Olympics Highlights, Opening Ceremony Paris 2024: Ceremony concludes with lighting of hot-air balloon cauldron

Here’s French president Emmanuel Macron declaring the 2024 Paris Olympics open shortly before the final torch relay.

Les Jeux de Paris 2024 sont ouverts ! pic.twitter.com/qu2FzvO8qE

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 26, 2024

The evening’s festivities in Paris conclude with Celine Dion performing Edith Piaf’s L’Hymne à l’amour on the Eiffel Tower!

And with that, the four-hour opening ceremony comes to an end!

🤩 @celinedion is spectacular and Paris sparkles with the Olympic spirit! ✨

Paris 2024 is here!!! 🎉#Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/es3KmnGD2k

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024

The big moment has finally arrrived!

Nadal, Serena, Comaneci and Lewis hand the Olympic torch to tennis legend Amelie Mauresmo, who is joined by a host of other French sporting icons including 100-year-old cycling champion Charles Coste who joins them at the Gardens of the Tuileries, where the Olympic Cauldron awaits them.

And this is a cauldron like no other — it actually goes airborne. The cauldron turns out to be the base of a hot-air balloon, commemorating the first-ever hot-air balloon flight in 1783 in the city that is set to host the 33rd Olympics.

The focus is back on the Olympic torch relay and looks like this will be the final leg of the opening ceremony!

The masked individual who had been seen parkouring across various iconic spots in Paris, hands the torch to Zinedine Zidane, who in turn passes it to Rafael Nadal!

Nadal then joins fellow sporting legends Carl Lewis, Serena Williams and Nadia Comăneci in a boat.

🤝 Two sporting legends passing the flame. 🔥#Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/0yM9xo21eE

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024

“Long live the Olympic Games, long live France,” says IOC chief Bach, concludding his speech

That is followed by French president Emmanuel Macron declaring the Paris 2024 Olympics open, and French flag-bearers Florent Manaudou and Melina Robert-Michon taking the athletes’ oath.

Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, and IOC president Thomas Bach speak at the Opening Ceremony

While Estanguet welcomes the world back to Paris a century after it last hosted the Olympics, Bach promises a more sustainable, younger, inclusive games, and the first with gender equality

After galloping through the Seine, the mystery horse rider makes her way to the Eiffel Tower before riding towards Trocadéro Palace, where she hands over the Olympic flag, which is hoisted with the Olympic anthem being performed by Radio France Choir and the French National Orchesta. All along, the global feed shows key moments from the Summer Olympic Games over the years.

With the floating parade having come to an end, the remainder of the opening ceremony will now take place at the Trocadéro Palace in front of the Eiffel Tower, including the lighting of the Olympic torch.

The Olympic flag is being raised to the Olympic Anthem, performed by 60 choristers from the Radio France Choir, and 90 musicians from the French National Orchestra. 🎶

Look closely – the Trocadéro stage is shaped like the Eiffel Tower! 🇫🇷#Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/sLhp3jFEds

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024

We have several other performances and special moments after the conclusion of the floating parade, including a rendition of ‘Imagine’ by Juliette Armanet and a rider on a metallic horseback ‘galloping’ down the Seine. The horserider’s wearing a cape that has the Olympic rings on it, representing the spirit of friendship and solidarity.

🌏🤍And the world will live as one.

It’s always a powerful moment when “Imagine” is performed at the Olympic Games #OpeningCeremony.#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/kIpeLgA8Gx

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024

🌏🤍And the world will live as one.

It’s always a powerful moment when “Imagine” is performed at the Olympic Games #OpeningCeremony.#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/kIpeLgA8Gx

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024

Thank God there are no icebergs on the Seine

Near, far, wherever you are... 😉#OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/xFbbCCk1y1

— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 26, 2024

Special gesture from the Algerian contingent during the floating parade earlier today

The Algerian Olympics team threw flowers in the Seine, at the point where in 1961 around 200 Algerians were drowned by French police crushing a protest against an anti-Muslim curfew. https://t.co/kB9qfyCcb7

— David Broder (@broderly) July 26, 2024

The floating parade comes to an end with Australia, USA and France the last contingents to set sail in their respective boats! Australia and USA host the 2032 and 2028 Olympics in Brisbane and Los Angeles respectively while France are hosting the current edition!

Welcome @TeamUSA 🫡 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/LQClO2X0Uu

— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) July 26, 2024

Team Ukraine receive a loud cheer as their boat floats along the Seine

Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus, the nations that have been at war with Ukraine since 2022, are banned from the Opening Ceremony.

Onto nations starting with ’S’. Novak Djokovic is on the boat housing the Serbian contingent, the 24-time Grand Slam winner aiming to add Olympic gold to his rich career haul!

