The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will kick off this Friday with an opening ceremony on the Seine River. While many details have been released, there’s still a lot that remains unknown.
Here’s what we do know:
Athletes will travel along a 6-kilometer stretch of the Seine on 90 boats, starting from the Austerlitz Bridge and making their way to the Jena Bridge. After the river procession, the more formal part of the ceremony will take place at Trocadero, attended by various authorities, including around 200 heads of state and government.
Security for the event will be unprecedented, with an expected 326,000 spectators being monitored by 45,000 security agents. This includes 20,000 private security personnel and approximately 10,000 soldiers.
Traditionally, Greece will be the first to enter during the parade, paying homage to the origins of the Olympics, while France will close the ceremony as the host nation. Notably, the Russian delegation will be absent due to sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. A small number of Russian representatives will compete as neutrals but will not participate in the ceremony.
French President Emmanuel Macron will officially inaugurate the Games. He will deliver a brief statement, likely announcing the opening of the 33rd Olympiad by saying, “I declare the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad open.”
However, several aspects of the ceremony remain a mystery. One of the most anticipated features is the artistic performances, which will be revealed during the event. Celine Dion and Lady Gaga are believed to be in Paris and might take part, given the ceremony’s significant cultural backdrop, including iconic landmarks like Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower.
While there will be about 10,500 participants in the Games, it is unclear how many athletes will actually join the parade on the boats. Many competitors who are scheduled to participate the following day may prefer to rest in their athletes’ village, and others have yet to arrive since their events are later in the schedule.
With the ceremony lasting four hours, those watching from different points along the Seine will need ways to keep track of the procession and enjoy the events at Trocadero.
The age-old question of who will light the Olympic cauldron remains a closely guarded secret, but there’s speculation that for the first time, it could be lit by a pair of athletes. The last lighting occurred during the Tokyo 2020 Games, with tennis star Naomi Osaka having the honor.
This time, the focus will not just be on who lights the cauldron, but also how and where it will be situated. The visibility of the Eiffel Tower in front of the Trocadero makes this an enticing yet obvious choice.
As the date approaches, excitement builds around what promises to be a spectacular celebration of sport and culture.
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