The President of France's Emmanuel Macron officially opened the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris. The Olympic flame was lit at the end of a long relay by athlete Marie-José Perec and judoka Teddy Riner, then lifted off the ground in a balloon. The over 4-hour ceremony ended with a song by Celine Dion, one of many musical performances in an extravagant, innovative and surprise-filled evening that remains one of the most beautiful in the city's history.
In the traditional parade of nations, this time with boats along the Seine River, the flag bearers of our delegation were the boxer Stanimira Petrova and the swimmer Lyubomir Epitropov.
At the end of the official part of the ceremony, the Olympic flag was raised and Tony Estange and Thomas Bach gave their speeches.
The president of the organizing committee, Tony Estangue, made a long address in French and a short one in English to the athletes, spectators and guests.
"Game lovers in France and around the world - Welcome to Paris! We missed you! It is a great honor for us to welcome you here 100 years after the last time we hosted the Summer Games. It is often said that France is the country of love. One thing I know is that when we love, we love truly. . . and there is a long love story between France and the Olympics. This love story was born nearly 130 years ago, just a few kilometers from here, in the main amphitheater of the Sorbonne, where Pierre de Coubertin proposed a revival of the ancient Olympic games. And this love story grew with the Games in Paris, Chamonix, Grenoble and Albertville. Clearly, continuing this legacy is a huge responsibility. So we put our hearts into it. To love the Games is to court the Games for 100 years for the chance to bring them back to Paris!" said the three-time Olympic canoe slalom champion in his native language.
"Dear athletes, we can't wait to experience everything together with you. The joy, tears and love you will put into every moment. Thank you for being here. You made it! Well done! I know what it means, I know what it has cost you. I know the path you have followed to be here now. Paris will thank you. It's the city of love, and for the next 16 days, it's your city. Together with Mayor Anne Hidalgo, we want every sport and every Olympian to make this city their home. So, welcome home. Welcome to Paris! Welcome to your moment in history! Experience it. Love it! And take us with you! The world is on your side!", Estange added in English.
IOC President Thomas Bach also spoke after him.
"Finally the moment has arrived! Welcome to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games! My heartfelt thanks to our kind French hosts. Thank you for welcoming us in such a spectacular way. The Olympic flame will make Paris and all of France shine even brighter. What better place than Paris to share the magic of the Olympic Games with the world? Paris, the birthplace of our founder, Pierre de Coubertin, to whom we owe everything. Paris, the city of light, where he created the modern Olympic games. Paris, city of love. Thank you, France, for this magical welcome! In a world torn apart by war and conflict, thanks to solidarity we can all come together tonight, uniting athletes from the territories of all 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team," Bach said.
As part of his speech, the IOC president paraphrased the timeless words from the song Imagine by John Lennon and Yoko Ono: "Some might say that we in the Olympic world are dreamers. But we're not the only ones. And our dream comes true tonight - for all to see. Olympians from around the world who show us what greatness we humans are capable of. That's why I invite everyone: dream with us! Like Olympic athletes, be inspired by the joy that only sports can give us. Let us celebrate the Olympic spirit, life in peace, as one humanity, united in all its diversity.