Meanwhile, what is an Olympic opening ceremony in France without a bit of fashion?

We also had a section highlighting 10 famous women from French history, including film director Alice Guy and world-class athlete Alice Milliat.

American singer-songwriter and actor Lady Gaga reacts for the first time since performing Mon truc en plumes at the Paris 2024 opening ceremony.

Nations starting with ‘M’ are making their way into the parade now, including Malaysia, Malta, Morocco among others.

It’s been raining for the better part of the opening ceremony so far; while some contingents have been spotted wearing raincoats, others have opted to flaunt the uniforms designed for the occasions regardless of the weather.

The Minions are followed by a spectacular rendition of La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, by Axelle Saint-Cirel from the rooftop of the Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées.

The minions from the ‘Despicable Me’ franchise make an appearance at the opening ceremony! Apparently, they’re searching for the Mona Lisa that has gone ‘missing’ from the Louvre, only to find it floating along the Seine!

The 117-strong Indian contingent finally make their way through the Seine with PV Sindhu and Achanta Sharath Kamal as their flagbearers!

They are followed by Indonesia!

French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura performs in the Paris 2024 opening ceremony after Lady Gaga and she is welcomed in style with fireworks!

Aya Nakamura! One of France’s greatest pop stars, and the orchestra of the Republican Guard performing on the Pont des Arts.

This moment celebrates the unifying power of the French language, influenced by diverse communities across time. #Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/QYlS3EOD3G

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024

One of the landmarks covered during the mystery torchbearer’s journey across Paris!

Our mystery torchbearer has stumbled upon a Les Misérables rehearsal in the Théâtre du Chatelet.

Victor Hugo’s novel is a defining symbol of France.#Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/sZezq2UPUK

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024

Meanwhile a masked individual is carrying the Olympic torch, parkouring his way across the Paris skyline!

Remains to be seen who the mystery individual is. Might just be Kylian Mbappe for all we know!

The American singer and actress was widely rumoured to be part of the Paris 2024 opening ceremony, and she does show up, much to the delight of the dignitaries, athletes and Parisians!

To add to the French flavour of the occasion, she sings in French!

Next up we have Afghanistan, South Africa, Albania, Algeria, Germany, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan.

Some of the nations with smaller contingents are sharing boats.

Remember, the nations are entering the parade alphabetically, albeit in their French names instead of English. So Germany finds itself ahead on the list due to its French name being Alemania.

Greece traditionally begins the Olympic opening ceremony being the home of the ancient Olympics. They are followed by the Refugee Olympic Team.

The live coverage of the opening ceremony begins with a montage featuring iconic French footballer Zinedine Zidane. Shortly after, the camera cuts to French President Emmanuel Macron and IOC chief Thomas Bach.

India’s badminton stars seem to be all geared up for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. Lakshya Sen, who will be playing in his debut Olympics, shared a photo on ‘X’ with his teammates in the ceremonial dress outfit.

Honored to represent India with the amazing Indian team in our national colors! 🇮🇳 Let's make India proud! #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/td6cbSztUP

— Lakshya Sen (@lakshya_sen) July 26, 2024

Less than an hour remains for the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Wishes are pouring in from people all over the country, and Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar joined in wishing India’s athletes the best. Here’s his message:

The @Olympics have always been a celebration of unity and excellence. As #Paris2024 begins, let's cheer on our incredible team of 117 athletes representing 1.4 billion hearts. Go out there and make us proud, Team India. Jai Hind!@Media_SAI @WeAreTeamIndia @IndiaSports… pic.twitter.com/UHQJvfpawJ

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 26, 2024

In case you missed it, the Olympic torch relay entered its final leg as the torch travelled through Club France ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Here are a few photos from the event:

🇫🇷🔥 La Flamme Olympique s'est rendue au Club France en présence des porte-drapeaux français pour l'épilogue du Relais !
Rendez-vous au Parc de la Villette pendant toute la période des Jeux Olympiques pour célébrer nos champions.

Le Relais continue toute la journée en direct sur… pic.twitter.com/rfGrRr0pr7

— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) July 26, 2024

It’s now less than two hours set for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics that will be held at river Seine. A reminder of the time of the ceremony —It will begin at 11 pm IST (7.30 pm local time) with more than 10,000 athletes from around the world to take part in a floating parade.

2 hours left until the #OpeningCeremony! 🤩
Are you ready celebrate the official beginning of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games ? 🔥
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H-2 🤩
Plus que deux petites heures qui nous séparent d'une soirée mémorable pleine de surprises !!! 🥰
Prêts à vibrer au rythme des Jeux Olympiques… pic.twitter.com/RXiuv9RMDL

— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) July 26, 2024