A glimpse of glittering Paris Olympics opening ceremony on River Seine

New Delhi: A total of 205 nations along with the Refugee Olympic Team sailed down the River Seine in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 on Friday (July 26). Despite the threatining rain showers, the participants remained unperturbed to enjoy the event of the biggest sporting spectacle that was officially opened.

For the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony took place outside the main stadium with more than 6,800 athletes participating in the traditional ‘Parade of Nations’ down the Seine past the historic monuments of the French capital, in what was called as ‘River Parade’.

The contingents were accommodated in 85 boats with some 3,00,000 people watching them from the specially built stands on the river banks, and another 200,000 from overlooking balconies and apartments, as reported by news agency AFP.

Going with the tradition, Greek was the first contingent to march in the Parade of Nations as it is considered to be the birthplace of the Olympic movement. The show blended French culture and history while a pre-recorded cabaret-style segment from US pop star Lady Gaga featured prominently in the early stages of the parade.

Franco-Malian R&B superstar Aya Nakamura, the most listened to French-speaking singer in the world, also sang, defying criticism from far-right activists. Dozens of pink-skirted can-can dancers provided a stunning splash of colour on the banks of the Seine in another standout moment.

Here are some of the pictures from the opening ceremony for our readers:

A mysterious torchbearer at the Louvre Museum. (Photo: Olympic Games)

Dancers at the Pont Notre-Dame and Paris City Hall. (Photo: Olympic Games)

French-Malian singer-songwriter Aya Nakamura (centre) performs on the Pont des Arts. (Photo: Olympic Games)

Indian Olympic Contingent at Paris Olympics opening ceremony. (Photo: Olympic Games)

Spain contingent at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. (Photo: Olympic Games)

Japan contingent at Paris Olympics opening ceremony. (Photo: Olympic Games)

A view of boat where multiple national flags can be seen at one glance. (Photo: Olympic Games)

An impersonation of Greek God Dionysus. (Photo: Olympic Games)

The Trocadéro stage is shaped like the Eiffel Tower. (Photo: Olympic Games)

The Flame at the Iconic River Seine. (Photo: Olympic Games)

French President, Emmanuel Macron and Thomas Bach, President of International Olympic Committee (IOC), are seen prior to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Place du Trocadero on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Singer Lady Gaga performs before the opening ceremony. Photo: Sina Schuldt/dpa (Photo by Sina Schuldt/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Security guards and police guards observe the city during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Markus Gilliar – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

Spectators watch on as the big screen shows the Smoke resembling the flag of Team France over Pont d’Austerlitz during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Team Greece cruises during the athletes’ parade on the River Seine during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Markus Gilliar – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

What is Paris Olympics about?

The Paris Olympics 2024 is the 33rd edition of the Summer Games scheduled between July 27 and August 11. Around 10,000 athletes will participate in 32 sports and there will be 329 medal events. Breaking, Skateboarding, Surfing and Sport Climbing are the new sporting events added to this edition besides all the core sports. Paris will host the quadrennial showpiece event for the third time after 1900 and 1924. The French capital joins London as the second city to host three Olympics event.

(With inputs from AFP)