The 2024 Olympics kicked off with an impressive, star-studded opening ceremony in Paris.
The event featured a brand new look, opting instead for the typical flashy displays inside the stadium to highlight the stunning backdrop of the Seine and the city itself.
Being in Paris, we were expecting some big name artists and celebrities to be there, and that expectation was definitely realised.
Zinedine Zidane
French football legend Zinedine Zidane kicked off the Olympics by carrying the Olympic torch in a pre-filmed sketch to mark the opening of the Games.
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lady gaga
As many expected, Lady Gaga appeared at the opening ceremony, singing in French with dancers, choreographers and an orchestra as the athletes floated down the Seine.
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Marie Antoinette
Well, not really, but someone dressed as Marie Antoinette had her own disembodied head.
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Nakamura Aya
The mega-popular French pop star performed in an all-gold outfit, with dancers accompanying her as she walked through the beautiful backdrop of Paris.
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Stephen Curry and A’ja Wilson
NBA and WNBA stars were each interviewed during the NBC broadcast about their Olympic goals and experiences.
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Michael Phelps
The Olympic GOAT, swimmer Michael Phelps, also appeared in the procession, though, of course, he’s no longer competing.
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Minions
Yes, for some reason, some sort of Minion ad appeared in the middle of the ceremony, apparently created by a French artist.
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Godzilla
French metal band very Honoring the section after the metal performance Les Misérables.
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Noah Lyles
The fastest man in the world appeared on NBC for another high-profile interview, in which Lyles promised to win not only the 100 meters but also the 200 meters.
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Rim K
French rapper Rim’K performed on a riverboat.
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Snoop Dogg
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Grammy-nominated rapper Snoop Dogg was seen carrying the Olympic torch through the streets of Saint-Denis on Friday, but he also did a little dance move after a performance by Algerian-French rapper Lim K.
LeBron James and Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff and LeBron James, the flag bearers for the U.S. team, were interviewed during the NBC broadcast. In a joint interview, the tennis star and the NBA icon spoke about their excitement to represent the U.S. in Paris.
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Joel Embiid
Former NBA MVP Joel Embiid appeared in an interview with NBC Sports about why he chose to play in the United States over his native France or Cameroon.
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Juliet Armanet
The French singer beautifully sang “Imagine” on a floating boat accompanied by a burning piano. Very cool.
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Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, Serena Williams
Spanish tennis superstar Rafael Nadal took the torch from Zidane toward the end of the ceremony, joined by Serena Williams and former track and field star Carl Lewis on a boat on the Seine.
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Tony Parker
A retired French NBA star helped pass the torch.
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Celine Dion
After a lengthy ceremony and a long wait for Dion, she finally performed as promised — and in style! She did so at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
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