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Some of the most recognisable celebrities, artists and athletes in the world were present.
The weather may have disappointed, but Lady Gaga sent the crowd wild and the athletes were in high spirits as they paraded down the Seine.
It was a spectacle for sure, but this year’s Parade of Nations featured several new innovations that could have left fans confused.
Firstly, in case you missed it, the parade took place on the Seine rather than in an Olympic Stadium for the first time ever.
With that in mind, here is everything you need to know about the Parade of Nations at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
Why do Greece come out first?
Greece are always the country that come out first as a show of respect, after all, it was the home of the ancient Olympics over 3000 years ago.
It is an Olympic tradition that has stood since the 1928 Olympic Games in the Dutch city of Amsterdam.
They received a warm reception from the French public on the 20th anniversary of the last Olympic Games hosted in Athens in 2004.
Why was the Parade of Nations not at the end?
Traditionally, the music, the dancing and the pageantry take place first, with the Parade of Nations not commencing until much later in the Opening Ceremony.
However, this year, fans experienced something completely different.
The show and the Parade of Nations were seamlessly intertwined, with the athletes sharing the stage with the likes of Gaga, Zinedine Zidane and an effigy of Marie Antoinette.
how is the order of the countries decided?
The Parade of Nations is in alphabetical order, but why were Germany so early on?
Well, the Parade of Nations is in alphabetical order, but in the language of the host nation.
The French word for Germany is Allemagne, meaning they were early in the running order.
Why did France come out last?
France came out last in the running Parade of Nations meaning their hundreds of thousands of home fans had to wait to see their heroes.
However, this was not done intentionally.
The host nation always comes out last during the Olympic Games, with the next host coming out second to last.
That meant the USA came out second to last, with the country set to host the Games in Los Angeles, California in 2028.