has begun to open up more since the release of her 2024 documentary, ‘I Am: Celine Dion.’ Stiff-person syndrome is a rare and chronic neurological disorder causing severe muscle spasms, which can vary in severity, sometimes restricting body movement and speech.
Her appearance had been teased for weeks, but Dion and her team kept her performance under wraps until the last moment. Concluding the four-hour-long opening ceremony, her performance left athletes and Olympic fans alike stunned and in awe.
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Things to Know
Leading up to and during the opening ceremony, numerous stars contributed to the torch relay, including Snoop Dogg and Salma Hayek. Serena Williams, one of the world’s greatest tennis players, joined Carl Lewis and others in transporting the flame across the water to its nearing final stages. Their participation added a touch of star power and excitement to the event.
Over 200 national teams will be competing in 329 events over 19 days. Some events, like rugby, began on the 24th instead of the 26th. Interestingly, new disciplines have been incorporated into the Olympics: skateboarding, surfing, breaking (breakdancing), and sport climbing. These additions aim to capture the interest of a new generation and broaden the appeal of the Games.
Not all events are being held in Paris initially. For example, the basketball group phase games are being played at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France, with the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals taking place at Bercy Arena in Paris. The handball tournament will have its preliminary pool matches at South Paris Arena, with the final phase happening in Lille.
To stay up to date on locations, times, and scores for all sports competitions, it’s best to check the Paris 2024 Olympics and NBC Olympics websites.
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Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
