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Marrakech – In a stunning departure from tradition, the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony swapped the stadium for the Seine river.
Under the Eiffel Tower, anticipation was electric as crowds eagerly awaited the boats’ arrival. Giant screens further up the river captured every moment, with cheers regularly rising into the evening air.
Athletes made their grand arrival by boat, cruising past iconic Parisian landmarks such as Notre Dame and the Louvre as they waved their countries flags.
Among them was the Moroccan delegation, who also arrived aboard a boat on the Seine. They were led by golder Ines Leklalech and equestrian Yassine Rahmouni, who were seen proudly waving the Moroccan flag.
Adding star power to the spectacular evening were headline performers Lady Gaga and Mali-born French pop sensation Aya Nakamura.
When Lady Gaga appeared, a massive cheer erupted. Along the Seine, watch parties shifted from snapping river pics to catching close-ups of Gaga’s captivating performance on TV.
Lady Gaga dazzled the Paris 2024 Olympics with a stunning performance of Zizi Jeanmaire’s “Mon Truc en Plumes.”
After her performance, Lady Gaga took to Instagram to share her overwhelming emotions.
She paid homage to Zizi Jeanmaire, the inspiration behind her act, and revealed how Jeanmaire had influenced her own career.
“Zizi starred in Cole Porter’s musical ‘Anything Goes’ which was my first jazz release. Although I am not a French artist, I have always felt a very special connection with French people and singing French music,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Aya Nakamura brought the glam, kicking off the Games in a metallic minidress and platinum blonde hair while performing “Pookie” with dancers and a live band from France’s Republican Guard.
The next segment of the opening ceremony, “Sportivité,” kicked off with a mesmerizing break-dance performance by a dancer dressed in all white along the Seine.
French mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel then took the stage, delivering a majestic rendition of “La Marseillaise” from the roof of the Grand-Palais.
As she reached the song’s stirring climax, “To arms, citizens! Form your battalions. Let’s march, let’s march. That their impure blood should water our fields,” Saint-Cirel opted up an octave, bringing the anthem to an emphatic, showstopping finish.
As dusk descended and rain poured, the river under the Eiffel Tower sparkled with lights, reminding everyone why this is the City of Light.
The French national anthem echoed along the Seine, bringing tears to the eyes of many in the rain.
