With an ambitious and unique opening ceremony, the 2024 Paris Olympics are getting under way with thousands of Olympians, including Team USA athletes, cruising along the Seine River.
The city’s iconic landmarks are providing a stunning backdrop for the parade of nations. Athletes from around the world, including Team USA flag bearers LeBron James and Coco Gauff, are floating on boats for the six-kilometer route that travels east to west across Paris from the Pont d’Austerlitz to the Trocadero.
USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates from Paris, highlights and more throughout the opening ceremony. Follow along.
The rain wasn’t spoiling the party for LeBron James, Coco Gauff and the rest of the U.S. Olympic team.
“Representing the red, white and blue, there’s no better time,” James said during an interview with NBC’s Maria Taylor during the parade of nations. “We’re here for the USA and ready to go out and compete at a high level.”
The NBA superstar and the Grand Slam champion were selected as flagbearers by the rest of the U.S. team. Flagbearers held their country’s flags aloft as the team boats floated down the Seine while other athletes waved smaller flags. But Gauff and James also took time to pose for photos with others on the boat – including the captain – and take in the sights of Paris.
“Seeing a lot of water, first off,” Gauff said. “But also some amazing people, a lot of amazing athletes and we’re all excited to represent Team USA.”
Asked if the steady rain put a damper on their special moment, James said no.
“The rain can’t stop us,” he said. — Nancy Armour
We don’t yet know as the torch bearer has been wearing a face mask so far during the opening ceremony.
Axelle Saint-Cirel performs French national anthem on Grand Palais roof
On the roof of the Grand-Palais and wearing colors of the French flag, Axelle Saint-Cirel, the Choeur and the Maîtrise de Radio France performed the French national anthem, called The Marseillaise. It was composed in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, who was an officer for the French Engineers. It was declared the national anthem in 1795. As the national anthem was performed, the Republic Guard raised the flag at the Trocadéro. Composer Victor le Masne musically rearranged the national anthem for the opening ceremony.
Women’s basketball forward A’Ja Wilson looks to have added an extra piece of fashion to her Team USA Ralph Lauren outfit — thanks to the help of Steph Curry. The Golden State Warriors guard — who is making his Olympic debut with USA Basketball in Paris — gifted Wilson Olympics-themed sunglasses for Friday’s opening ceremony.
The 2028 Summer Olympics will be in Los Angeles. The city has hosted twice before: 1932 and 1984.
Here’s a look the nails of Noah Lyles, who is the fastest man in the world so far this year.
There are 10,714 athletes from 206 different countries scheduled to take part in this year’s Olympic Games. The United States will have the largest national delegation at the Summer Games in Paris with 593 athletes. Host nation France is second with 573, followed by Australia (460), Germany (427), Japan (404), Italy (403), China (388), Spain (382), Great Britain (327) and Canada (318) rounding out the top 10.
Why was Australia after Zambia and Zimbabwe at opening ceremony?
The sight of the Australian team coming after Zambia and Zimbabwe might have taken those who know their alphabet by surprise. But there was a reason for the Aussies being so far out of alphabetical order. Countries that are hosting upcoming Olympics come at the end of the Parade of Nations. Brisbane is hosting the 2032 Summer Games, so Australia was the third-to-last team. The United States was second-to-last, with the Olympics returning to Los Angeles in four years. And France, the host of these Paris Olympics, was the last country in the 85-boat flotilla. — Nancy Armour
The Paris Olympic opening ceremony is estimated to last more than three hours.
The order of the parade of nations is determined by the French spelling of their country names. Germany is Allemagne in French, for example, so it goes with the As, not the Gs. The only exceptions are the United States, which is Etats-Unis in French but goes second-to-last because it is hosting the next Summer Games, and France, because it’s the host country.
The metal band Gojira, who performed at the Olympics opening ceremony, is made up of Joe Duplantier, Mario Duplantier, Christian Andreu and Jean-Michel La- badie. They performed at the Conciergerie, which was the residence of French kings in medieval times. It became a prison during the French revolution and Marie-Antoinette was one of its most famous prisoners. Gojira performed alongside singer Marina Viotti.
Aya Nakamura Olympics opening ceremony performance
Aya Nakamura is one of France’s most famous pop stars, performing performed “Pookie, Djadja” and “For me formidable, La Bohéme” at the opening ceremony alongside 60 musicians from the Republican Guard and 36 choristers of the French Army. Nakamura mixes elements of R&B, Afropop and Parisian street slang, and her most famous song is “Djadja.” She’s been compared to Rihanna and Cardi B.
