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GALLERY: Best Olympics Opening Ceremony photos
By Russell Falcon,
14 hours ago
(NEXSTAR) — On Friday, the Paris Olympics kicked off in grand France fashion, with major skyline displays, light shows, sights on the Seine and some unfortunately, drizzly weather.
The ceremony began with French soccer icon Zinedine Zidance carrying the Olympic flame through Paris and culminated with a glowing cauldron (not a hot air balloon, despite its appearance) sailing through the night sky.
In case you missed any of the day and night’s festivities, here are some the day’s most eye-catching photos.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Aircraft make a heart out of smoke during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Eugene Hoshiko-Pool/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – Athletes from Greece’s delegation sail in a boat along the river Seine at the start of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP) (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: A torchbearer runs past Pont Neuf during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Tightrope walker Nathan Paulin performs on a high rope during the athletes’ parade on the River Seine near the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Maddie Meyer / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MADDIE MEYER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Former French football player Zinedine Zidane carries the torch during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Loic Venance – Pool/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This Handout screengrab was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images’ editorial policy.) This handout released by the Olympic Broadcasting Services, shows a view of singer Celine Dion performing on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Screengrab by IOC via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – Smoke billows near windows as performers participate in the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Bernat Armangue / POOL / AFP) (Photo by BERNAT ARMANGUE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – US’ singer Lady Gaga sings at the Sully bridge area prior to the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP) (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: A general view shows the Eiffel Tower with the Olympics Rings during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Luis Robayo – Pool/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – Gojira band Heavy Metal musicians perform during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 26, 2024. (Photo by Zhang Yuwei / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ZHANG YUWEI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Dancers performing French Cancan choreography as part of one of twelve artistic tableaux, are pictured from the boat of Brazil’s delegation sailing along the river Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Carl de Souza-Pool/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: A cutout of a face is seen in the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters / POOL / AFP) (Photo by HANNAH PETERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Spectators cheer on from a bridge as athletes from France’s delegation sail in a boat along the river Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Franck FIFE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Athletes Coco Gauff and Lebron James of team United States are seen on a boat on the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY26: Rafael Nadal of Spain carries the Olympic torch during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephanie Lecocq – Pool/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Spectators with a Palestine flag display a banner criticising Israel from a balcony amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. (Photo by Nir Elias – Pool/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Team Tunisia and Turkiye are seen on a boat on the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Steph Chambers / POOL / AFP) (Photo by STEPH CHAMBERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Lights illuminate the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Floriane Issert (C), a Gendarmerie non-commissioned officer of the National Gendarmerie, rides on a horse while leading volunteers carrying flags of Olympic teams on the Iena Bridge during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024, as the Eiffel Tower is seen in the background. (Photo by Ludovic Marin – Pool/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: A detailed view of the Olympic Cauldron in the sky behin the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the Lourve pyramid after being lit by Torch bearers French Athlete Marie-Jose Perec and French Judoka Teddy Riner (not pictured) during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Dancers perform on a roof during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This Handout screengrab was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images’ editorial policy.) Smoke rises in the colours of the national flag of France on the Pont d’Austerlitz as boats cruise along the River Siene during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Burnett/IOC via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: A general view of a balloon carrying the Olympic Cauldron rises to conclude the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The 2024 Paris Olympics run through Sunday, August 11.
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