The Paris 2024 Olympic Games is undoubtedly a celebration to be remembered for generations and a festival deserving of a golden chapter in history books. The grand opening ceremony, held along the iconic Seine River, was historic as the first- ever Olympic opening ceremony to take place outside a stadium.
Approximately 10,500 athletes from 203 nations paraded along a 6-kilometer route on boats, each representing their national delegation. The river parade traveled along the Seine from the Austerlitz Bridge to the Trocadéro. On July 26th, starting at 7:30 p.m. CET, athletes passed iconic sites such as Parc Urbain La Concorde, the Grand Palais, and the Iéna Bridge, offering glimpses of the official Games venues. Once all the national teams arrived opposite the Trocadéro – the esplanade across from the Eiffel Tower – the official protocols were carried out, the Olympic cauldron was lit, and the Paris 2024 Games were officially declared open. This opening ceremony was noted as the largest in history, with 80 giant screens and strategically placed speakers throughout Paris making it accessible to the public.
Our nation, Sri Lanka, was represented by a contingent of six athletes, eight officials, and a chef-de-mission. Nadeesha Lekamge and Viren Nettasinghe proudly carried Sri Lanka's national flag. The team, dressed in striking 'Nilame'-inspired attire sponsored by LOVI Ceylon, served as ambassadors for the country's rich cultural heritage. It is worth noting that Sri Lanka’s attire earned a spot among the must-see opening ceremony uniforms, as highlighted by the ESPN website, featuring silk and other natural materials that honored the nation’s traditional clothing culture.
Paris 2024 stands as a historic milestone for the Olympics, achieving gender parity with an equal number of male and female athletes. Of the 10,500 participants, 5,250 are male and 5,250 are female, marking a significant advancement in gender equality within the Games' history. This year’s Olympics also introduced new sports such as surfing, breaking (breakdancing), sport climbing, and skateboarding. These additions underscore the Games’ commitment to engaging younger audiences and showcasing a diverse range of sports.
Yes, the Olympics is mainly about athletes and sports but we should never forget that it also serves as a cultural reunion that happens once every four years, bringing the whole world into one place. It’s a celebration of diversity, cultures, music, fashion and languages.
Talking about the entertainment side of the grand opening ceremony, it is no wonder that it left everyone in awe. While the hip-hop legend Snoop-Dogg carried the Olympic torch into the Olympic village, the grand opening ceremony featured a mesmerizing array of beautiful, traditional performances by world famous artists. Such as a cabaret medley from Lady Gaga, a performance by Mali-born French pop star Aya Nakamura and a heartfelt tribute to Les Misérables (A historical French novel by Victor Hugo). In a dramatic twist, a mysterious masked figure gracefully darted across the rooftops of Paris, carrying the Olympic torch.
So with this grand opening, let us stay tuned to the City of Light as the grandest of Olympic Games unfolds.
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