Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony: Céline Dion performs, cauldron is lit and more memorable moments

As the thousands of athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games united to take part in the opening ceremony, NASA astronauts watched them from above.

NASA shared a video of those on the International Space Station, along with a message to the athletes.

"As astronauts do their daily work in space... they have some part of their minds on the 2024 Olympic games," the message on the video reads. It then shows astronauts passing a "torch," preparing for competition and performing some dynamic moves as they float inside the space station.

Astronaut Matt Dominick then sent a message to Earth, saying, "We've had an absolute blast pretending to be Olympic athletes. We, of course, have had the benefits of weightlessness. We can't imagine how hard this must be to be such a world class athlete doing your sports under actual gravity."

“So from all of us aboard the international space station to every single athlete in the Olympic Games, Godspeed.”

The Beyhive collectively gasped on Friday night when Beyoncé appeared in a pre-recorded segment to support Team USA.

The iconic singer donned a special Team USA bodysuit and floor-length jacket in honor of the occasion, along with a sparkly American flag cowboy hat to introduce the athletes.

"Get a look at America, y'all. These hopes and dreams. These superstars that represent us, the people of this big, bold, beautiful, complicated nation, all rooting together for them," she said over the track of her hit, "Ya Ya."

"We've got superstars and we've got legends," she continued. "We've got big dreamers, who fought their whole lives to get here. Who gave up everything for one shot and made it."

"That pride and that joy, that's what gets me about this team and that's what makes me believe in this team," she said. "And that's why I can't wait to see what they pull over these next 16 days."

"America, give it up for Team USA," she concluded. "The very best of who we are. What a vision to behold. What a team to believe in. What a night to celebrate."

As the coverage returned to the flotilla on the River Seine and Team USA floated across, the hosts were thrilled about the Beyoncé appearance.

"Y'all, and what about Beyoncé?" pop star Kelly Clarkson asked. "Just kicking everything off and getting everybody amped for this. I couldn't think of a more perfect artist to do that for these athletes.

"If I'm Steve Kerr, I'm showing that video before my game," former NFL player Peyton Manning replied, referring to the Team USA basketball coach. "Let Beyoncé do all the talking."

Once more for the West Coast!

For fans on the West Coast, tune in on NBC and Peacock to watch the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, starting at 7:30 PT.

Simone Biles is looking to add to the list of skills named after her in gymnastics’ Code of Points.

The American superstar submitted an original skill on uneven bars to the International Gymnastics Federation on Friday. If Biles successfully completes it during women’s qualifying on Sunday, the skill will become the sixth to bear her name in the code.

Biles already has two elements named after her on vault — including the Yurchenko double pike — and floor exercise, and one on balance beam. She is looking to become the only active gymnast to have an eponymous skill on all four events.

The skill Biles submitted requires her to do a forward circle around the lower bar before turning a handstand into a 540-degree pirouette. USA Gymnastics teased the move on X on Friday.

Bars is considered the “weakest” of Biles’ events in the sense that just one of her 37 Olympic and world championship medals have come on bars.

She remains one of the top Americans on the event, though USA Gymnastics co-lead Chellsie Memmel said this week the Americans could sit Biles out of bars during team finals to give her a small break during the Games.

We may be four years away from the Summer Games coming to Los Angeles but the opening ceremony in Paris got people thinking about what's to come.

L.A. doesn't exactly have quite the same number of majestic, timeless and iconic buildings as Paris, a fact that hasn't gone unnoticed online.

Popular Los Angeles-based meme account, @americanamemes (so-called for the Rick Caruso-owned mall in the L.A. suburb of Glendale) asked for L.A. opening ceremony predictions and made a few of their own.

The responses were hilarious, with @carlyeinfeld joking that the Olympic torch "will get stuck in traffic as they didn’t check if there was an event at the (Hollywood) bowl. She also predicted that "the big minion at Universal will come alive and dance in the ceremony!"

The Hollywood Bowl is an iconic performance venue with evening shows that cause a traffic nightmare in the area. Universal Studios, located in Studio City, famously has a giant yellow minion from the "Despicable Me" series that is visible from U.S. Route 101, one of the main north-south routes through the city.

Another user, @ChampsPapa1015, joked the city could feature a "Taco Truck parade to the tune of 'La Cucaracha.'"

"Randy’s Donuts should be the Olympic Cauldron," @allanallanallan replied, referencing the classic enormous donut statue that several Randy's Donuts shops feature outside.

Still more celebrated Los Angeles native and NBC Olympic commentator, Snoop Dogg.

"Snoop Dogg lights the Olympic torch with a joint," @GalaxyDude96 joked.

Céline Dion is just as overjoyed to return to the stage as were her fans and people who tuned in to watch her epic performance during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

In her photo posted on her Instagram, Dion smiles and makes a heart shape with her hands. She also included a photo of the Eiffel Tower and fans holding up a handmade sign with her name and the Olympic rings combined.

"I’m honored to have performed tonight, for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, and so full of joy to be back in one of my very favorite cities!" the Grammy winner began. "Most of all, I’m so happy to be celebrating these amazing athletes, with all their stories of sacrifice and determination, pain and perseverance."

