The Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games have kicked off in Paris.

For the first time in the history of the Olympic Summer Games, the Opening Ceremony did not take place in a stadium. Paris 2024 is breaking new ground by bringing sports into the city, and the same was true of the Opening Ceremony, held in the heart of the city along its main artery: the Seine. Taking on a new guise, the parade of athletes was held on the Seine with boats for each national delegation. These boats were equipped with cameras to allow television and online viewers to see the athletes up close. Winding their way from east to west, the 10,500 athletes crossed through the center of Paris, the overall playing field for the Games on which these competitors will display their sporting prowess over the next 16 days. Special boats were provided for some delegations with a large number of athletes. Our world-renowned athletes and delegation members, boxer Abdumalik Khalokov and fencer Zaynab Dayibekova, traveled on a special boat.

The events during the opening ceremony reflected France’s past and present. Among the participants were 400 dancers, and almost 1.5 billion people worldwide watched on television.

Famous athletes, including footballer Zinedine Zidane and tennis player Rafael Nadal, carried the Olympic torch to the cauldron near the Louvre. A hot air balloon mounted on the cauldron rose into the sky with the torch.

The Olympic flame arrived in Paris after a grueling relay from Greece more than three months ago.

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games have begun. More than 10,500 athletes from about 206 countries will compete for victory in 32 disciplines. For the first time in history, 90 athletes in 19 sports will defend the honor of Uzbekistan at the prestigious competition.

J. Tashkhodjayev, T. Ruziyev, UzA