A full moon rises behind the Olympic rings hanging from the Eiffel Tower, Monday, July 22, 2024, in Paris, France. The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics is Friday. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The Paris Olympics 2024 officially opened the Summer Games with an elaborate opening ceremony on July 26 (July 27, Manila time) in Paris France.

The Team Philippines was among those joining the Parade of Nations. The Filipino athletes was led by Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, who are the designated flag bearers.

SCHEDULE: Team Philippines at Paris Olympics 2024

In the Philippines, official broadcaster Cignal TV/One Sports Digital carried the opening ceremony  on its Facebook & YouTube accounts, free-to-air channel One Sports,  One Sports+ and Cignal TV Pop-up channels 1 & 2 on cable TV, and Pilipinas Live via streaming.

Cauldron at Paris Olympics looks like a hot-air balloon

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony

Teddy Riner and Marie-Jose Perec watch as the cauldron rises in a balloon in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2o24, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

PARIS  — The identity of the person who would light the Olympic cauldron for the Paris Olympics 2024 on Friday night (spoiler alert: Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner) was up in the air … and so, it turns out, was the cauldron itself: a ring of fire carried by a hot-air balloon.

Instead of the usual ground-bound cauldron used at most Summer and Winter Games, the special edition for the Paris Olympics is intended as a tribute to the first ride taken in a hydrogen-filled gas balloon — made in 1783 by two of that balloon’s French inventors. FULL STORY

Lady Gaga, Celine Dion add sparkle to Paris Olympics opening show

Celine Dion Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony

A grab of a video released by the Olympic Broadcasting Services shows Canadian Singer Celine Dion performing on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024, in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (Photo by various sources / AFP) /

Lady Gaga, Celine Dion and French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura joined dancers, an opera diva and even a heavy metal band in an opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics that sought to proudly showcase French culture with a modern twist.

The first-ever opening ceremony held outside a stadium — on the River Seine — had to battle driving rain that cast a pallid gloom over the City of Light.

The fast-moving and multi-location ceremony masterminded by acclaimed French theatre director Thomas Jolly was aimed at impressing the global TV audience as much as those who braved the weather and intense security to watch live. FULL STORY

Celine Dion serenades Paris from the Eiffel Tower

The Olympic cauldron is lit — and floats into the Paris sky via air balloon

Charles Coste, the oldest French Olympic champion at 100, took the Olympic flame from his wheelchair, then passed it on to French judo great Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-José Pérec. They lit a cauldron attached to a giant balloon, which then floated into the Paris night.  –ASSOCIATED PRESS

Zidane, Nadal, Serena help with final torch relay

The final torch relay late in the ceremony involved retired soccer star Zinedine Zidane, who led France to the 1998 World Cup title, and several non-French stars.

Zidane handed off to Rafael Nadal, a Spaniard who won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam tennis titles at the French Open. Then, on a boat along the Seine, Nadal gave the torch to Serena Williams, an American who collected three of her 23 major singles championships in Paris.

It’s officially official: Macron declares the Paris Olympics open

French President Emmanuel Macron has said the words that make it official: He has declared the Paris Games open.

Macron did so just before French flag bearers Florent Manaudou and Mélina Robert-Michon took the Olympic Oath on behalf of all the athletes taking part in the Olympic Games. The oath represents how athletes understand they must respect the rules of fair play. –ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Olympic flag was raised upside down

The five-ring Olympic flag was raised upside down at Trocadero across the way from the Eiffel Tower.

The gaffe happened about three hours into the opening ceremony. Four officers of the Republican Guard were handed the flag, unfurled it and then moved it to the top of a pole. But the yellow and green rings that are supposed to be at the bottom were at the top; the blue, black and red rings that are supposed to be on top were underneath.

The flag was designed in 1914 by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics. The five rings represent continents: blue for Europe, black for Africa, red for America, yellow for Asia, green for Australia. –ASSOCIATED PRESS

A message of hope and gratitude to the Olympic athletes

Tony Estanguet, the president of Paris 2024 and a three-time canoe slalom gold medalist, offered the Olympic athletes a message of hope at the opening ceremony Friday night.

And he thanked them for being in Paris.

“Dear athletes, we can’t wait to live it all with you,” he said. “The joy. The tears. And the love that you will put in each moment. Thank you so much for being here. You made it. Bravo. I know what it means. I know what it took. I know the paths you have followed to be here. Paris will give back to you. It’s the city of love. And for the next 16 days, it is your city.” –ASSOCIATED PRESS

Team Philippines sails into Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony

Team Philippines Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony

The boat carrying team Philippines makes its way down the Seine in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024.(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Team Philippines made its first appearance early Saturday morning (Manila time) in the 2024 Paris Olympics, whose opening ceremony was a first of its kind.

The ceremony, along with the traditional parade of nations, took place on the River Seine, with delegations from different countries sailing in front of officials that included French president Emmanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach—and thousands of fans who line the banks. FULL STORY

Paris Olympics begins with ambitious, sprawling opening ceremony

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony

Team Greece moves on the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

PARIS — Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy, showcasing the city’s resilience as authorities dealt with suspected acts of sabotage that targeted France’s flagship high-speed rail network.

