PARIS - In an unprecedented display of artistry and celebration, Paris kicked off the Olympics 2024 with an awe-inspiring opening ceremony that showcased French culture and history. The event, held outside a stadium for the first time in modern Olympics history, captivated spectators with a boat parade down the iconic River Seine and a dazzling light show beaming from the Eiffel Tower.

The ceremony commenced with a boat procession along a 3.7-mile stretch of the Seine, featuring 6,800 athletes from 205 delegations. Flanked by more than 300,000 ticketholders and the general public, the athletes waved flags, smiled, and spread the post-pandemic jubilance to all onlookers. The boats passed by historic landmarks such as the Grand Palais, temporary sport venues, and the cheering crowds who lined the river's banks and bridges.

An eclectic lineup of performances paid tribute to French history and culture throughout the ceremony. Notable showcases included a salute to Notre Dame's restoration team, a nod to the iconic fashion design house Louis Vuitton, and a captivating depiction of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Dancers gracefully moved through water on tiered risers, seamlessly blending into gilded architecture, while elaborately costumed performers reenacted France's revolutionary past.

The ceremony also celebrated gender parity, with statues rising from pillars along the water's edge, representing female politicians, writers, and explorers who made significant contributions to French history. Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), praised this achievement in his speech, emphasizing the Games' inclusivity, urbanity, youthfulness, and sustainability.

As the rain poured, the festivities continued unabated. Amidst a glamourous procession of French celebrities including drag queen Nicky Doll, the banquet table-catwalk atop a bridge transformed into a late 20th-century discothèque, paying homage to the French rave scene. The climax of the event came with a mesmerizing performance by pianist Sofiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet, who played the opening notes of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Imagine" before the piano burst into flames, symbolizing a world united and without boundaries.

The United States, with its largest delegation, was represented by tennis star Coco Gauff and NBA's top scorer LeBron James as flagbearers. The torch relay leading up to the ceremony included appearances by prominent American figures such as Snoop Dogg, Pharrell, and Selma Hayek. Tennis legend Serena Williams, alongside other athletes, transported the flame on a motorboat, marking the culmination of its journey.

Capping off the night, a remarkable comeback was witnessed as Celine Dion, overcoming her rare and chronic neurological disorder, performed Edith Piaf's "Hymne à l'amour" at the base of the Eiffel Tower. Dion's emotional return to the Olympics stage, after her last live performance in 2020, brought a fitting end to the resplendent opening ceremony.

The significance of the event, however, did not come without heightened security measures. Authorities locked down the city, closing roads and bridges and deploying tens of thousands of police and military personnel. A "coordinated" arson attack on the French rail network earlier in the day added to the security concerns, temporarily halting train traffic.

Looking ahead, France has already secured its next Olympic Games, which will take place in the French Alps in the winter of 2030. As the Paris Olympics 2024 unfold, the world eagerly anticipates a fortnight of exceptional athleticism, cultural exchange, and unity under the banner of sportsmanship and solidarity.