"All of you have been so focused on your dream, and whether or not you take home a medal, I hope that being here means that it has come true for you! You should all be so proud, we know how hard you have worked to be the best of the best. Stay focused, keep going, my heart is with you!" she concluded, signing off, "Celine xx…"

Dion, who has been dealing with stiff person syndrome, performed Edith Piaf’s renowned “Hymne à l’amour” (the Hymn to Love). This marked the French Canadian artist's first performance in two years.

The opening ceremony on the River Seine may be over but the Olympics are just getting started.

For those on the East Coast, the opening ceremony is airing again starting now, at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 CT.

Tune in to the Paris Olympics on NBC and Peacock.

TODAY's Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie had a front row seat at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. From their perch above the River Seine, the two watched French-Canadian pop star Céline Dion's triumphant return to the stage.

The video, shared by Savannah to Instagram, shows her and Hoda watching the final moments of Dion's performance of “Hymne A L’Amour.”

"Blown away by Celine. So so so amazed and happy for her. What a triumph," Savannah captioned the video.

Another clip shared by the TODAY Show Instagram showed another angle of the hosts tearing up.

Dion's performance was her first in two years following her diagnosis with stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms.

Even though Los Angeles is more than 5,600 miles away from Paris, the City of Angels is getting into the Olympic spirit.

As of Friday, the city's iconic Sunset Strip featured several Olympic-themed billboards nestled among the usual fare of TV shows, upcoming films and high-fashion advertisements.

Apple has several building-height billboards in Hollywood and West Hollywood featuring young children as part of its “2036 Hopefuls” series, the latest entry in the long-running “Shot on iPhone” campaign. AdWeek reports the "2036 Hopefuls" campaign was created by agency TBWA\Media Arts Lab and spotlights aspiring athletes from around the world who are all under age 10.

Ralph Lauren also featured a few billboards celebrating the brand's official Olympics opening ceremony uniforms for Team USA, including one next to legendary hotel Chateau Marmont.

There were also several digital billboards featuring Olympics coverage promotion from NBC.

The Olympics are held every two years, alternating between the winter and summer seasons. The next round of Games will take place in the winter of 2026 and will be held in both Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, according to the Olympics website. Then, the Summer Olympics will return to the U.S., with the 2028 Games hosted in Los Angeles.

For anyone who missed the livestream of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony or who just wants to re-watch, an encore presentation will be re-airing tonight.

The encore will feature additional elements not in the original NBC live show and will air at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT, 6:30 p.m. MT and 7:30 p.m. PT.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will run from Friday, July 26, until Sunday, August 11, the day of the closing ceremony.

Global superstar Celine Dion, who has spent the last few years dealing with stiff person syndrome, returned to the stage for the first time in years, performing Edith Piaf’s famous work, "Hymne à l’amour" (the Hymn to Love). The song was written to the love of Piaf’s life, boxer Marcel Cerdan, who died in a plane crash barely a month after it was first performed.

Dion had sparked speculation she may perform after she was spotted in Paris days before the opening ceremony.

After a long journey around the world, the Olympic cauldron is lit!

The identity of the person who will light the Olympic cauldron with the torch near the end of the opening ceremony is always a closely guarded secret until the last few moments.

After Rafael Nadal took the flame and returned to the River Seine, he was joined on a boat with Serena Williams, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci, and Team USA track star Carl Lewis, who took turns holding the Olympic torch.

The boat traveled back up the River Seine, the "reverse commute" of the parade as NBC commentator Mike Tirico said.

They eventually disembarked and handed the torch to French tennis legend Amélie Mauresmo, who ran up steps from the river and back into the city streets to the Louvre. She then handed the flame to French NBA player Tony Parker. The two ran together through an empty courtyard, past the iconic I. M. Pei glass pyramid.

They then handed the Olympic torch to three French Paralympic athletes and the five of them ran to hand the torch to Miguel Sánchez-Migallón, a handball player. The group of torchbearers, all clad in white, quickly ballooned to include 18 former Olympians, including the oldest living French Olympic champion, Charles Coste, who turned 100 this year.

The final two torch bearers, Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec, then lit the cauldron.

Pérec is a retired French track and field sprinter while Riner is a former Olympic judoka (a practitioner of the Japanese martial art, Judo.)

The person who lights the cauldron is usually a prominent name from the host country. The final torchbearer at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 was tennis star Naomi Osaka.

After the Olympic flame was lit in Greece back in April, it traveled around the world ahead of the games. First, there was a relay around Greece before the flame boarded the Belem, France’s oldest three-masted schooner. The boat was first launched in 1896, the first year of the modern Olympic Games. After 10 days at sea, the flame landed in Marseille, France.

The Olympic flame then traveled around the country, with events at iconic places like the Palace of Versailles and the D-Day Landing Beaches. It also traveled across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans as part of the “Oceans Relay” to reach six overseas territories: Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, French Polynesia — where the Olympics surfing competition will be held — New Caledonia and Reunion Island.

It's one of the greatest honors to serve as the person who will light the Olympic cauldron.

The ceremony, which marks the official beginning of the Games, is steeped in tradition and secrecy — in fact, New York Times' The Athletic reports that Paris organizers said Sunday that the person wasn't even aware they'd been selected yet.

The Athletic speculated that there are 10 possible candidates for the honor: sprinter Marie-José Pérec, soccer player Zinedine Zidane, actor Omar Sy, soccer player Kylian Mbappé, President Emmanuel Macron, soccer player Thierry Henry, NBA player Victor Wembanyama, astronaut Thomas Pesquet, Olympian Martin Fourcade and former NBA player Tony Parker.

