15 Stunning Photos From the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

The moments that we will not soon forget from this opening ceremony, the tremendous spectacle that comes once every four years.

Plumes of smoke reminiscent of France's Flag above the River Seine. Getty.

Every four years since 1896, the whole world has united to showcase the best athletes that every country has to offer, each of them carrying on a legacy of patriotism, sportsmanship, and competition. These are the Olympic Games, and they have just begun. The 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony was a Paris lover's dream, as favorite tourist sites took center stage.

The summer games always include a deep pool of sports, giving athletes of many different specialties a chance to perform on the world stage. For fans of each sport, a uniquely electrifying view experience is promised, and lifelong memories are guaranteed to follow. With more and more sports being introduced to the Olympic scene such as skating in 2020, the viewership of the games has spread out progressively toward whatever interests them most. However, there’s one thing that everyone remembers from each Olympics, regardless of their favorite sport: The Opening Ceremony.

The Opening Ceremony introduces the world to the athletes who will participate in the game as they parade around venues or cities while being broadcast to an audience of millions. Plenty of extravagant spectacle is an essential aspect of the ceremony as well, with singers, dancers and more involved.

Today, the Opening Ceremony took place, undeterred by rainy weather, in Paris, France, the city that will be hosting the Olympic games, famous for its romantic aura and rich history. Athletes cruised down the River Seine, which cuts right through the metropolitan area, on large river boats, waving flags while thousands of spectators watched from waterfront seats. They passed under a bridge that boasted plumes of smoke in France’s blue, white, and red style. Lady Gaga also performed Zizi Montraire’s “Mon Truc en Plumes” on a staircase that bordered the river. These were just a few of many outstanding moments in a ceremony that truly cut no corners.

Below is a roundup of the most iconic moments seen at the opening ceremony.

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Nathan Paulin walks a highwire over the Seine during the Opening Ceremony. Getty.

Pharrell Williams as the final torchbearer for the opening ceremony. Getty.

Spectators by the Eiffel Tower at the opening ceremony. Getty.

All of Bhutan's competing athletes on a small, elegant boat on the seine. Getty.

A crowd gathered atop a bridge over the River Seine. Getty.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo arrive at the ceremony. Getty.

Athletes competing for team Canada standing on their barge. Getty.

Lady Gaga performing a song on a staircase at the bank of the River Seine. Getty.