The 2024 Paris Olympics kicked off with an opening ceremony unlike any other, with athletes from more than 200 nations floating down the Seine River on boats. The city itself served as a magnificent backdrop as the parade of nations unfolded with iconic landmarks making appearances throughout the show.
The opening ceremony is complete and now it’s on to more action for the 32 sports in this year’s Olympic Games. Here are all of the best moments from what was a magical night in Paris.
When do the Olympic events start Saturday? TV, time and streaming
The Paris Olympics waste little time getting back in action after the opening ceremony. Things kick off at 2:30 a.m. ET with action in badminton. Multiple sports including swimming, judo, and shooting have medals on the line.
You can watch all of the action from Paris on E!, NBC, USA Network, Telemundo, Universo and Golf Channel on TV and streaming on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com. Here’s a full schedule of Saturday’s events.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
‘I’m honored to have performed tonight’: Celine Dion closes out opening ceremony
The best-selling French-language artist of all time was the final act of the opening ceremony and performed Édith Piaf’s ‘L’Hymne à l’amour’ (‘Hymn to Love’) on the Eiffel Tower after the Olympic cauldron was lit.
This is the second time Dion’s performed on the Olympic stage. She sang ‘The Power of the Dream’ in 1996 at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
She posted on X after her performance to encourage the athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
2028 Summer Olympics
Los Angeles will host the next Summer Olympics in 2028. Those games will be the ninth time the U.S. is hosting the Olympics, more than any other country, and Los Angeles joins London and Paris as the only cities to host the Summer Olympics three times.
U.S. Summer Olympics host years:
1904: St. Louis
1932: Los Angeles
1984: Los Angeles
1996: Atlanta
2028: Los Angeles
U.S. Winter Olympics host years:
1932: Lake Placid, New York
1960: Squaw Valley, California
1980: Lake Placid, New York
2002: Salt Lake City
2034: Salt Lake City
When do events start again?
Paris Olympics action starts up again at 2:30 a.m. with Group Play in badminton mixed doubles, women’s and men’s singles, and women’s and men’s doubles.
Beyoncé introduces Team USA in 2024 Olympics
The most-awarded artist in Grammy history introduced the 594 athletes – the largest delegation in the Paris Olympics – representing the U.S. in the Summer Games. Beyonce gave special shoutouts to sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, swimmers Katie Ledecky and Caleb Dressel, and gymnastics legend Simone Biles, among others.
When are the first medals?
The first medal events of the Paris Olympics are set for Saturday and start with shooting. The 10 meter Air Rifle Mixed Team bronze and gold medal matches start at 4:30 a.m. ET.
Saturday will also feature medal events in diving, individual time trial road cycling, judo, skateboarding, rugby sevens, fencing, and swimming.
Coco Gauff, LeBron James leading the way
LeBron James and Coco Gauff made history as Team USA’s first men’s basketball player and first tennis player, respectively, to serve as flag bearers. Gauff, making her Olympic debut, posted on social media just how excited she was to be in Paris.
Stephen Curry among Team USA debutants in Paris Olympics
The Paris Olympics will be the first for many young stars on Team USA like women’s sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson. One of the older Olympians making their debut is 36-year-old two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry. The Golden State Warriors star is suiting up for Team USA men’s basketball for the first time and reuniting with former teammate Kevin Durant.
Peyton Manning weighs in on Noah Lyles’ nails
Team USA’s top men’s sprinter Noah Lyles is a favorite in the 100 and 200 meters in the Paris Olympics. During the Olympic trials, he raced with Yu-Gi-Oh cards in one of the more viral moments from the trials. He’s making his mark in the Olympics with ‘ICON’ painted on his nails and Peyton Manning complimented his attitude.
Team USA is off down the Seine
Team USA’s contingent of nearly 600 athletes is making the trek down the famed Seine, which will take the Olympians past the Trocadero, the Austerlitz Bridge and many other culturally rich locations before arriving near the Eiffel Tower.
French anthem sung by Axelle Saint-Cirel
French mezzosoprano Axelle Saint-Cirel, wearing the colors of the French flag and holding an enormous Tricolore, sang a stunning rendition of France’s national anthem, ‘La Marseillaise.’
Saint-Cirel’s singing would have been remarkable by itself, but the drama was elevated by the fact that she was on the very top of the Grand Palais the towering exhibition hall and museum along the Champs-Élysées.
Minions attempt, fail to join Olympics
The Minions, popular characters from the Despicable Me franchise, have blessed the opening ceremonies with a slapstick attempt at Olympic participation. The lesson? It turns out you can’t do a javelin competition in a submarine.
Why the Minions? Illumination Studios Paris is the animation studio responsible for the mischievous yellow…creatures, and its headquarters is located mere blocks away from the Seine River.
Olympic Surfing will take place in Tahiti
The opening ceremonies have cut away from Paris entirely, switching to shots from the other side of the world in Tahiti.
Why? The Surfing competition at the 2024 Paris Games will take place many thousands of miles away from Paris, with Tahiti (the main island in French Polynesia, a semi-autonomous region governed by France) making a beautiful setting that just so happens to have the big waves required.
Why are Russia and Belarus not in the Paris Olympics?
Russia and Belarus are suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) because of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Has Paris hosted the Olympics before?
Paris has played host for the Summer Olympics twice, in 1900 and 1924.
As a country, France has hosted six Olympic Games (three summer, three winter). They will host the 2030 Winter Olympics as well, with the competition spread throughout the French Alps.
Metal band Gojira draws rave reviews
The remarkable musical portion of the opening ceremonies continued with a Marie Antoinette-inspired performance from metal band Gojira.
