After a century-long wait, Paris welcomed back the Summer Olympics with a historic Opening Ceremony on the River Seine, marking the first time in Olympic history that the ceremony has taken place outside the host city’s main stadium.
Despite the rain, the event was a vibrant spectacle as around 6,800 athletes from across the globe assembled behind their flagbearers and cruised down a six-kilometer stretch of the River Seine on 85 boats, from the Austerlitz Bridge to the Trocadero.
French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Games open before the waterborne celebration reached its climax with French sporting icons Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec igniting the Olympic cauldron with the Olympic Flame.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, serving as President Xi Jinping’s Special Representative, was among a host of international dignitaries in attendance at the Opening Ceremony, highlighting the global unity symbolized by the Games.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach expressed his gratitude to the organizers and the French people, stating, “You are bringing our Olympic Agenda reforms to life by making these Games wide open. All of us will experience Olympic Games that are more inclusive, more urban, younger, and more sustainable – the first Olympic Games with full gender parity on the field of play.”
The Paris 2024 Olympics promise to be a transformative event, showcasing innovation and inclusivity, and setting a new standard for future Games.
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Historic ceremony on River Seine opens 2024 Paris Summer Olympics
cgtn.com
