Topline
The Olympics opening ceremony on Friday is set to make history as the first ever outdoor (and floating) ceremony that will see more than 10,000 athletes, dozens of influential political figures and thousands of performers pull out all the stops to mark the start of the 2024 summer games in Paris—and reportedly feature a duet from legendary American artists Lady Gaga and Céline Dion.
The Olympic rings on the esplanade of Trocadero in front of the Eiffel tower.
Key Facts
The opening ceremony will start at 1:30 p.m. EDT and will see thousands of people, including athletes, travel down the Seine River on hundreds of custom-made floats.
The always-flashy event has plenty of surprises in store—no big-name performers have been revealed despite rumors circulating around some of the United States’ biggest stars—and will mark the official start to the third time France has hosted the Olympics.
LeBron James was on Monday chosen as a flag bearer for the United States, and on Wednesday tennis star Coco Gauff was chosen to also fly the U.S. flag at the ceremony.
Influential American figures set to participate in ceremonies surrounding the games include First Lady Jill Biden, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
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When And Where To Watch The Olympic Opening Ceremony?
Live coverage will start at 12 p.m. EDT Friday and the opening ceremony will start at 1:30 p.m. It will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock, NBC’s streaming service. NBC will re-air the ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
What Happens At The Opening Ceremony?
For the first time ever, the opening ceremony will occur outside of a stadium and a so-called “Parade of Nations” will float down the Seine River in Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower. Each of 91 national delegations will have a float in the parade, and First Lady Jill Biden has been announced as the leader of the American delegation, which will include the U.S. ambassador to France, Denise Campbell Bauer, Bass and three-time Olympic medalists Dawn Staley and Brian Biotano. The parade will end in front of the Trocadéro, where there will be performers and the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic torch.
First Lady of the United States Jill Biden in attendance on day one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games … [+]
Who Will Perform At The Olympics Opening Ceremony?
Most of the scheduled entertainment for the Olympics and Paralympics ceremonies have been kept under wraps, but R&B Singer Aya Nakamura is also a was confirmed by French President Emmanuel Macron this spring. Ceremony artistic director Thomas Jolly has said he wants to “show France in all of its diversity,” but has otherwise stayed mum on specifics, telling the Associated Press, “All I can tell you is that it will be very meaningful for the artists that will perform.” A total of 3,000 artists—including several hundred dancers—are set to take part in the opening and closing ceremonies. Daphne Burki, a judge on “Drag Race France,” is the costume designer for the events.
Are Lady Gaga And Céline Dion Performing At The Olympics?
No offician announcements have been made, but rumors that Céline Dion would perform live for the first time in four years at the Olympics have picked up steam this week, and acting French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra added fuel to the fire Wednesday when he said the legendary musician’s presence in Paris was “not by chance.” The Hollywood Reporter also reported Lady Gaga is set to perform. Gaga was also seen arriving in Paris earlier this week and Jolly started following Gaga on Instagram earlier this month, sparking further rumors. On Thursday, French journalist Thierry Moreau posted to X to say the pair will be performing a duet of French musician Édith Piaf’s “La Vie en Rose.”
What Are The First Olympic Events?
The first games of the Olympics were played Wednesday in soccer and rugby. The men’s soccer team lost 3-0 to France on Wednesday and the women’s soccer team will play against Zambia at 3 p.m. Thursday. The first Olympic medals will be awarded on Saturday for the 10m air rifle mixed team shooting event.
Jane Campbell of the United States saves the ball during USWNT training at the practice fields on … [+]
When Is The Olympics Closing Ceremony?
Jimmy Fallon of the “Tonight Show” and sports reporter Mike Tirico will host NBC’s coverage of the closing ceremony of the Olympics, live coverage of which will begin at 2 p.m. EDT Sunday, Aug, 11 on NBC. Fan favorite commentators Terry Gannon, Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski will narrate the event, and Douglas Emhoff, husband to Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris, will lead the U.S. delegation at the event. The ceremony is expected to include performances by French celebrities, a parade of flags, parade of athletes and the final medal ceremony, which will award athletes in the marathon, basketball, modern pentathlon, volleyball, and water polo. The Los Angeles Olympic Committee will then give viewers a sneak peak of what’s to come in 2028.
What To Watch For
Potential strikes. Dancers who signed up to perform in the opening ceremony have filed a strike notice due to low pay and “glaring inequalities in treatment,” according to the British news outlet Express, and trade unionists have said more than 3,000 dancers, acrobats and actors working on the opening ceremony have been doing so for low or no pay and were recruited under “shameful conditions.” The strike notice has been filed for Friday, the day of the opening ceremony.
Tangent
France’s high-speed rail network was damaged by overnight arson attacks, causing a “large number” of lines to face cancellations, state-owned railway firm SNCF said. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal—who recently resigned following earlier parliamentary elections—said consequences of the attack are “massive and serious,” adding law enforcement is searching for those responsible.
Big Number
300,000. That’s how many people are expected to attend the Olympic opening ceremony as spectators.