Widespread travel disruptions triggered by what French officials said were coordinated arson attacks on high-speed rail lines and rain in Paris dampened the ceremony as global audiences tuned in for the opening spectacular got the 2024 Games. FULL STORY

Flag bearers for Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony

Coco Gauff Paris Olympics 2024

Coco Gauff of the U.S. returns the ball during a practice session ahead of the tennis competition, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

PARIS — Most countries will have two athletes hoisting a large flag in the boats along the Seine River for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony Friday.

It’s considered an honor to be chosen for the duty at the Games, and for years there was just one flag bearer per nation. In a tradition that began at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, delegations now select one woman and one man to share the job during the curtain-raiser — although sometimes, if there’s only one athlete present, that person will tote the flag alone. FULL STORY

Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Security Trains arson

Travelers sit on stairs at the Gare de Montparnasse, at the Paris Olympics 20204, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday following what officials described as “criminal actions” and sabotage AP Photo/Yasin Dar)

Thousands of spectators faced long queues and ticketing problems as they arrived for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 along the River Seine on Friday.

Many gates opened an hour late and at least one opened two hours late because staff had not been delivered scanners enabling them to check tickets.

“The police have been amazing, but the organization sucks,” said Michael Ohoven, 48, a German film producer, who paid 2,700 ($2,930) euros per ticket for him and his wife. FULL STORY

Arson attacks cause travel chaos before start of Paris Olympics

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony arson

Soldiers patrol outside Gare du Nord train station at the Paris Olympics 2024, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday by what officials described as “criminal actions” and sabotage. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

PARIS— Arsonists attacked the French high-speed rail network early Friday, paralyzing travel to Paris from across the rest of France and Europe for some 800,000 people, including Olympic athletes heading to the grand opening ceremony of the Games in the evening.

French officials condemned the attacks as “criminal actions,” though they said there was no sign of a direct link to the Games. Prosecutors in Paris opened a national investigation saying the crimes — among them property damage threatening the nation’s “fundamental interests” — could carry sentences of 10 to 20 years.

“It’s a hell of a way to start the Olympics,” said Sarah Moseley, a 42-year-old traveler waiting at the Gare du Nord station in Paris as she learned that her train to London was delayed by the rail chaos. FULL STORY

As PH flag bearers, Paalam, Petecio will join very iconic company

Carlo Paalam Petecio Paris Olympics 2024 flag bearers team philippines

Boxers Nesthy Petecioand Carlo Paalam will be the Team Philippines’ flag bearers for the Paris Olympics 2024.  —PDI FILE PHOTOS

When the Philippine delegation gets called to come out for the opening of the Paris Olympics 2024, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam will continue what seems to be a recurring theme.

Paalam and Petecio will be tasked to carry the Philippine flag for the formal start of the Summer Games, adding themselves to the list of boxers who have done so in the country’s 100th year of participation.

The silver medalists in the pandemic-delayed 2020 Tokyo Games three years earlier are the sixth and seventh sluggers in recorded Olympic history to ever hold that responsibility for the country. FULL STORY

Paris braces for ‘most incredible’ Olympics opening ceremony

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony

The United States’ Amarilees Bolorin, left, takes a selfie with a friend in front of the Eiffel Tower ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Thousands of athletes are set to sail through central Paris on Friday during an unprecedented and high-risk Olympics opening ceremony that will showcase the country’s hugely ambitious vision for the Games.

The parade on Friday evening will see up to 7,500 competitors travel down a six-kilometer (four-mile) stretch of the river Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats.

Compared to the COVID-blighted 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed by a year and opened in an empty stadium, the Paris show will take place in front of 300,000 cheering spectators and an audience of VIPs and celebrities from around the world. FULL STORY

France blocks 1,000 suspected spies from Paris Olympics

Paris Olympics 2024 France security

FILE – A police officer walks past a Paris Olympics 2024 canvas Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla, File)

PARIS — Three days before the start of the 2024 Olympics, France’s interior minister said about 1,000 people suspected of possibly meddling for a foreign power have been blocked from attending the Olympics — one of the security challenges that Paris is cracking down on in its goal to keep Games safe for athletes and fans.

About 1 million background checks have scrutinized Olympic volunteers, workers and others involved in the Games as well as those applying for passes to enter the most tightly controlled security zone in Paris — along the banks of the Seine — ahead of the opening ceremony on the river Friday. FULL STORY

Paris sets warm Olympics welcome – except for rats

This photograph taken on February 19, 2024, shows rats feed next to a pigeon, in Paris. (Photo by JOEL SAGET / AFP)

This photograph taken on February 19, 2024, shows rats feed next to a pigeon, in Paris. —photo by Joel Saget/Agence France-Presse

PARIS, France — While the Paris Olympics is set to be a festival of socializing and intermingling, city authorities are keen for visitors not to encounter any of the capital’s notorious furry inhabitants.

Humorously portrayed in the hit animated film “Ratatouille,” the French capital’s abundant rat population is no joke for the city’s residents—and could be an embarrassment as the Olympics spotlight falls on Paris.

“All of the Olympic sites and celebration areas were analyzed (for rats) before the Games,” Deputy Mayor Anne-Claire Boux, who has responsibility for public health, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in an interview. FULL STORY



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