From Celine Dion's comeback performance to the cauldron lighting: Highlights of the 2024 Paris Olympics opening

Lady Gaga kicks off the ceremony

Lady Gaga never fails to surprise and impress.

After much gossip about her appearance at the Olympics, the singer and actress became the first musical act for the ceremony. 

However, her striking performance of Mon Truc en Plumes by French ballet dancer, actress and singer Zizi Jeanmaire wasn’t at all what the crowd expected as it was all pre-recorded. She delivered the act on the steps along the Seine River, accompanied by eight dancers carrying pink feather fans.

In a post on X, Gaga highlighted how she feels “so completely grateful to have been asked to open the Paris Olympics 2024 this year.”

“Although I am not a French artist, I have always felt a very special connection with French people and singing French music—I wanted nothing more than to create a performance that would warm the heart of France, celebrate French art and music, and on such a momentous occasion remind everyone of one of the most magical cities on earth—Paris,” she wrote.

The Philippines raises its flag

This year’s Olympics opening ceremony is a special one as the athletes were introduced not in a stadium, but rather on a boat cruising along the famous Seine River.

The Philippines’ very own delegation were all smiles as they graced the parade of nations, with boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam serving as flagbearers while the rest of the team proudly waved their own little flags as they cruised the river.

For the parade, they donned "Sinag" barong Tagalog uniforms created by renowned designer Francis Libiran.

Dazzling light show

Since the Eiffel Tower is perhaps Paris’ most iconic attraction, it’s only fitting that it played a significant part during the festivities.

The historical landmark dazzled the crowd with an impressive laser light show as the Olympic symbol of five rings was on full display.

Lighting of the cauldron

No Olympics opening would be complete without the cauldron being lit with the symbolic Olympic flame, which aims to showcase the continuity between ancient and modern games.

The 2024 Olympic cauldron spans seven meters in diameter and is located in the Jardin des Tuileries, aligned with the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe. 

What’s special about the lighting this year is that it's carried by a hot air balloon that's about 100 feet tall and 22 meters wide.

French Olympic gold medalists Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec lit the cauldron, which then appeared to float up in the air. The showcase serves as a tribute to the first successful balloon ride, which was made in 1783 by two French inventors using hydrogen gas.

Celine Dion’s comeback performance

The phrase “comeback is real” couldn’t be more perfect to describe Celine Dion's return to the stage for the Olympics ceremony after four years amid her battle with stiff person syndrome.

Wearing a glamorous gown full of rhinestone embellishments, the award-winning singer became the fitting finale of the ceremony as she closed the event after the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

She sang L’Hymne à l’amour by renowned French singer Edith Piaf. 

Her last performance before this was in March 2020 in New Jersey. She revealed her stiff person syndrome diagnosis in December 2022 and later had to cancel a string of shows scheduled for 2023 and 2024 as she said she was not strong enough to tour.