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Key Highlights
- Over 10,000 athletes will sail down the Seine River in the most ambitious Olympic Opening Ceremony ever attempted.
- The ceremony will be broadcast live on NBC, Peacock, and NBC Olympics with a pre-show starting at noon ET on Friday.
- Flag bearers for Team USA include NBA legend LeBron James and tennis champion Coco Gauff.
- Céline Dion and Lady Gaga are rumored to perform at the ceremony.
(NicePlay Sports) – The Paris 2024 Olympics are set to revolutionize the traditional Opening Ceremony with an unprecedented spectacle. For the first time, the ceremony will be held outside of a stadium, with athletes parading down the Seine River on boats. This ambitious event aims to blend traditional Olympic values with a distinctively French flair, showcasing Paris’s iconic landmarks such as the Louvre and Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral. NBC will provide comprehensive coverage, ensuring that viewers around the world can witness this historic moment. The inclusion of major stars like LeBron James and Coco Gauff adds an extra layer of excitement, while rumors of performances by Céline Dion and Lady Gaga are stirring anticipation. With over a billion people expected to tune in, the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony promises to be a defining chapter in Olympic history.
How to Watch the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony
The highly-anticipated Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. ET) on Friday, July 26. NBC will broadcast the event live, with a pre-show starting at noon ET. In addition, the ceremony will be available for streaming on Peacock and NBC Olympics. For U.S. viewers, there will also be a prime-time encore telecast at 7:30 p.m. ET. This multi-platform coverage ensures that fans won’t miss a moment of the action, whether they prefer traditional TV viewing or streaming. NBC’s Mike Tirico will host the ceremony for the fourth time, alongside three-time Grammy-winning singer Kelly Clarkson and NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb from NBC’s “TODAY” will provide aerial views of the ceremony from a bridge on the Seine, while NBC Sports commentator Maria Taylor will also contribute to the hosting efforts.
A Unique Festival on the Water
For the first time in the history of the Summer Games, the Opening Ceremony will take place outside of a stadium. Athletes will sail down the Seine River on boats, creating a unique and picturesque spectacle. The parade will start at the Austerlitz Bridge and travel nearly four miles down the river, ending at the Trocadéro near the Eiffel Tower. Along the route, athletes will pass by some of Paris’s most iconic landmarks, including the Louvre and Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral. The ceremony will also feature dancers on every bridge along the route, adding a dynamic and festive element to the procession. Organizers have installed 80 big screens and strategically placed speakers throughout the city to allow as many fans as possible to watch the event live. This innovative approach aims to make the ceremony more accessible and engaging for viewers.
Who are the Ceremony Hosts and Performers?
Hosting the ceremony is a star-studded lineup featuring NBC’s Mike Tirico, Kelly Clarkson, and Peyton Manning. Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb will offer aerial views from a bridge on the Seine, while Maria Taylor will also be part of the hosting effort. The official musical performers remain unconfirmed, but rumors suggest that Céline Dion and Lady Gaga may headline the event. Dion, who has been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, is speculated to perform “L’Hymne à l’amour” by Édith Piaf. If true, this would mark Dion’s first live performance since her diagnosis. The involvement of such high-profile artists adds another layer of intrigue and excitement to the ceremony.
Security and Final Preparations
Despite the grandeur of the planned ceremony, several challenges have emerged, including security and pollution concerns. However, officials maintain that they are “more than ready” as they make their final preparations. Hundreds of dancers who were threatening to disrupt the ceremony over pay issues have called off their strike after reaching an agreement with Paris 2024. French theatre director and actor Thomas Jolly is leading the Opening Ceremony and has expressed his desire to showcase all of France’s cultures. This ambitious, complex, and magnificent undertaking aims to create a show where everyone feels represented as part of this great union. With these preparations in place, the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony is poised to be a historic and unforgettable event.