Canada’s flag-bearers Andre De Grasse, a six-time Olympic medallist track star, and weightlifter Maude Charron, who won gold three years ago in Tokyo, led the Canadian athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony on Friday.
Athletes are making their way down the Seine River through France’s capital to mark the official opening of the Paris Olympics. Nearly 200 Canadian athletes, staff and coaches are sharing a boat with Olympians representing China and Chile.
In a unique opening ceremony, competitors and representatives from more than 200 competing countries are entering the Games on boats, passing landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame before ending their journey at the Trocadero.
The show started with spectators watching a video on giant screens mounted along the Seine where various people carried the torch through Paris.
Click on the video player above to watch full coverage. The broadcast will also be available with an American Sign Language translation, as seen further below.
The opening ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games presented with American Sign Language.
On a day of utmost importance for France and its capital, with dozens of heads of state and government in town for the Olympic opening and a global audience topping 1 billion expected to tune in, authorities were scrambling to deal with widespread rail disruptions caused by what they described as coordinated overnight sabotage of high-speed train lines.
The six-kilometre cruise down the famous river will take athletes and Olympic delegations past several Paris landmarks. The journey culminates at the Trocadeo, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, as the rest of the official proceedings take place.
Thousands of people made their way through heavy security barricades more than three hours before Friday’s ceremony began to find a spot to take in the spectacle.
Over 300,000 fans were expected to watch parts of the event along the route, although the early prediction is likely to be affected after attackers struck hours before the opening ceremony, blocking the country’s high-speed train network.
The flag-bearers leading Canada’s ship will be sprinter Andre De Grasse and weightlifter Maude Charron — both gold medallists from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Coverage from the ceremony on the CBC TV network, CBC Gem and the CBC Sports’ Paris 2024 website and app will be hosted by chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault and CBC Sports host Scott Russell, with the ceremony itself beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Celine Dion reportedly performing
Among the usual parade of athletes, fans will also be treated to theatrical performances showcasing French culture and Paris history. Several musical acts will also perform, with Celine Dion reportedly among the headliners.
Lady Gaga, who was seen rehearsing for about an hour near the Austerlitz Bridge, performed at Friday’s opening ceremony.
American rapper Snoop Dogg will also carry the torch during the ceremony.
Cloudy skies, rain forecast
Weather also threatened to dampen the ride down the Seine. An overcast sky threatened rain Friday evening as temperatures hovered around 23 C.
Stands along the river slowly filled about two hours before the ceremony, with many fans holding umbrellas to keep dry.
Police sirens and whistles blared in the distance, another sign of the ever-present security that will permeate the city throughout the Games.
Macron delivers message of peace
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed several dozen of heads of state and government at the Elysee presidential palace Friday afternoon.
Macron’s office said the Elysee reception was “an opportunity for France to deliver a message of peace and tolerance as 10,500 athletes from around the world gather to take part in the world’s biggest event.”
About 100 world leaders, government officials and heads of international organizations were expected to attend the ceremony.
Live events from the rest of the Paris 2024 Olympics are being broadcast on the CBC TV network, TSN and Sportsnet. Or choose exactly what you want to watch by live streaming on CBC Gem or CBC Sports’ Paris 2024 website and app.
CBC’s Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony features a spoken word performance by Ontario’s first Poet Laureate Randell Adjei and three-time Olympian Phylicia George.