The 2024 Paris Olympics kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony where French athletes had the chance to carry the Olympic torch. Among the twenty-four torchbearers, two exceptional athletes were chosen to light the cauldron – Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner.
The final journey of the torch started with Zinedine Zidane, a soccer legend, and ended with the two Olympic heroes, Pérec and Riner, who have each won three Olympic gold medals. The moment they lit the cauldron was truly special and marked the beginning of the games with a French twist.
Marie-José Pérec, aged 56, is a track star who has achieved great success in the Olympics. She won gold in the 400 meters at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and repeated the feat in Atlanta four years later. Additionally, she claimed gold in the 200 meters in 1996, setting an Olympic record with her remarkable 400-meter run.
On the other hand, Teddy Riner, a judo champion, has also had an impressive Olympic career. He secured gold in the men’s plus-100 kg division in both the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics. Furthermore, he triumphed in the mixed team competition in Tokyo and holds 12 gold medals in world championships. Riner is aiming for his fourth Olympic gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics and will start competing on August 2.
The opening ceremony paid tribute to historic events by having Pérec and Riner light their torches on a 100-foot hot-air balloon, symbolizing the first flight in a hydrogen balloon in 1783. The ceremony was filled with iconic torchbearers such as Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Nadia Comaneci, and Tony Parker.
While the grand ceremony took place on Friday, the sporting events actually commenced earlier in the week. The United States women’s soccer team started strong with a victory over Zambia. The anticipation is high as the first medal events are scheduled to begin on Saturday.
The 2024 Paris Olympics are off to an exciting start, and fans around the world are eagerly waiting to see the outstanding performances and memorable moments that these games will bring. Stay tuned for more updates and coverage of the games as they unfold.
