Friday was the kick-off to the 2024 Paris Olympics as the opening ceremony began.
The historic opening ceremony took place on the famous River Seine , the first-ever outdoor opening ceremony. Celebrities and athletes floated down the river on custom-made boats for the occasion.
But the day wasn't easy for those traveling to the games, as an arson attack took place on the Paris railways, causing massive delays. The impact of the fire was estimated to affect about 800,000 people traveling to watch the performances and all-out celebration of the start of the games.
France's Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete reported "coordinated malicious acts" on the railways. He added: "All the evidence in our possession shows that it was deliberate, with simultaneous schedules, everything happened at the same time. Everything indicates to us that these were indeed arson attacks."
The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, told the BBC: "I don't have concerns, we have full confidence in the French authorities. All the measures are being taken."
This wasn't the first attempt at a railway attack, as in May the French police reportedly "foiled" a previous attack in May near Marseille. The AFP claims there was an investigation into an "incendiary device" found on the railway on May 8.
Rumors swirled that Celine Dion would be making her comeback performance at the event when she was spotted leaving a Paris hotel near the Champs-Élysées. And rumors were spot on as Celine wowed as she took to the stage .
Lady Gaga also wowed as she performed with pink, feathery, pom poms, but some fans were left divided over her performance .
Other big names at the ceremony were First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden arriving just days after her husband Joe Biden pulled out of the 2024 presidential election, opening the floor for Kamala Harris to become the potential Democratic nominee.
Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were also seen at the ceremony. Also in attendance was John Legend, his wife Chrissy Teigen, and their two oldest children Luna and Miles.
Rapper Snoop Dogg had the honor of carrying the Olympic torch through the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis, with fans cheering him on and even playing his music as he ran. Others online joked that the Olympic torch looked like something that the 420-friendly rapper would be seen with.
YouTuber and Influencer Emma Chamberlain walked the red carpet in a Ralph Lauren ensemble that consisted of a white button jacket, with two navy stripes on one arm with black capri pants and a matching white Ralph Lauren purse. She completed the look with a sleek bun, golden hoops and a prominent red lip. This is the first time the content creator is attending the Olympics in person.
Tennis star Serena Williams also walked the red carpet with husband and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and their daughter Olympia. Serena looked red hot in her sheer ruched dress and matching bag. The 42-year-old has won four Olympic gold metals.
Pharrell Williams joined Snoop Dogg and others as torch-bearer. Other celebrities who were torch-carriers included Salma Hayek, MC Solaar, singer Patrick Bruel, and drag queen Minima Gest. The music producer did it for the final leg of the Olympic Torch Relay.
There were numerous dance performances included in the opening ceremony, including pink can-can girls as the familiar song played. Their high kicks mesmerized.
A performance inspired by the iconic book and musical Les Miserables happened and it then transitioned to a beheaded Marie Antoinette, who belted out opera over heavy metal music.
French singer Aya Nakamura was performing in a golden feather dress, that resembled the wings of a bird. Her dancers and the set was golden as well. She sang a small medley of her hits such as Pookie, Djadja and For Me Formidable.
In the Sororité part of the opening ceremony, there was golden statues of prominent of French women in history. They showed first woman director and one of the first filmmakers Alice Guy and former French magistrate and politician Simone Veil. Veil was the first woman to hold the position of President of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1982.
As tourists attempt to flock to the city for the Paris Olympics local French businesses are not yet seeing the pay-off. They cited that strict security as well as traveling chaos is making the streets bare and preventing tourist to coming to their establishments.
Undoubtedly the rainy weather at the opening ceremony has affected trade and calls into question what the weather will look like for the rest of the games. Olympic officials have been on alert about the extreme weather . The forecast for next week's weather looks to be super hot as temperatures will go above 86 degree Fahrenheit. There are concerns about a heatwave.
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