There has never been an Olympic Games that put its host city on display quite like this.
In an unprecedented Opening Ceremony, the 2024 Summer Games kicked off with a wave of pageantry that, well, moseyed its way down the Seine River, incorporating France’s centuries-long history along a strange but oddly endearing four-hour show. It recognized historical figures (Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon), historical art (the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo), historical places (the Place de la Concorde, Notre Dame, the Louvre) and, of course, French fashion via a runway along a footbridge above the Seine.
All the while, it rained, then poured, and yet the show went on.
Here are some of the most memorable moments (and one major gaffe) from the 2024 Opening Ceremony.