In 2021, tennis player Naomi Osaka held the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron at the Tokyo Games.

It's not just the Olympics. It's a party! Savannah Guthrie took a snap with John Legend and Chrissy Teigen at the Olympics.

For every Olympiad, the torch is lit using the rays of the sun and a parabolic mirror during a ceremony in Olympia, in Greece, where the ancient Games took place.

The ancient Greeks believed fire was a divine element and lit the Olympic flame with the sun to make sure it was pure, according to the IOC website. Once lit, the flame was kept alive throughout the Games — a tradition that has persisted for millennia.

The ritual is performed by women playing priestesses and organized by the Hellenic Olympic Committee. This year, Greek actor Mary Mina had the honor of playing the high priestess.

"The high priestess is accompanied by priestesses and Kouroi, represented by a group of young Greek dancers who perform a choreography inspired by ancient times," the Paris Olympics website states.

After the flame has been lit using the parabolic mirror and the rays from the sun, it's then placed in an urn and brought to the ancient stadium by Hestiada (the priestess keeper of the fire).

Then, it's handed over to the first torchbearer along with an olive branch — a universal symbol of peace.

The Olympic torch then starts on a months-long journey to the Olympic cauldron.

There may be an Olympics opening ceremony going on but Hoda Kotb briefly tore her eyes away from the spectacle to meet Tom Cruise.

TODAY crews on the scene tell us that Cruise and Hoda just casually bumped into each other on a bridge over the Seine.

Please enjoy this very damp-looking photo of the two that Hoda shared!

“Do you know when you dream of meeting Tom Cruise… And then it finally happens,” she captioned the pic.

“Icons only,” Savannah Guthrie replied in the comments.

The Olympic Anthem dates back to the 1896 Summer Olympics, the first international Olympic Games in modern history. According to the official Olympics website, the anthem was composed by Greek composer Spýros Samáaras with lyrics by Kostas Palamas. The song is played when the Olympic flag is raised during the opening ceremony and later when the flag is lowered at the closing ceremony.

The lyrics (translated here to English) are:

“O Ancient immortal Spirit, pure father

Of beauty, of greatness and of truth,

Descend, reveal yourself and flash like lightning here,

within the glory of your own earth and sky.

At running and at wrestling and at throwing,

Shine in the momentum of noble contests,

And crown with the unfading branch

And make the body worthy and ironlike.

Plains, mountains and seas glow with you

Like a white-and-purple great temple,

And hurries at the temple here, your pilgrim,

O Ancient immortal Spirit, every nation.”

Doves have been incorporated into every Olympics since the 1920 Antwerp Games, according to the official page of the Olympics.

At that first Olympics, one representative from each country released doves, meant to be a symbol of peace.

But the Olympics stopped incorporating live doves after the 1988 Seoul Games, which ended in a tragic spectacle. For the event, doves were trained to be released, fly around the stadium, and reach the cauldron's rim and depart. Instead, many were charred by the flame before they could fly away and died.

At the Paris Olympics, the doves were represented by wings spread throughout the journey down the Seine.

A metal horse carrying the Olympics flag went "running" down the Seine.

Viewers commented on the sheer length of the journey, which follows the same path that Olympians follow. Commentator Mike Tirico said the lengthiness was attributed to allowing for athletes to leave the boats.

“It’s the fact that every bit of the ceremony just takes so long. We currently on minute five of ‘Horse Boat,’“ one wrote.

“Are we going to have to watch this horse travel the entire length of the Seine,” another said.

The moment reminded some fans of the silver horse that appeared on the cover of Beyoncé's "Renaissance" album.

The horse went to land — now as an actual living, breathing horse. The flag bearer, a seemingly masked individual, crossed a bridge with a parade of flags follwoing.

"Imagine" has become a part of modern Olympics ceremonies, dating back to when John Lennon's tune was performed by Stevie Wonder at the end of the 1996 Atlanta Games in memory of the victims of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing.

Lennon's song imagines a world without global conflict, in line with the unifying values of the Olympics.

This year, song was sung by Juliette Armanet, accompanied by a solo piano — which lit on fire during the performance.

It's the moment U.S. spectators at home were waiting for! The U.S. boat came second-to-last, since it is the next country to host the Olympics.

This year, there are 592 members on Team USA. This boat carries a portion.

Ahead of Team USA's boat approaching the main area of the River Seine, the American flag bearers, NBA star LeBron James and tennis icon Coco Gauff spoke with NBC on the live stream.

When asked how being the youngest person ever selected to be a flag bearer felt, Gauff said it "means a lot to me to be here and represent Team USA and be here with the GOAT here, Mr. LeBron James."

"It means a lot and I'm so excited and I can't wait to do well in the Games," she said.

When asked what it was like to be on the Team USA boat for the opening ceremony from an athlete's perspective, she said the following, "We're seeing a lot of water, first off, but also some amazing people in the crowd, a lot of athletes and we're all here, hyped to represent Team U.S."

James, who first went to the Olympics at the age of 19, said it was "great" to be back.

"It's great being around your fellow Olympians and representing the red white and blue," he said. "A lot of respect to France and Paris for giving us the opportunity to showcase our talents, but we're here for USA and we're ready to go out."

