The 2024 Paris Olympics officially began with quite a spectacle on Friday as the opening ceremony for the Games was held along the River Seine in the heart of the city.
With France serving as the host nation for this year’s Olympics, there was one question on everyone’s mind: Who would receive the honor of lighting the ceremonial cauldron?
It’s quite an honor to be selected by your host nation to do so, and Friday’s opening ceremony featured a very cool lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
The leadup to the lighting featured several French and American athletes passing the torch, beginning with Zinedine Zidane, who handed it off to Rafael Nadal followed by Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, Amelie Mauresmo and Tony Parker in succession.
After that, a group of Olympians and Paralympians carried the torch to French judoka Teddy Riner and retired sprinter Marie-Jose Perec, who lit the cauldron together.
It was quite a fitting conclusion to a star-studded opening ceremony and leadoff to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
