Let the games begin. The Paris Olympics kicked off with a bang on Friday, July 26, during the opening ceremony hosted along the River Seine. Athletes from across the world repped their country and artists channeled French pop culture history with ballooning levels of spectacle — from Lady Gaga channeling a French cabaret icon to Les Mis being turned into a rock opera backed by multiple headless Marie Antoinette figures.
Even in the pouring rain, the performers leaned fully into spectacle for a wild ride of an opening event as the torch made its way to its final destination. Here are the best and wildest moments the opening ceremony had to offer.
Céline Dion Makes Grand Return to the Stage — on the Eiffel Tower
Canadian icon Céline Dion made her grand return to the stage during the opening ceremony with a performance of Édith Piaf’s famous “Hymne à L’amour,” or “The Hymn to Love.” Dion stood tall and proud while belting out the record under the light of the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower.
The musician has been mostly unable to perform for nearly two years. In late 2022, she revealed her diagnosis with Stiff Person Syndrome. The rare neurological condition can cause stiffness in the body and limbs, as well as debilitating spasms, which also impacts Dion’s vocal cords. But the singer has been vocal in her confidence that she will continue to sing no matter what roadblocks come her way. In Paris, her strength was put on full display.
Throuples, Les Mis Rock Opera, Headless Marie Antoinette: An Ode to the French Revolution
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director for the opening and closing ceremonies, wanted to lean fully into French clichés and stereotypes, which meant highlighting beheadings, throuples, and faceless torchbearers bringing chaotic energy to historic locations like Notre-Dame and the Louvre. The Liberté section of the opening ceremony began with the first ringing of the bell at Notre-Dame since a fire destroyed portions of the cathedral five years ago.
Choristers dressed as headless Marie Antoinettes — holding her own head, it should be noted — shifted the opening ceremony into bewildering territory. They performed the revolutionary song “Ah Ça Ira” with a heavy metal band dropping in to turn the section of the ceremony into a full-blown rock opera.
Another scene highlighted “A La Volonté du Peuple,” or “Do You Hear the People Sing,” from Les Misérables performed by the Théâtre du Chatelet. The section aimed to encapsulate the political and personal emancipation of Paris. From platforms and balconies on the side of an old building, the performers were highlighted with blasts of pyrotechnics.
Lady Gaga Pays Homage to French Cabaret Icon Zizi Jeanmaire
Lady Gaga is an expert in delivering over-the-top performances in style. As the first performance of the opening ceremony, the musician dug deep into French pop culture history with a set paying homage to the cabaret icon Zizi Jeanmarie. Gaga’s performance channeled the singer, dancer, and actress’ 1965 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, where she performed “Mon Truc En Plumes” with feather-backed choreography. Gaga moved in tune with her dancers, shuffling up and down a gold staircase while their pink feather pompoms bounced around her. She delivered the song entirely in French, tapping into the jazz show-tunes performance style she knows and executes so well.
Aya Nakamura Glitters in Gold
The French-Malian singer and songwriter Aya Nakamura embodied the confidence and expertise of an Olympic gold medalist during her glimmering performance. The pop star was backed by the orchestra of the French Republican Guard for a medley of songs including “Pookie,” “Djadja,” and Charles Aznavour’s “For Me Formidable” and “La Bohème.” 36 choristers from the French Army joined Nakamura, but her head-to-toe gold ensemble made her the center of attention during the thrilling run. She performed on the Pont des Arts bridge, which links the Institut de France to the Louvre.
Pharrell Williams Styles Rapper Rim’K in Louis Vuitton
French-Algerian artist Rim’K took the stage at the opening ceremony in a stylish display of both the sound and fashion of hip-hop. The rapper and producer performed in a red and black ensemble from Louis Vuitton, which was designed by Pharrell Williams — the luxury brand’s men’s creative director.
Pharrell himself played a role in the torch journey ahead of the opening ceremony. The musician carried the Olympic flame to the top of the Saint-Denis Basilica earlier today. When he arrived there, he placed it in a Louis Vuitton trunk. Snapshots of the brand’s iconic pattern appeared throughout the ceremony. During one portion of the opening event, a crew of breakdancing mimes used massive Louis Vuitton trunks as part of their chaotic choreography.
Coco Gauff Makes Olympics History as U.S. Flag Bearer Alongside LeBron James
Basketball legend LeBron James and tennis star Coco Gauff were voted flag bearers by their fellow U.S. athletes. The pair rode on the River Siene alongside the other participants representing the U.S. in the game. With Gauff in the role, she became the first-ever tennis player to be flag bearer and the youngest in U.S. Olympic history at 20-years-old. “It means a lot to me to be here and represent Team USA and be with the goat here, Mr. LeBron James. It means a lot,” Gauff shared from the boat. “I’m so excited, and I can’t wait to do well in the games.”
LeBron added: “It’s an honor, obviously. It goes back all the way to my hometown and to my communities, all our communities. For myself and Coco, for us to be able to represent our country — us being Black kids as well — to represent our culture, represent where we come from, it gives everybody so much hope where we come from, and that’s all we can ask for. We take it with utmost responsibility and utmost honor.”
John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Imagine” Soundtracks Call for Peace
John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Imagine” was the sound of choice for the Obscurité – Darkness chapter of the opening ceremony. The classic record was performed by singer Juliette Armane with Sofian Pamart on piano as fire burned around them. From a platform floating on the River Seine, the pair channeled the theme of peace at the center of the segment. Towards the end of the set, the phrase “We all stand and call for peace” flashed across the screen. Shortly after the song concluded, lights on an LED dove lit up on a bridge across the river.
Snoop Dogg Catches Up With Simone Biles’ Family
Snoop Dogg played a key role in bringing in the 2024 Summer Olympics as a torchbearer carrying the Olympic flame through the Saint-Denis suburb outside of Paris. After his torch duties were complete, he clocked in for his gig as a special correspondent for NBC’s coverage of the games. One of his first roles of the day included checking in with Simone Biles’ family. Biles missed the opening ceremony to focus on her competitions this weekend, but her parents Ronald and Nellie Biles, and 15 other family members, arrived on her behalf.
“She’s feeling really good. We spoke to her this morning and she’s doing great,” Biles’ mother shared. “She is happy that we’re here and that the family — 17 of us — are here to cheer her on.” Nellie also shared a fun anecdote with Snoop about their first encounter more than a decade ago. “Snoop, I don’t know if you know this, but you know Simone and you have known each other for a long time,” she said. “I will never forget you in Times Square in 2010, because we asked for a picture. You said, ‘Two minutes.’ One, two, and you were gone.”
