Nadia Comaneci saves Olympic Flame during Grand Opening on the Seine River in Paris

On Friday, July 26, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opened with an unprecedented ceremony that moved beyond the traditional stadium setting, taking over the heart of the city. Athletes paraded along the Seine, on boats, in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators, as global stars like Lady Gaga, Aya Nakamura, and Céline Dion performed.

A highlight of the event was Nadia Comaneci’s participation in the final ‘team relay’ segment. Comaneci, a five-time Olympic champion and the first gymnast to score a perfect 10, joined other legends including Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, and Serena Williams. Together, they carried the Olympic Torch along the Seine to the Tuileries Garden, where French icons Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner lit the Olympic Cauldron, signaling the official start of the Games.

As The Guardian mentions, “Only Comăneci, perhaps unsurprisingly for a woman who won two Olympic golds on the balance beam, seemed untroubled as the boat bobbed up and down. At one point Williams appeared to gasp in fear and hold on to Comăneci for reassurance.”

2024 Olympic Games in Paris

The 2024 Olympic Games, set to take place from July 26 to August 11, will see over 10,000 athletes from around the globe compete in 32 sports, with new events such as breakdancing making their debut. Paris, hosting the Olympics for the third time, has promised a spectacular event with a focus on sustainability and innovation, using iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Élysées as part of the competition venues.

Photos courtesy of Nadia Comaneci Facebook Page and Olympics Official Page

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