The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be an event like no other as, for the first time, it will not be held in a stadium but will take place on the iconic Seine River in Paris, with boat parades and much more, all open to the public.
Organizers have kept details of the ceremony tightly under wraps, adding an element of anticipation to the event.
To keep the suspense, the performers are rehearsing in different places around France and will not have a full rehearsal before the official opening on July 26.
"We don't know anything and I've seen a lot of interviews lately and people always ask ‘Can you give us just a little hint, just a little something?’ And they keep saying ‘No, I can't say anything’. So I can't wait," said Laffailla Pauline, an Olympics volunteer.
The parade will start at the Pont D' Austerlitz and run for six kilometers to the Eiffel Tower for the grand finale.
Around 94 boats and over 10,000 athletes will sail down the Seine, according to Olympic.com.
The flotilla will be divided into national delegations, and will be equipped with cameras to allow television and online viewers to see the athletes up close.
"We are holding a positive attitude towards a public opening ceremony. There is a first time for everything. I think, even if the ceremony has some flaws, it does not matter because it will be the first time something like this has ever been done. If it is a success, similar concepts can be explored in future events. If there are any flaws, improvements can be made later on," said Tang Xinhe, a Chinese tourist.
While the event promises excitement and a grand spectacle, tightened security and safety measures along the Seine have drawn criticism from some local residents.
"You can see all the streets now that are partially blocked. So now you need to justify yourself in a way like ‘I live here’. If you don't have that, then you can’t enter your home. So, that's great for the city, for the economic state of the city, but I think there are some problems that need to be fixed," said Gaspard, a resident.
The opening ceremony will reportedly last for almost four hours with an estimated 3,000 performers joined by thousands of spectators for the celebrations.
![Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony set to surprise audience](https://image.bastillepost.com/1138x/wp-content/uploads/global/2024/07/8387126_1721749712002_a.jpg.webp)
Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony set to surprise audience