TEAM PHILIPPINES took part in the most unique and extravagant Olympics opening ceremony in history as the 2024 Paris Games formally began on Friday (Saturday morning Manila time) in Paris, France.
The banks of Seine with the Eiffel Tower and other French landmarks serving as the backdrop was the site of a unique opening ceremony that was held outside the main Olympic stadium for the very first time.
Not even the rains could dampen the spirits of the athletes during the parade of nations that saw them being transported in boats along a parade route filled with fans.
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Wearing their barongs designed by Francis Libiran, the Philippine delegation led by flag bearers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam was all smiles after entering as the 148th country in the parade of nations.
Also on the boat were boxers Hergie Bacyadan and Aira Villegas, gymnast Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo, hurdlers Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang Tolentino, fencer Samantha Catantan, and swimmer Jarod Hatch and Kayla Sanchez.
Cavite governor and Team Philippines chef de mission Johnvic Remulla, Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines secretary general Marcus Manalo, Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association chief Terry Capistrano, and Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion also joined the parade.
They were joined in the boat by athletes from Poland and Puerto Rico.
NBA stars LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo were among the notable flag bearers during the opening ceremony.
Directed by Thomas Jolly, the opening ceremony featured performances from Lady Gaga, French metal band Gojira, and pop star Aya Nakamura.
Several French cultural references such as Les Miserables, Moulin Rouge, and the Mona Lisa were highlighted during the four-hour opening rites.
France president Emmanuel Marcon declared the Games open in the native tongue following speeches by International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach and Paris 2024 Organizing Committee head Tony Estanguet.
French athletes Teddy Riner and Marie-Jose Perec lit the hot-air balloon cauldron after the torch was passed along revered personalities in sports that include Zinadine Zidane, Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci, Serena Williams, Amelie Mauresmo, Tony Parker, and Charles Coste, the oldest living French Olympian at 100.
Celine Dion, in her first public appearance since revealing that she has a rare disease called stiff person syndrome, closed the ceremony with the singing of ‘L’Hymne à l’amour’ from the first stage of the Eiffel Tower.
Joanie Delgaco will open the Philippines’ 100th year campaign in the Olympics on Saturday, 10:24 a.m. Paris time (Saturday, 4:24 p.m. Manila time) when she races in Heat Two of the women’s rowing single sculls.
One of the country’s brightest hopes for a medal in this year’s Olympics, Carlos Yulo, competes in the men’s qualification of the individual all-around and apparatuses later in the day.
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