The 2024 Paris Olympics are underway, with the opening ceremony taking place in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. It’s a rainy day in Paris, but that hasn’t stopped the flags from waving, athletes from marching or fans from cheering. As the world gathers to celebrate its greatest competitors alongside the banks of the Seine River — the first time an opening ceremony has ever taken place outside of a stadium — here’s a look at the best moments from what promises to be an epic beginning.
History for Giannis
Giannis Antetokounmpo makes history as the first Black flagbearer for Greece during the Opening Ceremony in Paris ๐ฌ๐ท pic.twitter.com/l0OgbMmzvT
โ NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 26, 2024
Snoop makes an appearance
Hoda and Snoop Dogg grooving to Lady Gaga. ๐บ#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/8arHgqoPEs
โ NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 26, 2024
Nice shades, A’ja
Steph with the assist to A’ja ๐๐
(via @_ajawilson22) pic.twitter.com/rVKWYyQmLV
โ ESPN (@espn) July 26, 2024
Gaga, ooh la la
Surprise! Lady Gaga put on a jaw-dropping French cabaret performance along the Seine.
Allons-y!
The Flame is here! Are you ready for this 6km celebration of sport along the iconic River Seine? ๐
Are you ready for the Olympic Games Paris 2024? ๐#Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/sfHRiqcwIS
โ The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024
Weather warning
PARIS — Greetings from the Trocadero, the famed palace that sits on the Seine River, directly across from the Eiffel Tower. It is the place where the path of Friday night’s Opening Summer Olympic Ceremony is slated to end.
After a week of gorgeous, mostly sunny skies over the host city, rain clouds have covered it all today. While so far there haven’t been any major downpours, the on-again, off-again nature of the rains have made ponchos and umbrellas a necessity for those watching in open-air spaces along the river — including those of us covering the event for ESPN!
Speaking of the body of water that winds through Paris, you’re probably well aware that for several kilometers of the river’s path, athletes from the nations represented at these Games will travel by boat before making their arrival to the place where we’re sitting.
In box seats to our right are dignitaries from all over the globe. From presidents to prime ministers, to famous footballers and other former athletes, those stands are full.
While the boxes have been filling ahead of the start of the Ceremony, workers with ladders and tools have been going around the box-seat area and a nearby walkway that athletes and performers may walk on during the evening, making final adjustments and construction fixes. Two such workers were on the walkway less than 30 minutes until the start of the event. — Coley Harvey
The pre-Opening Ceremony selfie in two acts:
Sad because it started raining and I can’t show off the ‘fit. Happy because we’re in front of the Eiffel Tower on this nonetheless awesome day #Olympics pic.twitter.com/W7MQuSRD1v
โ Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) July 26, 2024