The Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, held on July 26, 2024, was historic and unique, marking the first time an Olympic Opening Ceremony took place outside a stadium. The event featured a parade of athletes along the Seine River, transforming the heart of Paris into a grand stage. The parade route spanned 6 kilometers, starting from the Austerlitz Bridge and ending at the Trocadéro near the Eiffel Tower. Athletes were carried in boats, passing iconic landmarks such as Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Grand Palais.
This ceremony was designed to be inclusive, with an estimated 326,000 spectators, including 104,000 paid tickets for the lower banks and 222,000 free tickets for the upper banks. The focus was on accessibility, allowing many to witness the event for free. The ceremony featured a blend of French culture, with performances showcasing the country’s diverse heritage through music, dance, and other artistic expressions.
Additionally, the ceremony’s creative direction was led by Thomas Jolly, with a significant emphasis on sustainability, including the use of vintage and upcycled costumes. Safety and security measures were robust, considering recent global events, and there were contingency plans to relocate the ceremony if necessary.