As the Olympians floated by the Conciergerie on the Seine, Gojira took the celebration of this 33rd Olympics into a unique place. Following up a song from the famous musical Les Miserables, Gojira’s segment involved a beheaded and singing Marie Antoinette, punishing guitar riffs, flamethrowers, and fireworks.
Opening ceremony makes Assassin’s Creed reference
The opening ceremony made multiple references to Assassin’s Creed, one of the most successful video game franchises in the world. The franchise has sold more than 200 million copies since November 2007 and is developed by French publisher Ubisoft.
When do events start again?
Paris Olympics action starts up again at 2:30 a.m. with Group Play in badminton mixed doubles, women’s and men’s singles, and women’s and men’s doubles.
Lady Gaga performs ‘Mon Truc En Plumes’ in opening ceremony
The Oscar- and Grammy-award winning musician led a performance of French musician Zizi Jeanmaire’s iconic song along the Seine River.
How many countries are in the Olympics?
There are 206 total countries, including the Refugee Olympic Team.
What number Olympics is the 2024 Games?
The Paris Olympics are the 33rd edition of the modern Summer Games. There have been 24 Winter Games events, most recently in Beijing in 2022, bringing the total to 55 combined Olympic Games.
Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson make Olympic debut
NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson joined Olympics host Mike Tirico for NBC’s broadcast for the opening ceremony. Their debut was met with mixed response, including from social media.
Why is Greece first in the Parade of Nations?
Greece – considered the birthplace of the Olympic Games – has gone first in the Parade of Nations since 1928.
How many spectators are at the opening ceremony?
According to Olympic officials, 320,000 spectators are spread out in 124 grandstands along the river.
When is Team USA’s first event?
Team USA athletes have already started competition, beginning with rugby sevens on Wednesday with a 12-12 tie against host France.
Team USA is back in action after the opening ceremony starting with mixed doubles competition in badminton. Americans Vinson Chiu and Jennie Gai take on China’s Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping starting at 2:30 a.m. ET.
How many boats are in the opening ceremony?
The Paris Olympics marks the first opening ceremony to be held outside of a stadium. Thousands of athletes are riding on 85 boats for the ceremony.
Steven Spielberg kicks off primetime
The Oscar-winning director started off the broadcast with a montage of incredible moments and tributes to the host city, Paris.
Paris Olympics opening ceremony in primetime
NBC will replay the opening ceremony in primetime on the East Coast, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Paris Olympics 2024: How to watch the Summer Games across TV and streaming
Every event at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be aired live across NBC, USA Network, E!, CNBC, GOLF Channel, and there will be a Spanish broadcast on Universo and Telemundo. All events will be available to stream live on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com.
Date: July 24-Aug. 11
TV: Games broadcast across NBC, USA Network, E!, Telemundo, Universo, CNBC and Golf Channel
Streaming: Peacock, nbcolympics.com, fuboTV
Team USA flag bearers
Team USA selected four-time Olympian LeBron James as the male flag bearer for the opening ceremony. He is the first men’s basketball player to serve as a flag bearer and the third basketball player overall after women’s basketball team members Sue Bird (2020) and Dawn Staley (2004).
Three years after missing the Olympic Games in Tokyo because of a positive COVID-19 test, tennis star Coco Gauff is the female flag bearer for Team USA. She’s the first tennis player to have that honor.
Where is the opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympic Games?
The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympic Games will be held in downtown Paris on the Seine river. The parade of nations will bring athletes down the river before stopping at Trocadéro Palace to finish off the ceremony.
How long is the opening ceremony?
The opening ceremony is scheduled for four hours of broadcast time, both live and in primetime coverage.
2024 Olympics schedule
The 2024 Olympic Games began on July 24 and finish with the closing ceremony on Aug. 11. Check USA TODAY’s Olympics schedule for a daily event times and viewing options.
How many athletes are in the opening ceremony?
An estimated 10,500 athletes are competing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games but not all of them will be in the Parade of Nations. Paris Olympics officials estimate 6,800 athletes are attending the ceremony.
Smallest countries in the opening ceremony
Tuvalu is the smallest country by estimated population in the Parade of Nations. The Polynesian island nation has an estimated population of 11,312 people as of 2022 and has two athletes in the Paris Olympics: Karalo Maibuca (men’s 100 meters) and Temalini Manatoa (women’s 100 meters).
Pacific island nation Nauru is close behind with one athlete – men’s 100 meters athlete Winzar Kakiouea – and an estimated population of 12,668 as of 2022.
Monaco is the smallest country by size (0.8 square miles) and has six athletes in the Paris Olympics:
Marie-Charlotte Gastaud, women’s 100 meters
Marvin Gadeau, men’s +100 kg judo
Quentin Antognelli, men’s single sculls rowing
Théo Druenne, men’s 800-meter freestyle
Lisa Pou, women’s 10 km open water swimming
Yang Xiaoxon, women’s singles table tennis
How many events are in the Paris Olympics?
There are 339 events across 32 different sports in this year’s Summer Games. Team USA is competing in 31 out of 32 sports; U.S. athletes are not competing in team handball.
Which country has the most athletes at the Paris Olympics?
The U.S. has the most athletes at the games with 592.
Parade of Nations order
The Parade of Nations order is set alphabetically in the host nation’s language, hence why some countries are higher than expected. For example, Spain is earlier in the order than expected because the French word for Spain is Espagne.
Future host nations are at the end of the Parade of Nations as well. Australia will host the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane and the U.S. will host the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, so both countries are at the end of the parade ahead of this year’s host France.
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