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Glamour, splendour as athletes parade in boats at Paris Olympics ceremony

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The 2024 Paris Olympic Games have officially kicked off on Friday with the opening ceremonies featuring so much glamour during the parade of athletes.

The ceremony was not held in the main bowl of a stadium as it usually is, but each team boarded a boat and introduced down the River Seine, with music from many artists.

Music star, Lady Gaga and football legend, Zinedine Zidane were among those involved in a colourful, breathtaking performance in Paris.

Rapper Snoop Dogg carried the Olympic torch through Paris, with scenes of art, history, and a fashion parade ongoing along one of the bridges on the Seine.

Team Nigeria were well represented. On a boat alongside three other nations including neighbouring Niger Republic, the Nigerian flag was borne by Tobi Amusan and Anuoluwapo Opeyori.

The teams of the partipating nations as well as the spectators watching from both sides of the river defied the rain and cheered on as the ceremony lingered into the nights.

Read Also: Gallant Super Falcons lose to Brazil in Olympics opener

A tribute was also paid to 10 golden heroines of French history after Axelle Saint-Cirel delivered a new version of the French National anthem from the roof of the Grand-Palais.

The heroines include: Olympe de Gouges, Alice Milliat, Gisèle Halimi, Simone de Beauvoir, Paulette Nardal, Jeanne Barret, Louise Michel, Christine de Pizan, Alice Guy and Simone Veil.

One of the most spectacular moments of the incredible opening ceremony were the lights show at the Eiffel Tower.

Superstar Canadian singer, Celine Dion also performed live on a stage midway up the tower. Her performance – a first outing since 2022 by the singer – capped the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Team Nigeria has a total of 88 athletes, including 63 women and 25 men, and will be participating in 12 sports at the Games.

The women’s football team, the Super Falcons, already began their race for a medal with a 1-0 defeat to Brazil. They will face Spain and Japan in their other group matches in coming days.

See more images from the opening ceremony of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad.

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