Paris has rolled out the red carpet for the world's greatest sporting extravaganza, with the Olympic Games opening ceremony kicking off to a glittering start last night. The ceremony began at 11:30 p.m. (Bangladesh time) in Paris.
Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Aya Nakamura, and Gojira, the first heavy metal band ever to perform at the Olympics, were among the music performers at the opening ceremony.
Following months of speculation, the artists who graced the stage on Friday evening for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics were revealed.
As previously rumoured and subsequently confirmed by French newspaper Le Parisien, Céline Dion, Lady Gaga, and Aya Nakamura performed, with Dion and Gaga duetting to a song by Édith Piaf (believed to be ‘La Vie en Rose’), while Nakamura performed a Charles Aznavour classic – accompanied by the Republican Guard.
The show marked Dion’s first performance in years. She had not appeared on stage since her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome, which led to the cancellation of several live shows.
For Gaga, a duet with Dion posed no linguistic challenge, as she had already sung Piaf’s ‘La Vie En Rose’ in the 2018 film A Star Is Born.
Other French talent also took to the stage. Audiences were treated to a duet between pianist Sofiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet; a collaborative set featuring singer Philippe Katerine and drummer Cerrone; and a unique performance combining opera singer Marina Viotti with the heavy metal band Gojira.
The City of Lights, which previously hosted the Games in 1900, is pulling out all the stops for this centenary return. But the grandeur of the occasion comes at a hefty price tag.
A staggering €7.4 billion (£6.4 billion) has been lavished on transforming the French capital into an Olympic stage. This colossal sum has been poured into constructing new venues, upgrading existing facilities, and bolstering security. The Aquatics Centre, a showpiece venue boasting a capacity of 6,000, has swallowed up a cool €18 million, while the Adidas Arena, home to badminton, rhythmic gymnastics, and weightlifting, cost €13 million.
The iconic Stade de France, the largest stadium in the country, will host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as football and rugby matches. This flagship venue alone accounts for a whopping €63 million of the overall budget.
While the Games are a showcase for athletic prowess, they are also a lucrative business. NBCUniversal has forked out a staggering €6.9 billion for the broadcast rights between 2021 and 2032. Ticket prices, ranging from €88 to a princely €2,650, are expected to generate significant revenue.
However, the glamour of the Games is underpinned by a robust security operation. The French government has allocated €31 million to safeguard the event, with a particular focus on cyber threats. As the world watches, Paris is determined to deliver an unforgettable spectacle, but the hefty price tag raises questions about the true cost of Olympic glory.
