Updated Jul 26, 2024 - Sports
In photos: Athletes sail through Seine River for Paris Olympics opening ceremony
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Smoke clouds in the tricolors of the France flag are seen at Pont d'Austerlitz during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26. Photo: Ann Wang/Pool/Getty Images
Athletes representing 184 countries sailed through the Seine River for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday.
The big picture: Dignitaries and fans watched as participants paraded across 3.7 miles of water on more than 90 boats, instead of the traditional march into a stadium.
- Surrounded by dancers and feathers, singer Lady Gaga performed actress Renée Jeanmaire's "Mon Truc en Plumes" ("My Thing With Feathers").
- French mega pop star Aya Nakamura, accompanied by the orchestra of the French Republican Guard and choristers from the French Army, performed her hit songs on the Pont des Arts in addition to classics from Charles Aznavour.
- After the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, singer Celine Dion closed the ceremony with Edith Piaf's "L'Hymne à l'amour."
- Follow Axios' Paris Olympics coverage here.
In photos:
Go deeper:
- "Coordinated" arson attacks disrupt French rail on Olympics opening day
- Paris Postcard: Locked-down city eerily quiet before Olympics begin
- How and where to watch Olympics games
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional photos.