He added that it was "an honor" for him and Gauff to be voted flag bearers for the team.

"For myself and Coco (Gauff), for us to be able to represent our country, being Black kids as well. Represent our culture, represent where we come from," he said. "It gives everybody so much hope where we come from and and that's all we can ask for. We take it with our most responsibility."

The two added that the rain wasn't putting a damper on Team USA's mood.

"The rain can't stop us," James said.

The best tennis player in Ukraine history, Elina Svitolina, represented the war-torn country as the nation's flag-bearer during the opening ceremony.

Svitolina, 29, won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, which were held just months before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

“The Games have always been a separate theme and a special motivation for me," she told reporters head of the Olympics, according to Tennis.com. "Here I play for my country. This is so important to me, especially in such a difficult time."

Svitolina is the most successful women's tennis player in Ukraine history, having reached a peak ranking of No. 3 in the world in the Women's Tennis Association. She has been an ambassador for Ukraine while on tour and has used her tennis foundation to raise money to help the war efforte.

Svitolina is also one of multiple tennis players serving as flagbearers in the opening ceremony, including Coco Gauff for Team USA. The tennis competition will take place at the famed Roland-Garros, the site of the French Open.

French-Algerian artist Rim'K paid homage to Snoop Dogg while rapping during the opening ceremony.

Rim'K, 46, a Paris native whose name is Abdelkrim Brahmi, rapped in French, but shouted out the California rap legend in his song. Snoop was right there watching along with all the spectators on the Seine.

Snoop's reaction to Rim'K's tribute was to smile and keep dancing under an umbrella in the downpour during the broadcast.

We're sorry to report that the opening ceremony is woefully low on bare-chested athletes greased with coconut oil.

Pita Taufatofua, 40, the flagbearer for the island nation of Tonga who became a sensation at the 2016 opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, did not qualify for the Paris Olympics. Taufatofua's bare-chested appearance in a traditional Tongan taʻovala (decorated cloth) has been a regular sight for the past three Olympics.

However, he is in Paris today. Taufatofua shared on Instagram that he took part in the Olympic torch relay ahead of the ceremony.

"The reason I couldn't bring the oil," he wrote. "May the Games Begin!"

"We still want the oil," one person commented.

He also appeared at the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2020 Summer Olympics after qualifying in taekwondo and cross-country skiing.

Taufatofua shared on Instagram in April that he didn't qualify for Paris, leaving him with an issue most likely not faced by any other Olympic hopeful.

"Sorry Paris, the five gallons of extra virgin coconut oil I’ve been stock piling ‘may’ have to wait," he wrote.

Team Mongolia has arrived to the Olympics in style — literally.

Even before the opening ceremony, Team Mongolia won raves for the uniforms its athletes will wear at the event.

The outfits, which have been lauded on social media, feature embroidery with culturally significant symbols and allusions to the event.

They showcase the Olympic torch and the emblem of the Paris Olympics, as well as traditional Mongolian symbols, including the sun, moon, and the Gua-Maral — a mythical deer from Mongolian folklore.

The outfits have been met with approval from fans on social media.

A post about the uniforms shared by user Regularguy sports sparked a lot of support.

“Mongolia IS THE BEEEEST NO ARGUE,” one person wrote.

“Mongolia is another level of mesmerizing,” someone else commented.

Read more here.

Team Great Britain shared a tweet from their boat on the River Seine that may be a hint about a certain upcoming performer.

"Near, far, wherever you are," the team captioned a photo of two of their athletes posing like a scene from "The Titanic."

French-Canadian singer Celine Dion has been rumored to be performing at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. (NBC News has not confirmed this rumor but we are hopeful!)

French mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel stunned audiences during the parade with her rendition of the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise."

Clad in a dress inspired by the French flag designed by the House of Dior, Saint-Cirel performed a re-orchestrated version of the song, the arrangement done by composer Victor le Masne, according to the official Olympics X account.

"So far, that's one of my favorite parts," NBC commentator and U.S. pop star Kelly Clarkson said.

Saint-Cirel sang from the top of The Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées, an iconic building that will host the fencing and Taekwondo competitions this Olympiad.

The Minions got in some Olympic sports like weightlifting and boxing while wreaking havoc with a javelin and stealing the Mona Lisa in a cute interlude in the opening ceremony.

The iconic Minions have a French connection in that the animation production company that created that famously rowdy "Despicable Me" characters, Illumination Studio, is headquartered in Paris.

Online commentators marveled after learning of the Minions' French connection.

Peyton Manning took a note from his days as a quarterback in his new role as Olympics host. He had a play sheet on his wrist — but instead of plays, it was information about the countries participating in the Olympics.

The Olympics opening ceremony featured 10 statues of women rising out of the Seine as part of the "Sisterhood" segment.

The statues are meant to counterbalance the inequality between statues of men and women in Paris.

The figures represent 10 women who made inroads across areas of French culture: Olympe de Gouges, Alice Milliat, Gisèle Halimi, Simone de Beauvoir, Paulette Nardal, Jeanne Barret, Louise Michel, Christine de Pizan, Alice Guy, and Simone Veil.

They will be offered to Paris following the ceremony.

Marie Antoinette – or, rather, an actor playing a beheaded version of her — made an appearance during the "Liberty" segment of the opening ceremony, between Les Mis and a Gojira performance.

