History was made at the Olympics
History to be made as Olympics opens with parade of boats (and athletes)
For the first time in Olympic history, the Paris 2024 Summer Games opening ceremony did not take place in a stadium but along the Seine River. On July 26, approximately 94 boats carried athletes and officials along a 6km route, with cameras onboard to provide close-up views of the athletes.
Each nation’s sporting flag-bearer stood at the prow of a boat, and the parade of around 10,000 athletes concluded at the Trocadéro, where the final shows and Olympic protocol took place.
The ceremony featured tightrope walkers, acrobats, dancers, and unique elements like floating islands, pianos, and possibly submersibles. The spectacle was supported by 45,000 police and army units, with 300,000 spectators watching from the bridges and riverbanks as security, including police, frogmen, and snipers, ensured safety.
Preparation for the event began in June, with significant structures built along the river. Most of the boats in the ceremony were Parisian, including FinX’s Imagine, a bio-inspired electric boat designed specifically for the event. Imagine was developed in collaboration with ARMEN Initiative and the Cap Ferret Naval Shipyard, emphasizing sustainable materials like biosourced resin and cork.
Read more about the opening ceremony at the Olympics here.
