Let the games begin. The Paris Olympics kicked off with a bang on Friday, July 26, during the opening ceremony hosted along the River Seine. Athletes from across the world repped their country and artists channeled French pop culture history with ballooning levels of spectacle — from Lady Gaga channeling a French cabaret icon to Les Mis being turned into a rock opera backed by multiple headless Marie Antoinette figures.
Even in the pouring rain, the performers leaned fully into spectacle for a wild ride of an opening event as the torch made its way to its final destination. Here are the best and wildest moments the opening ceremony had to offer. Céline Dion Makes Grand Return to the Stage — on the Eiffel Tower Canadian icon Céline Dion made her grand return to the stage during the opening ceremony with a performance of Édith Piaf’s famous “Hymne à L’amour,” or “The Hymn to Love.
” Dion stood tall and proud while belting out the record under the light of the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower. The musician has been mostly unable to perform for nearly two years. In late 2022, she revealed her diagnosis with Stiff Person Syndrome.
The rare neurological condition can cause stiffness in the body and limbs, as well as debilitating spasms, which also impacts Dion’s vocal cords. But the singer has been vocal in her confidence that she will continue to sing no matter what roadblocks come her way. In Paris, her strength was put on full display.
Throuples, Les Mi.