The 2024 Summer Olympics was off to a rollicking start in Paris on Friday, beginning with an innovative opening ceremony blending sports with fashion, art, politics and music. It was capped off by the long-awaited return of Celine Dion to the world stage.
But before she made her triumphant return, Paris gave the audience plenty of dazzling entertainment. For the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony took place not in a stadium, but on water, upon Paris' famous Seine River with 85 boats gliding down the waterway, carrying athletes from 206 nations, cheering and smiling despite the rainy weather. In keeping with tradition, Team USA's boat —comprised of 594 athletes representing 46 states — was situated near the end of the procession. The United States will be hosting the next summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
