Historic Paris Olympic Opening on the Seine River

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Paris hosts a historic Olympic opening ceremony on the Seine River, attended by global leaders and featuring a parade of athletes from 204 countries.

The 33rd Summer Olympic Games officially commenced with a groundbreaking ceremony held on the Seine River in Paris.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, and numerous other dignitaries attended the event.

High-level representatives from Türkiye included Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak and European Olympic Committee Executive Board Member and Beşiktaş Club President Hasan Arat.

A First for the Olympics: Ceremony Held Outside Stadium

For the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony took place outside a traditional stadium setting, occurring instead in the heart of Paris on the Seine River. This marks the third time in 100 years that Paris has hosted the Games.

Under the artistic direction of French director and actor Thomas Jolly, 85 boats carrying athletes from 204 countries and the Refugee Olympic Team embarked on a 6-kilometer parade from under the Austerlitz Bridge to the Iena Bridge, near the Eiffel Tower.

During their journey, the boats passed by many of Paris’s iconic historical and tourist sites, including Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris City Hall, the Louvre Museum, Tuileries Garden, Les Invalides Monument, Grand Palais, and the Eiffel Tower.

Despite the rain, approximately 300,000 spectators attended the opening ceremony, which continues with events showcasing France’s rich history and culture, featuring performances by well-known artists and cultural figures.

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