Once again, Russia is technically banned from appearing at the Olympic Games. Yet once again, Russian athletes will compete under a different name − a handful of them, at least.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, which begin this week, 15 athletes from Russia − and 18 from neighboring Belarus − are slated to compete as “Individual Neutral Athletes,” or AINs for short, according to the most recent statistics released by the International Olympic Committee on Saturday. The AIN classification means that Russian and Belarusian flags, national anthems and uniforms will be absent from the Paris Games. — Tom Schad
There are 593 American Olympians at the Paris Games. Meet Team USA.
More than 200 countries are competing in the 2024 Olympics, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
Minions — of the “Despicable Me” franchise and its spinoff movie, “Minions” — made a digital appearance at the opening ceremony. In a video with the “unknown” athlete running with the Olympic torch, the Minions are seen acting out a scene in a submarine submerged in the Seine.
Lady Gaga performed “Mon truc en Plumes” by Zizi Jeanmaire on makeshift Metro steps during the opening ceremony. She was dressed by House of Dior.
So far, Lady Gaga, metal band Gojira and French pop star Aya Nakamura are among those who have performed at the opening ceremony so far.
Who made medals for the Paris Olympics?
The Monnaie de Paris, which has been minting France’s coins since 864. The company also made the medals for the Athens Olympics in 1896, the first modern Olympic Games, and the two previous Summer Games in Paris, in 1900 and 1924.
How many medals were made for the Paris Olympics?
5,084.
Greece goes first at the opening ceremony every Olympics because it is the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
NBC opening ceremony co-host Peyton Manning sported an arm band on his right forearm during the opening ceremony broadcast, much like he did during his playing days as an NFL quarterback. He joked he was wearing it because he had notes on all 200-plus countries in the opening ceremomny.
Where is Team USA in opening ceremony parade of nations?
Second-to-last. The country that will host the next Summer Games is the last in the parade of nations, ahead of the current host, and Los Angeles will be home to the 2028 Olympics.
“That is an honor,” he said. “If I am the flag bearer, great. If I am not, OK. I am just happy that I have a good coaching staff and a good team, I am in the Olympics.”
Rachael Raskovich, Amanda Mason-Sekula and Kelly Holmes arrived at the opening ceremony wearing American flag themed hats, red white and blue glasses and sequin USA jackets with “Proud American” stitched on the back.
“Amazon,” Raskovich said with a smile when asked about the gear.
The trio of friends met in law school and said they will spend the next week or so hopping around to events around the city. They have tickets to beach volleyball and equestrian, Raskovich said, among other sports. Their group was just one of the many clad in red, white and blue that lined the southern banks of the Seine River on Friday night. Doris Ng of Chicago was among the U.S. spectators who were still searching for a good spot from which to view the ceremony in the hour before it began.
“We thought we were going to be on time,” she said. “I think everybody else beat us to the punch already.”
Fortunately, she also has tickets to the closing ceremony, she said. — Tom Schad
One man saw my media credential and wanted to make sure — despite barely speaking English — that he was upset over a rumor Celine Dion had been paid 2 million Euros to perform one song at the opening ceremony. Another woman, an American who has lived in Paris for 15 years, said property taxes went up and yet Parisians were not given much access to events or even public spaces to watch the festivities despite the financial and social burden being put on them.
But even when the rain began falling, people did not scatter to look for shelter. Instead they powered through, trying to get a better look at the bleu, blanc and rouge streaks being left in the sky by an airplane flyover.
Restaurants, which don’t have televisions here, were generally not busy. If you were going out to eat Friday night, it’s because you didn’t care to watch the show live. But inside one of them in a residential area near the Eiffel Tower, you could hear the singing of La Marseillaise, the French National Anthem. For a few minutes, the din of conversation went completely silent. — Dan Wolken
Team USA’s opening ceremony outfit is a modern take on a tailored look. On top, a tailored single-breasted wool blazer with red and white tipping is worn over a striped oxford shirt. The bottom is a more casual tapered jean and classic suede buck shoe fit.
Ralph Lauren works closely with Team USA and the goal, as always, is to “do something graphic and uniquely American,” chief brand and innovation officer David Lauren said.
To account for the heat, the company constantly looks at different fabrics and layering systems to keep the athlete’s body temperature in check, Lauren said. All items in both the opening and closing ceremony outfits are manufactured in the United States.
For football fans who enjoy “NFL Red Zone” on Sundays, there’s exciting news: NBC has green-lit “Gold Zone,” a whip-around format that will showcase up to 40 simultaneous events live at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The basketball superstar and mogul is set to carry the U.S. flag in the opening ceremony. James donned a white Ralph Lauren suit jacket.
Coco Gauff is making her Olympic debut in Paris and she is one of two U.S. flag bearers. “(Competing) in the Olympics has always been up there with winning a Grand Slam, like top goals,” Gauff told USA TODAY Sports this summer. Read our full feature on Gauff.
