Paris Olympics open with first-ever river entrance by athletes

PARIS — The star of Friday night’s opening ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics was the Eiffel Tower, but for spectators at the nearby temporary stadium, nearly all of the show could only be seen on giant screens, including the much-anticipated arrival of athletes traveling by boat along the Seine River.

Rain fell throughout the nearly four-hour program that by the end featured lasers streaming from the iconic landmark dressed in the five Olympic rings and a torch relay that ended with the lighting of what seemed to be a tethered hot-air balloon located some distance away.

There were only a few performers who appeared live to the spectators huddled under plastic ponchos in the stadium, located at the Trocadero park beside the Eiffel Tower. Celine Dion was one of them, but the singer made her first public performance since being diagnosed two years ago with stiff person syndrome perched high above in the tower.

Even the final stage of the torch relay, which featured legendary sports stars like Serena Williams and Carl Lewis, was largely only seen on screen.

The hundreds of thousands who watched from along the four miles of the Seine saw athletes pass by in more than 80 boats and at least some of the performances along the banks of the river that included a Moulin Rouge-style performance by Lady Gaga and a torchbearer whose identity was never revealed zip lining across the river, landing next to Notre Dame Cathedral.

The riverside spectators couldn’t see everything without turning to one of 80 screens set up along the flotilla’s path.

But despite the sodden start to the Paris Games and the impact of a coordinated arson attack along France’s national rail system, the spectators at both locations shared the enthusiasm of the estimated 7,000 of the 10,500 athletes competing in Paris. And they seemed to enjoy the effort to portray elements of French culture in both live and taped performances.

Count the leader of Utah’s successful bid for the 2034 Winter Games as a fan.

“Seeing the athletes on the Seine was incredibly unique and memorable. The surprise of Celine Dion was wonderful. The cauldron lighting was next level,” said Fraser Bullock, the president and CEO of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games. The 2034 Games were awarded to Utah by the International Olympic Committee in Paris on Wednesday.

Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who sat with Bullock in the same stands as French President Emmanuel Macron, IOC President Thomas Bach and other dignitaries, also said he enjoyed the show. Romney was the leader of the last Olympics in Utah, the 2002 Winter Games, and served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paris.

“The Paris opening ceremony showcased the world’s most beautiful city. Imaginative, inventive and memorable,” Romney said of the Paris opening ceremonies. “The performance by Celine Dion touched hearts. She epitomized the Olympic spirit with her determination, courage and incomparable talent.”

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who was also seated with the dignitaries, shared selfies and said it was “so awesome to see an opening ceremony that is so open to viewing, far beyond the limitations of a stadium. Even with the pouring rain, spirits are high in the official stands.”

And Gail Miller, the owner of the Larry H. Miller Company, called the ceremonies “unique in every way.”

“France showcased its iconic River Seine to introduce athletes from each country to the world by boat. Never before has it been held in anything other than a stadium. The evening was magical, the international crowd was wildly enthusiastic, and the entertainment was geared to the enthusiasm of the audience,” she said.

“Even though the weather did not cooperate, and we were soaked to the skin with the nonstop rain, we celebrated to the end.”

Replacing the traditional parade of nations with sending each nation’s team on the traditional bateau-mouche boats that usually ferry tourists was a first for an Olympics. The plan had raised security concerns but went smoothly, beginning at the Austerlitz bridge beside the Jardin des Plantes.

The boats emerged initially at the start of the ceremonies though colored smoke shot upward to form the vertical blue, white and red stripes of the French flag. Later the French Air Force aerobatic flying team, “Patrouille de France,” flew above the Seine, leaving a bright trail of purple smoke forming a heart.

When the athletes arrived at the stadium throughout the night, many spectators were focused on the four giant screens. Towards the end of the evening, there were enough athletes in the stadium to fill both sides of the narrow, Eiffel Tower-shaped stage. Just like the spectators, the athletes were drenched but danced and cheered during the final performances.