Online commentators reacted to the image riffing off the French Revolution with glee.

"A beheaded Marie Antoinette is one of the wildest and craziest things ever at the Olympics," one wrote.

"Give the singing beheaded Marie Antoinette all the medals," another wrote.

Lady Gaga was the first performer at the Olympics opening ceremony. Following her segment, she took to X to reflect on the experience of singing a "special French song," in French.

"I feel so completely grateful to have been asked to open the Paris @Olympics this year," she wrote. "I am also humbled to be asked by the Olympics organizing committee to sing such a special French song — a song to honor the French people and their tremendous history of art, music, and theatre."

Gaga explained why she, as an artist from the United States of Italian descent, performed at the French Olympics.

"Although I am not a French artist, I have always felt a very special connection with French people and singing French music — I wanted nothing more than to create a performance that would warm the heart of France, celebrate French art and music, and on such a momentous occasion remind everyone of one of the most magical cities on earth — Paris," she said.

She went on to describe how she prepared for her performance of “Mon Truc en Plumes,” first sung by Zizi Jeanmaire.

"We rented pom poms from Le Lido archive — a real French cabaret theater. We collaborated with Dior to create custom costumes, using naturally molted feathers. I studied French choreography that put a modern twist on a French classic. I rehearsed tirelessly to study a joyful French dance, brushing up on some old skills — I bet you didn’t know I used to dance at a 60’s French party on the lower east side when I was first starting out!" she said.

She wrapped by telling "everyone in France" and the Olympic athletes that it was her "supreme honor" to sing for them.

One of France's most popular singers, Aya Nakamura took the stage on a bridge across the River Seine during the opening ceremony.

She performed after a masked Olympic torchbearer used the flame to light off fireworks.

Born Aya Danioko but known professionally as Aya Nakamura, she is a French-Malian singer-songwriter. 

When rumors of her performance started circulating, French media reported that she was the subject of racist online attacks from far-right extremist groups in the country. Paris organizers defended her and the singer posted to X that "You can be racist but not deaf."

A masked mystery man has been a central figure in the opening ceremony, bounding over Parisian rooftops, walking through the Louvre and lighting up a performance by singer Aya Nakamura, all while holding the Olympic torch.

The masked figure has appeared repeatedly as the torch moves through different parts of Paris.

Nellie Biles has kept the receipts.

The mother of gymnastics superstar Simone Biles jokingly ribbed Snoop Dogg for allegedly snubbing her and her family 14 years ago.

"I remember, I will never forget that we met you in Times Square in 2010," Nellie Biles told the rapper in an interview during the opening ceremony. "And you said, because we had asked for a picture, and you said, 'Two minutes.' One, two, and you were gone."

Nellie and Snoop then shared a laugh together.

Nellie also noted that Simone would not be taking part in the opening ceremony. Her first action will be on Sunday when the women's gymnastics team competition gets underway.

"Of course, she needs to rest up for that competition," Biles aid.

She added that her daughter is "feeling really good" and "in a really good place" as she looks to win all-around gold. She will have plenty of support, as 17 family members have made the trip to Paris.

The opening ceremony was a parade of nations and musical genres.

The opening ceremony's "Liberty" segment started with the ringing of the bells of Notre Dame, then transitioned into music from the musical "Les Miserables." Musical theater swiftly led to a performance from the metal band Gojira. Then came opera.

Somewhere in there was an appearance of Marie Antoinette holding her own head and pyrotechnics.

For the first time since a 2019 fire destroyed the cathedral, the bells of the Notre Dame are ringing in Paris.

The blaze nearly destroyed the 850-year-old landmark and in the years since, crews have worked to repair the building. Elsewhere in the opening ceremony, a pre-recorded dance on the scaffolding paid tribute to the citizens who helped with the restoration efforts. 

An extensive dance segment, part of the "Synchronicity" theme, paid tribute to the construction workers who are rebuilding Notre Dame following a 2019 fire.

Dancers appeared to do aerial work on the scaffolding. Other dancers broke down moves on the banks of the Seine.

Lady Gaga performed at the opening ceremony, singing  “Mon Truc en Plume" by Zizi Jeanmaire.

After the delegation from Bahrain had gone by in the Seine, the singer stepped down a set of stairs with a giant pink stole covering her face.

"Who could this be?" Mike Tirico asked as music started and she danced, while two men kept her face obscured.

"Bon soir! Bienvenue, Paris," the singer said as she finally showed her face.

She then launched into a song and dance, as she sported a black outfit, showing off her legs and a strapless black top, along with long black gloves that went up to her forearms, while a group of backup dancers and a band supported her performance. The "Poker Face" singer also had what looked like an antenna on her head.

She eventually made her way to a piano and slowed down the performance for a few moments before going back to the full tempo, joining her dancers while a poofy, featherlike piece adorned her backside as she finished.

"She's incredible," Kelly Clarkson marveled after she wrapped up her performance.

Rumors that the Grammy and Oscar winner would take part in the event flew when she was spotted in Paris earlier this week when she blew kisses and waved to fans from outside a car, in a video shared on X.

In a skit to kick off the opening ceremony, a flustered Frenchman gets an assist from French soccer great Zinedine Zidane when he enters the Stade de France stadium and wonders why no one is there for the opening ceremony.