On the opening ceremony red carpet, Serena Williams was asked about Gauff being the flag bearer. “Isn’t that great. I’m so excited to see her tonight. I’m just so happy for her,” the tennis legend said.
Yes. The Paris Olympics are Simone Biles‘ third Olympics. She begins gymnastics competition at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, July 28. She also competes on July 30, Aug. 1, Aug. 3, Aug. 4 and Aug. 5.
Basketball superstar LeBron James and tennis star Coco Gauff are the flag bearers for the Americans. Gauff is the first tennis player to serve in the role.
With his mind on the Olympics and the Olympics on his mind, Snoop Dogg is, indeed, back for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The rapper, who will carry the torch ahead of the opening ceremony, is primed for a bigger role three years after his reactions to the dressage competition with Kevin Hart went viral at the Tokyo Games.
Snoop will appear regularly on “Primetime in Paris,” serving as a “special correspondent” for NBC. During parts of the primetime show, Snoop Dogg will interact with Team USA athletes, their families, or explore Paris and share his experiences and insights with the night’s audience. He’s also carrying the Olympic torch.
Reporter Maria Taylor will be embedded with Team USA interviewing athletes from the river. “Today” show hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb will be stationed on a bridge over the Seine. Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning will also join Mike Tirico as hosts on the broadcast.
About 90 minutes before the start of the opening ceremony, the southern bank of the Seine had the vibe of a giant music festival.
Spectators streaming into the secure area donned face paint and carried flags to celebrate their respective countries. A Dutch fan walked by wearing a bright orange suit, shorts and tie. Food trucks lined a walkway next to the river, selling items like Latin-flavored chicken bowls and chips — and, of course, Coca-Cola products. (The company is a top Olympic sponsor.)
While some lucky fans secured seats in bleachers that have been erected along stretches of the river, most packed into vacant areas near the water and staked out spots. Meanwhile, boats filled with police officers cruises up the river, ostensibly to conduct a security check. — Tom Schad
More than three hours before the start of Friday’s opening ceremony, hundreds of spectators lined up near Gare d’Austerlitz, a train station near the starting point of the boat parade. When the security gates opened, the fans were slowly funneled through a series of checkpoints — a ticket check, then metal detectors, then a bag search. At the end of the process, some took off sprinting toward the Seine, in hopes of securing a good spot. All we’re offered a small French flag. Behind them, police and Gendarmerie patrolled a fenced off area running along the river, buffering the public from the edge of the ceremony.
Paris 2024 officials estimated there would be more than 45,000 police officers, soldiers and security guards on the streets Friday. Several train stations in the area have been closed to the public all week as a precaution. At some that remained open Friday, soldiers carrying rifles patrolled the platform and fielded questions from tourists. — Tom Schad
Three years removed from the “twisties” that impacted her Tokyo performance, Simone Biles has championed mental health to the point of calling her weekly therapy sessions “religious.”
“Tokyo gave us the opportunity to open up that stage for that talk,” Biles said at trials. “And so I think now athletes are a little bit more in tune, and we trust what our gut is saying and just taking mental health a little bit more serious.”
Biles’ impact on how mental health is viewed within her own team is undeniable.
“We are all so focused on our mental health right now because that’s basically the sport of gymnastics,” Lee said.
The 2024 Summer Games will hold the closing ceremony on Aug. 11
The 2024 Paris Olympics actually have two mascots: The Phryges, which were unveiled as Olympic mascots in November 2022. They consist of the Olympic Phryge, described as having a “methodical mind and alluring charm” and representing the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Paralympic Phryge, which has a prosthetic leg, is “a party animal, spontaneous and a bit hotheaded.” She represents the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Who designed the Olympics logo?
Pierre de Coubertin, who is considered the founder of the modern Olympics, designed the rings in July 1913. The Olympics logo was first used on a flag in 1914. That original flag is now at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. The IOC officially adopted the rings logo and flag in 1914.
Paris has hosted the Olympics three times: 1900, 1924 and 2024. Grenoble, France, also hosted the Winter Olympics in 1968.
Yes. NBC will replay coverage in prime time at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Are any U.S. athletes skipping the opening ceremony?
About 350 of Team USA’s 592 athletes will march – or rather, float – in today’s opening ceremony, according to Nicole Deal, who oversees the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s security operations.
That means about 40% of the U.S. delegation will be absent, though that is not exactly unusual.
Many athletes and teams – especially those competing early in the Games – choose to pass on the opening ceremony because it often runs late into the night and requires them to spend several hours on their feet. U.S. gymnasts and swimmers, for example, regularly skip the ceremony to rest up for their competitions – which, in some cases, begin the next morning.
U.S. swimming star Katie Ledecky said earlier this week that she never planned on going to the Paris opening ceremony for this very reason. She swims the 400-meter freestyle Saturday morning. — Tom Schad
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