Let the Games Begin! Despite stormy weather and torrential rains, the 2024 Paris Olympics kicked off with a breathtaking display, perfectly capturing why the French capital is known as 'la Ville Lumière'—the City of Light. This year marked a historic first: the Opening Ceremony was not held in a stadium, but along the Seine River, the city's main artery.
The festivities commenced with Greece leading the Parade of Nations, where athletes from nearly 200 countries sailed along the Seine on boats.
The highlight of the evening was an electrifying performance by American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga. Her dazzling show set the tone for a nearly three-hour celebration of French culture and heritage.
Gaga performed the French classic 'Mon truc en plume' by Zizi Jeanmaire, eliciting rapturous applause from fans who had gathered along the riverbanks since early afternoon.
The ceremony was a bold departure from tradition. Instead of the usual stadium parade, athletes were paraded on boats on the Seine, each boat equipped with cameras for viewers to get a close-up view of the competitors.
Most of the 10,500 athletes made their way through central Paris, where they will compete over the next 16 days. The parade concluded its 6-kilometer journey at the Trocadero.
Eighty giant screens and strategically positioned speakers ensured that the spectacular event's magic reverberated across the city.
As the parade boats floated by, athletes glimpsed several official Games venues, including Parc Urbain La Concorde, Esplanade des Invalides, Grand Palais, and the Iena Bridge, where the parade ended before the finale at the Trocadero.
One of the ceremony's most memorable moments was when legendary footballer Zinedine Zidane handed the Olympic Flame to Rafael Nadal. The crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating the iconic moment.
The torch was then carried down the Seine by a boat carrying Nadal, Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comaneci.
With the final flourish, the Games were officially declared open.
* Rain Can't Dampen Spirits *
Although the rain threatened to dampen the mood, the audience remained steadfast, eager to witness history.
Paris, hosting the Olympics for the third time in a century, is pulling out all the stops to ensure the event's success.
* Indian Contingent Shines with P.V. Sindhu and Sharath Kamal *
A delegation of 78 Indian athletes and officials from 12 disciplines participated in the parade. The women athletes donned blue sarees, while the men wore blue blazers and trousers.
* Action Begins on Saturday *
Indian athletes will make their debut on the first day of the Games in seven sports, including hockey, shooting, and badminton.
According to Saturday's (July 27) schedule, Indian rower Balraj Panwar will compete in the men’s single sculls (Heat 1) at 12:30 p.m. IST.
In shooting, Elavenil Valarivan and Sandeep Singh, as well as Arjun Babuta and Ramita Jindal, will participate in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Qualification at 12:30 p.m. The 10m Air Pistol Men's Qualification will feature Arjun Singh Cheema and Sarabjot Singh.
Manu Bhaker and Rhythm Sangwan will begin their campaign at 4 p.m. in the 10m Air Pistol Women's Qualification.
In tennis, Rohan Bopanna and Sriram Balaji will face French duo Fabian Reboul and Edouard Roger Vasselin in the men’s doubles first-round match at 3:30 p.m.
Lakshya Sen will compete against Kevin Cordon in the men's singles group stage match at 7:10 p.m.
In badminton, India's leading men’s doubles team, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, will play against France’s Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar at 8:30 p.m. The women's doubles team of Ashwini Ponappa and Tanisha Crasto will face Korea’s Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong at 11:50 p.m.
Harmeet Desai will start his men’s singles table tennis campaign against Jordan's Yaman Zaid Jor Abo in the preliminary round at 7:15 p.m.
After their historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the Indian men’s hockey team will look to upgrade their medal as they face New Zealand in a Pool B match at 9 p.m. IST.
In boxing, Preeti Pawar will take on Vietnam’s Vo Thi Kim Anh in the women’s 54kg round of 32 clash at 11:40 p.m.
Read also | Dravid’s Key Advice to Gambhir: Pause and Reflect During High-Stress Moments
Read also | Suryakumar Yadav Reflects on Special Bond with Coach Gambhir Ahead of SL v IND Series