Zidane, who led France to a World Cup title in 1998, grabs the Olympic torch and hustles to get it to Paris and the Seine, where the ceremony is being held outside for the first time in Olympic history.

The retired great is seen sprinting through a Parisian cafe, sending customers sprawling, then rushing through a skate park before he descends into the Paris Métro subway area.

From there, he hands the torch to a group of kids, who dodge various dangers underground before finding a boatman who takes them down the Seine into the opening ceremony.

The section was titled "Ça ira," a refrain of a popular song in the French Revolution that means "it will be fine." A burst of smoke in the blue, white and red colors of the French flag then appeared over the river.

Speaking to TODAY's Hoda Kotb, Simone Biles' mom Nellie Biles said her daughter won't be at the opening ceremony because the first competition is the day after tomorrow.

"Of course, she needs to rest up before that competition," she said.

Barack Obama tweeted as the Parade of Nations unfolded.

The opening ceremony for the Summer Games in Paris will mark a true break from tradition, with the event taking place outside of a stadium for the first time.

The ceremony will take place on the Seine, with more than 10,000 athletes, various political figures and entertainers from all participating countries riding in boats on the route, which stretches more than three and a half miles before ending at the Trocadéro.

"Athletes will be the heart and soul of the ceremony," the Paris 2024 website says. "By opening with the parade of athletes, Paris 2024 is breaking with tradition. Athletes will be featured on stage during the introduction to and throughout the ceremony as part of Paris 2024’s constant aim to hold Games created for and by athletes."

Other figures present at the opening ceremony will be International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, French president Emmanuel Macron, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, winner of the Olympic Laurel.

The award "was created by the IOC to honour outstanding individuals for their achievements in education, culture, development and peace through sport," the Olympics site says.

Over 200 countries are expected to participate in the Parade of Nations — 206, to be exact.

This year, the countries will arrive by boat rather than walk in. But the order will likely take a similarly regimented order.

Typically, countries walk in in alphabetical order in the host country's language. The only exception to the rule is Greece, the country that started the ancient Olympic Games.

The Refugee Olympic Team followed Greece.

Read more here.

Appearing second during the Parade of Nations during the opening ceremony will be the latest edition of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, a collection of athletes representing people who have been forcibly displaced from their countries.

This year's team, which follows Greece in the procession, will feature 37 athletes, hosted by 15 National Olympic Committees, who will compete across 12 sports, according to the Olympics website. Cheffe de Mission Masomah Ali Zada, who was a member of the Refugee Olympic Team in Tokyo, will lead this year's team, according to the UN High Commission for Refugees.

The Refugee Olympic Team was first created for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“The refugee team is a beacon for people everywhere," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said in a news release. "These athletes show what can be achieved when talent is recognized and developed, and when people have opportunities to train and compete alongside the best. They are nothing short of an inspiration.”

This year's team has a particular concentration in the fighting sports, with 11 athletes competing in boxing, taekwondo and judo. The athletes originally hail from nations that include Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Cameroon and Ethiopia.

No Refugee Team athlete has won a medal at the Olympics.

NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo will serve as a flag bearer for Greece during the opening ceremony. He and race walker Antigoni Drisbioti have earned the honor for the country.

The two-time NBA MVP, who won a title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, isn’t the only NBA star to have received the honor this year.

LeBron James, of course, will be a flag bearer for the United States, alongside tennis star Coco Gauff, while Dennis Schroder, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets, will act as flag bearer for Germany.

“Thanks to all my family without you this would never have been possible!” Schroder wrote, in part, on Instagram.

Serena Williams is in Paris and wishes she could be part of the Summer Olympics.

Williams is in awe the Games are taking part in the City of Light.

“It’s fun. I mean, the Olympics in Paris is really, really incredible,” she told NBC Sports’ Melissa Stark while with husband Alexis Ohanian and their daughter Olympia before the opening ceremony.

Williams has won four Olympics gold medals and 23 Grand Slam championships, including three French Open titles. Is it fun to be in the place where it comes together?

“I don’t know if it’s fun or if I’m a little jealous, you know. I mean, I did do the London-Wimbledon combination, but I got a little jealousy here,” she said, referring to her Wimbledon title and Olympic gold medal in 2012.

Williams also was thrilled Coco Gauff was tapped as one the flag bearers for the United States.

“Isn’t that great? I’m so excited to see her tonight and I’m just so happy for her,” she said.

The two star flag bearers for Team USA are trying to keep those Ralph Lauren opening ceremony outfits dry as they walk through the rain toward the Seine to board their boat for the Parade of Nations.

LeBron James was seen with a rain poncho covering his head and jacket while Gauff covered herself with a poncho and what looks like a piece of cardboard over her head.

Rain has been forecast to be coming down on and off all night during the festivities.

The U.S. beach volleyball tandem of Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss were also seen trying to keep dry in their ponchos.

Sure, people may love Mongolia’s opening ceremony look, but it’s hardly the only country sparking conversation on Instagram.

Haitian designer Stella Jean is behind her country’s clothes. 

“Beautiful,” commented one person on Instagram.

Czech Republic’s Jan Cerny has also gotten a thumbs up.

“It’s great. Courageous, individual... Great job and hats off to the whole team!” one person raved.

Laura Weber designed the outfits for the Irish team.

“👏👏👏 first class 😍😍😍 love these ! They will really stand out” one fan gushed.

