The fire was lit by former track and field athlete Marie-José Pérec and judoka Teddy Riner.
It was then lifted up by a hot air balloon to the tunes of Édith Piaf, performed by none other than Celine Dion who was on stage for the first time since she was diagnosed with the rare nerve disease “stiff person syndrome”.
The Paris inauguration has been historic. For the first time, the Olympic ceremony has been held outside an arena, in the heart of Paris – a slightly crazy idea at first, President Emmanuel Macron has admitted. It is also 100 years since Paris last hosted the Olympics.
This is the city of love. And for the next sixteen days, it’s your city. Welcome to Paris, said Olympic director Tony Estanguet.
Historic boat trip
People cheered, the colors burst and the fountains flowed on the Seine when the Olympic torch was carried by boat – a real folk festival – despite the rain.
First in the parade of the 206 countries was, as always, Greece, with the fire close in front. Sweden entered about two hours later in a boat they shared with Sri Lanka and South Sudan.
The standard-bearers Peder Fredricson, equestrian, and Josefin Olsson, sailing, and about 20 other Swedish athletes smiled widely and waved the blue-yellow flag intensively from the upper deck.
Last out on the river was France, which of course had gotten the biggest boat. Shortly afterwards, “The Final Countdown” was played by the Upplands Väsby rock band Europe.
Sweden’s squad during the opening of the Olympics. The Swedes shared a boat with South Sudan and Sri Lanka.
Sweden’s squad during the opening of the Olympics. The Swedes shared a boat with South Sudan and Sri Lanka.
Photo: Beate Oma Dahle/NTB/TT
First equal Olympics
The boats passed world-famous monuments such as Notre-Dame and the Louvre, and finished with the illuminated Eiffel Tower as a backdrop.
It was speculated which world artists would perform during the ceremony, and after only a few minutes the singer Lady Gaga appeared with the 60s song “Mon truc en plume” by Zizi Jeanmaire.
Metal band Gojira tore through a song at the palace Conciergerie and then controversial singer Aya Nakamura filled in. She is the most streamed artist in French in the world and has angered the French far-right’s Marine Le Pen ahead of the games.
The Paris Olympics are the first to be completely equal when it comes to participating men and women, and along the Seine tour, statues of historic French women, such as Simone de Beauvoir, went up.
The upwards of 10,000 athletes jumped on board in the wake of last night’s arson attack on railway lines outside Paris, which created chaos in train traffic. Tens of thousands of police, gendarmes and guards guarded the inauguration and metal fences along the river have fueled a frenzy among Parisians, who now hope to focus on the medals.
Smoke in French colors over the Austerlitz bridge.
Smoke in French colors over the Austerlitz bridge.
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT