PV Sindhu & Sarath Kamal leads way for India at Paris Olympics start | Watch

France walked the talk after promising a never-seen-before Olympics opening ceremony. For the first time, the curtain-raiser of the biggest sporting spectacle was moved out of a traditional stadium and held outdoors.

Boats were used to ferry athletes in a floating 'Parade of Nations' across a 6km stretch on River Seine as thousands and thousands of spectators lined up across the central part of the city, which played host to a four-hour-long opening ceremony. Rain did not dampen the spirits of the athletes, the performers, and the fans as the Olympic Games returned to the City of Lights after a century in some style.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Olympic Games open after International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach delivered a rousing speech, welcoming the athletes from across 206 NOCs, including the Refugee Olympic Team.

PV Sindhu and Sharath Kamal were India's flagbearers. 78 athletes and officials were part of the Indian contingent at the Parade of Nations.

India… India!!! ????????
And this is how the entry of our Indian contingent looked at the #ParisOlympics2024 #OpeningCeremony !
Wishing every Indian athlete the very best for the #Paris2024 !
Everyone, do #Cheer4India.. pic.twitter.com/qNg3CVCD9O

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) July 26, 2024

Pop icon Lady Gaga sang a French song to mark the start of the opening ceremony. Celine Dione performed for the second time in the Olympic ceremony after 1996 in Atalanta. 10,500 athletes will compete in the Paris Olympics, which will be held from July 26 to August 11. 329 Gold medals are up for grabs in the first-ever full gender-neutral Games.