We'd be remiss not to mention France, whose outfits are designed by Berluti.

The Philippines' look, designed by Francis Librian's SINAG, features embroidery and a message: It "captures the essence of bravery and fierceness in battle with Pintados-inspired details, reflecting the nation’s rich culture, history, and heritage and the sun emphasizing the breathtaking beauty of the Philippine islands," per the brand's Instagram.

There is a new torch design for every Olympiad and this year's event in Paris is no different. This time, French designer Mathieu Lehanneur held the honor of creating the torches, while ArcelorMittal — a steel manufacturing corporation and official partner of the Games — handled the production of 2,000 of them.

The torches are 70 cm long and just 3.5 cm at their thinnest points. They're 10 cm at the widest. The torches weigh 1.5 kg, or 3.31 pounds, according to organizers.

Paris organizers say Lehanneur was inspired by three themes he chose to align with the Paris Olympics: equality, water and peacefulness. The torch is perfectly symmetrical (equality), features a wavy, three-dimensional design (water) and has curves/rounded lines (peacefulness).

In a November 2023 release from Parisian Olympics organizers, the CEO of ArcelorMittal said steps were being taken to limit emissions during production of the torches.

"In line with the Organising Committee’s ambition to limit CO₂ emissions, the steel we produce for the fabrication of the torches will have a low carbon footprint," Aditya Mittal, the AcelorMittal CEO, said in the release.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo arrived to the red carpet in outfits matching their "Wicked" characters — Grande in Glinda pink, Erivo in Elphaba green.

The co-stars say they've become friends as a result of filming the two-part movie musical.

Olympic athletes may return from Paris with more than just a gold medal.

Several competitors from the Summer Olympics have been posting the swag they’ve been given for taking part in the Games.

On TikTok, American volleyball player TJ DeFalco showed off his Team USA swag bag which featured merch from Skims, a clothing company co-founded by Kim Kardashian. DeFalco revealed underwear, a robe, a pajama set, shirts, socks and shorts in his bag.

American swimmer Mariah Denigan posted multiple videos on TikTok of her opening the goodies she got, including merchandise from Nike, TYP, Ralph Lauren and Skims.

Tennis star Naomi Osaka, who's representing Japan, also got in on the trend, unpacking items she got from Asics.

It's not just clothing, either. Athletes from all countries received phones from Samsung. The phones are special editions of the Galaxy Z Flip6 that comes with an eSIM giving users free data from the telecommunications company Orange.

The reality show that has taken America by storm this summer has seemingly infiltrated the minds of Olympians in Paris — and the result has been some hilarious content.

“I cannot wait to get into the Olympic Villa,” rugby player Ilona Maher says in one now-viral video shared to the official Olympics TikTok.

“Wait, wait, wait, it’s called the Olympic Village, this isn’t ‘Love Island!’” someone off-camera replies.

The Olympic Villa jokes might not be too far off. The Olympic Village has long been rumored to feature romantic extracurricular activities between athletes at the top of their game.

Read more here.

The first opening ceremony in Olympic history to be outside a stadium may have the athletes dancing between the raindrops while floating down the Seine in Paris.

The plan is to go on with the ceremony, rain or shine, so it may get a little wet during the Parade of Nations when nearly 100 boats travel down the Seine with more than 10,000 athletes representing 206 countries. The city may experience periods of rain during the ceremony tonight, Al Roker reported on TODAY this morning.

Kelly Clarkson, who is hosting the festivities on NBC alongside Mike Tirico and Peyton Manning, believes it will be a night to remember no matter what the weather.

"I know it's been raining on and off here, but it's not going to stop anyone," Clarkson said on Peacock's opening ceremony preview show nearby the Eiffel Tower. "Everyone is so stoked about this.

"This is only going to make it more magical," she continued. "It feels like a fresh start for everybody. All the athletes, this is four years of training, this is rain going to do nothing. It's not going to stop them, they're very excited to be here. Honestly, this city looks even more magical sparkling from the rain."

Twenty years ago, Athens, Greece, hosted the Summer Games. The location choice was a symbolic one, as the city hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896.

At the Aug. 13, 2004 opening ceremony, Team USA rocked blue bottoms, along with a red shirt that featured a white collar and the Olympic logo. Athletes also had a blue button-down jacket with “USA” on the left chest. In addition, athletes wore hats emblazoned with “USA” on them alongside the Olympic rings.

Dawn Staley served as flag bearer for the United States contingent in Athens, where she led the U.S. women's basketball team to a gold medal, her third and final as a player. She would lead the U.S. squad to gold at the 2020 Olympics in 2021 in Tokyo.

It's happening! Lady Gaga was spotted rehearsing for a performance at the opening ceremony in Paris later today.

The pop superstar, along with French Canadian singer Céline Dion, have both been spotted in Paris in recent days, leading to speculation that they will be performing at the opening ceremony.

Gaga was photographed onstage in a black outfit and gloves surrounded by dancers holding with furry pink props during her rehearsal.

Olympians from around the world took to TikTok to show off their opening ceremony outfits.

Athletes for the Philippines, Aleah Finn and Lauren Hoffman, posted their outfits designed by Francis Libiran, which feature an embroidered sarong.

Swimmer Alexander Shah put on Nepal's all-white outfit in another TikTok posted by his sister.

