Legends combine in spectacular opening ceremony (2024)

Thanks for joining us

That concludes our coverage of the opening ceremony for Paris 2024!

It was very French, very spectacular, and very wet. Not sure that all made sense but we're running with it.

We'll be back when day one action officially gets underway Saturday afternoon (AEST).

Celine Dion makes incredible comeback performing on the Eiffel Tower

Celine Dion has stunned the world with a spectacular performance at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Dion wore a stunning silver gown as she belted out Hymne A L'Amour in a triumphant return halfway up the Eiffel Tower.

The singer was greeted with thunderous applause, after closing out the opening ceremony.

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WATCH: Olympic cauldron lights up Paris sky

Wait, are Gru's minions based on the French?

You learn something new every day — Minions are French!

The tiny, yellow mischief makers were created by French animation studio Mac Guff and featured in the opening ceremony... attempting to steal the Mona Lisa of course.

Stick around

Just because the ceremony is over, doesn't mean our coverage is.

Hang around and keep an eye on out — we'll bring you all the wash-up from this four-hour opening ceremony epic.

Stirring climax to Paris 2024 opening ceremony

Goodness me, it's Celine Dion! She's on top of the Eiffel Tower!

The iconic French-Canadian singer has overcome her recent health battles, including her struggles with Stiff Person Syndrome, to perform Edith Piaf's Hymne A L'Amour and round out the ceremony.

Beautiful!

Torch on the move

Rafael Nadal joins Nadia Comaneci and Serena Williams as the Olympic torch travels back down the Seine before being handed to Amelie Mauresmo who runs it to the front of the Louvre.

Stick with me!

Tony Parker and Marie-Amélie Le Fur headline several legendary athletes who run the flame towards the Olympic cauldron before 100-year-old Charles Coste — the oldest living French Olympic champion — has his moment.

"The last time Paris held these Games was the year he was born. An Olympic cycling champion in 1948," Christine Ahern says on Nine's broadcast.

Teddy Riner and Marie-Jose Perec then light the hot air balloon-style cauldron in thrilling scenes.

Ahern adds: "Look at that cauldron. It is extraordinary. A ring of flame, seven metres in diameter. This is something new, a hot air balloon. It's a tribute to the first flight in a hydrogen gas balloon. A nod to the French inventors".

The cauldron — which will remain lit until the end of the Games — then launches into the night sky.

Eiffel Tower brought to life

French football legend Zinedine Zidane re-emerges and hands the Olympic torch to 14-time Roland-Garros champion Rafael Nadal.

"This will be the last time we see him at an Olympics," Karl Stefanovic tells Nine's broadcast.

"Two absolute legends of their respective sports. What a career he has had."

The Eiffel Tower bursts to life with a stunning light show that sees beams shoot from the structure.

Speeches and formalities

We are in the thick of the formalities with a message from Olympic laureate Flippo Grandi and words from the president of the Paris 2024 organising committee Tony Estanguet.

"Welcome to Paris and welcome to your moment in history," Estanguet told the crowd of athletes assembled in front of him.

Internation Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach delivers his speech at the dais before French president Emmanuel Macron decares the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad open.

Arrival of the Olympic flag

The water horse becomes a real horse as our disguised horsewoman leads the flags of every Olympic dignitary towards the main stage.

Dove wings form the backdrop as a symbol of peace.

The Olympic anthem sounds as the flag is raised.

The horsewoman is unveiled as Floriane Issera, an officer of the French Gendarmerie.

While we now know the name of our iron lady, it seems the identity of the parkour-loving mystery torch bearer will remain that... A mystery.