Paris Olympics 2024 Opening Ceremony Highlights: The quadrennial event, the biggest of the world, the Olympics 2024 officially started from Friday (July 26) in Paris, the capital of France.
The Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics was at 7:30 pm CET and it was a complete spectacle.

Charles Coste, the oldest French Olympic champion aged 100 took the Olympic flame from his wheelchair. He then passed it on to French judo great Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-José Pérec who have lit the Olympic Cauldron together.

The Olympics 2024 cauldron is lit up.
The oldest living French Olympian lights two more Olympic flames and the Cauldron is lit up by two French olympians.
A bunch of French athletes and legends are taking part in the torch relay as it moves towards the cauldron.
A French Paralympian is running the next course towards the cauldron.
Parker has transferred the flame to a bunch of athletes, who have taken over the journey towards Cauldron.
Amelie Mauresmo has transferred the flame to Tony Parker, a French Basketball player who is a legend of the NBA.
The flame has been transferred to Amelie Mauresmo, a French Tennis star. She is running with the flame towards the cauldron.

Rafael Nadal has taken the flame towards Olympic Cauldron for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Serena Williams is also on the boat with him along with Carl Lewis.
Rafael Nadal is handed over the flame by Zinedine Zidane. The Spaniard is taking it forward. Who will lit up the cauldron? It remains a mystery.
Zinedine Zidane arrives at the Olympics event and takes the flame. The France football legend hoists the flame amid arousing cheers.
The representative of global peace.
A representation of Olympic spirit and a call for peace and solidarity takes shape in the form of a horsewoman galloping across the Seine. 🕊️#Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/ocsLCdRpJc
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024

The Olympics flag is hoisted at the Eiffel Tower. The Olympic anthem is sung by an orchestra. The opening ceremony's scintillating part is at its final stages. We will move to the more official half of the show.
Flags of all participating country is gathered in front of the Eiffel Tower.
A number of musical performances are taking place at the moment. All the teams are introduced and now its all about the artistic performances.
Freed from Desire, Mind and Senses Purified!! That's the one moving the crowd. Absolute disco feeling in Paris! Love and Olympics in the air.

And here comes France, last but not the least. A team of 573 athletes, the Fench contingent is strong and will be aiming to make a mark in the Olympics on their own soil. The contingent are ecstatic as they wave to the spectators while sailing on the Seine. A majestic evening indeed!!

A team of 650 athletes, here comes team USA.

A 460-member strong Australia arrive at the Olympics 2024.
As Ukraine was introduced, the contingent received a massive cheer from the crowd. Incidentally, Russia and Belarus are banned from Olympics.

As the night arrives, the city of lights Paris continues to dazzle amid the lights.
Ukraine, Uruguay, Timor Leste, Tunisia, Vanuatu are among the countries who are being introduced in the Olympics. Venezuela also join the festivities with a perry decent number of athletes.
A gender equal and number equal Slovakia contingent in this Paris Olympics. They have 28 entrants in the Games - 14 male and 14 female.

An exotic and colourful attire from the American Samoa contingent as they take part in the Olympics 2024.
North Korea has arrived at the Paris Olympics after a long hiatus. The athletes look ecstatic as they jump in joy.
Portugal has 73 athletes in this Olympics - 37 women and 36 men who will be looking to make their nation proud.

Pakistan arrive at the Olympics 2024. The broadcasters immediately split the screen and the Indian contingent is shown as well. Who will end up with more medals in this Olympics? No prizes for guessing.
A French rapper is performing at the moment. Absolute scenes in Paris as the dusk is heading towards evening.

Nauru has only one participant in the Olympics 2024. And the athlete is bearing the flag high for the nation.
Nigeria's women's basketball team was denied an entry to the boat by one of the Nigerian official. The team arrived to take part in the Opening Ceremony but were denied to get to the boat citing overcrowding reasons. The team has now returned to the Olympic village.
The official start of the Summer Games at 8:24 PM CEST, cleverly aligning with the year 2024 in the 24-hour clock format. Unlike traditional stadium settings, this ceremony will be held outdoors along the River Seine.
Spectators will line a six-kilometer route starting with a river crossing on the Seine before settling at the Trocadéro, opposite the Eiffel Tower. Around 10,500 athletes from various national delegations will gather on boats organized by country. The Greeks will lead the procession, followed by national anthems, official speeches, and artistic performances.
The initial plan was to accommodate 600,000 spectators; however, this number has been reduced to 300,000 for safety and logistical reasons. Renowned stage director Thomas Jolly is overseeing the artistic direction of the opening ceremony. The theme song "Parade" by composer Victor Le Manse will feature prominently.
The event promises a diverse spectacle blending theatre, dance, circus acts, and opera. Segments will focus on Paris's iconic monuments and stories of people living and working near the river. Rumoured performers include Celine Dion, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and Snoop Dogg as the final torchbearer.
This opening ceremony aims to break conventions by being the largest Olympic ceremony ever held in Paris. It celebrates athletic excellence, cultural diversity, and artistic brilliance while captivating audiences worldwide.