LeBron James and Team USA stars don ponchos in rain-soaked Olympic opening ceremony

LeBron James and several Team USA stars donned ponchos to try and navigate the rain-soaked opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics .

Excitement for the opening ceremony was dampened by a brutal downpour in Paris on Friday. Organizers tried something different by hosting the event along the river Seine rather than in a stadium, but it fell flat for fans, while participants were left drenched.

However, rain did not stop Coco Gauff and James from leading the way as the flagbearers for Team USA at the 2024 Olympics, with the Los Angeles Lakers star becoming the first men's basketball player to have the honor.

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Although Paris dealt with rainy weather all day long as tons of celebrity attendees prepared for the opening ceremony, James came prepared to protect his custom-made Ralph Lauren red, white and blue blazers. In a video shared jointly to Team USA and the U.S. Tennis Association's Instagram accounts, the 39-year-old could be seen sporting a clear plastic poncho over his uniform, a look imitated by Gauff - who also held a book over her head to protect her hair and makeup from the rain.

On the boats, the rain pelted down as James and Gauff attempted to survive the elements. Fans were particularly pleased to see the NBA star wear the poncho, with one user writing: “LeBron looked so cute in his poncho.”

“Lebron in that plastic poncho is taking me out,” added one fan. Another wrote: “LeBron in a poncho is somehow hilarious.”

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However, some were critical of his decision to wear the poncho. He wrote: “Lebron James in a white wool suit and a plastic poncho on a Staten Island Ferry equivalent in the rain has made me reassess his patriotism.”

Another also expressed disappointment, joking: “Lebron is wearing a poncho #washed MJ would never wear a poncho in the rain.”

The Olympic opening ceremony took place outside the stadium for the first time, and the weather did not cooperate. A stunning 85 boats ferried around 10,500 international athletes on a stunning route along the river Seine towards the Eiffel Tower.

The event allowed for more fans to catch a glimpse of the festivities, with over 300,000 spectators believed to be in attendance as athletes and performers sailed past some of the French capital's most iconic landmarks. But the rain meant athletes were soaked and forced to wear ponchos to protect their uniforms.