Runner Nikki Hiltz put on her Ralph Lauren look timed to the viral "Apple" dance trend.

There have been 11,000 torchbearers who formed a relay across France’s 64 territories after the flame was first lit in the ancestral Olympic home of Olympia, Greece and brought to France by boat in May, according to the Olympic website.

Actor and producer Salma Hayek carried the torch through the iconic Château de Versailles in Paris earlier this week. Rapper Snoop Dogg was seen carrying the torch through the streets of Saint-Denis ahead of the opening ceremony.

“Light it up, Snoop,” Savannah Guthrie said on TODAY this morning.

The torchbearers in Paris were selected "based on their commitment, dedication and how they embody at least one of the core tenets of Paris 2024," per the Olympic site.

Kelly Clarkson, who will host the opening ceremony for NBC, alongside NBC Olympics primetime host Mike Tirico and NFL legend Peyton Manning, anticipates the event will be an emotional experience.

“It’s beautiful. I’m afraid to talk because I’m afraid I’m going to say something I shouldn’t,” she said on TODAY on July 26, while appearing with Tirico and Manning.

“Everyone is afraid of me talking, but it’s so it’s so magical. I can’t imagine people won’t be crying. It’s a beautiful thing.”

The trio said they've seen a preview with stand-ins, but there's no substitute for the real thing.

“The difference with this one is they can’t do the dress rehearsal because it’s all through the city,” Tirico said. “They want to keep it somewhat quiet, so there’s a lot of unknowns for them and for all of us.”

Read more here.

While a billion people around the world will be watching the Olympic opening ceremony, Hoda Kotb will have a special signal for one viewer in particular.

Hoda, who will be broadcasting the opening ceremony in Paris alongside Savannah Guthrie, came up with a special sign she will give to TODAY co-host Jenna Bush Hager during the festivities.

"We’ll be looking for you, and I’m going to need you to do a little symbol for me," Jenna said on TODAY this morning.

The two decided not to re-create the index finger across the teeth that Hoda used at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2020.

"How about I do something a little more subtle? How about if I flip my collar like this?" Hoda said while popping the collar of her dress.

Jenna laughed, not considering the move to be exactly subtle, but they agreed on it.

"That's good," Hoda said. "I got you covered."

"I cannot wait," Jenna said. "I’ll be watching."

Read more here.

Flava Flav's clock says it's time for the Team USA women's water polo squad to go for the gold in Paris.

The legendary Public Enemy hype man was seen decked out in full red, white and blue gear and a blue water polo cap autographing one of his signature giant clocks ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony in a video shared on X by Team USA.

"The only thing that I can say is U-S-A!" Flav said. "Yeah that's right, we gonna bring home the gold, baby. All of 'em."

Flav, 65, announced in May that he had signed on to be the sponsor and official hype man of Team USA women's water polo to help bring the sport increased visibility. The U.S. squad has been a global power for years and is trying to become the first team in Olympic history to win four straight gold medals in the sport.

Team USA women's water polo gets underway tomorrow with a preliminary round match against Greece at 9:35 a.m. ET.

The opening ceremony will go into uncharted waters when it takes place along the Seine, the first time the event will not be in a stadium.

The Paris 2024 X account posted a 30-second video of what the view will look like during the ceremony for those on boats along the route.

“POV: You’re an athlete during opening ceremony,” it captioned the clip.

The brief video takes viewers to the water level with several jump cuts of the gorgeous scenery, including views of the Eiffel Tower—complete with the Olympic logo on it—and seating on the sides for spectators to take it all in.

The video looked awe-inspiring and captured the imagination of those who saw it, with one account, in particular, paying attention.

“Beautiful,” commented the official account for the 2026 Winter Olympics, hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

In his legendary 15-year NBA career, Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry has won four championships, set numerous NBA shooting records and captured two MVP awards. Surprisingly, there is one feeling he has yet to experience until now — playing in the Olympics.

Curry, 36, anticipates some goosebumps when floating down the Seine as part of the opening ceremony alongside his teammates from a powerhouse Team USA men's basketball squad.

"Just knowing where I am in my career, to have an opportunity to have a 'first' in something is something I'm excited about," Curry told Craig Melvin on TODAY this morning.

"I remember just watching all the countries walk around the stadium track (in the opening ceremony) and you could just see you got the best in the world at what they do," he continued. "Whether it's basketball, swimming, gymnastics, volleyball, archery, whatever it is, and they're walking in just like a kid in a candy store, just taking it all in. You can just see it in their eyes and their reactions, so I can't wait for that."

Curry is part of a team packed with future Hall of Famers, including Team USA flag bearer LeBron James and the all-time scorer in U.S. Olympic men's basketball history, Phoenix Suns great Kevin Durant.

The athletes aren't the only big names in Paris.

A glitzy party put on by the world's biggest luxury brand brought the likes of Zendaya, Serena Williams, Jeremy Allen White, Snoop Dogg, Charlize Theron and Christopher Meloni to the red carpet in Paris the night before the opening ceremony.

TODAY's Hoda Kotb and Willie Geist were also in attendance, looking elegant at the Prelude to the Olympics celebration at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. The party was put on by the conglomerate LVMH, which owns luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Christian Dior and Givenchy.

Check out some of the red carpet looks below and see more here.

Having the traditional Parade of Nations featuring more than 10,000 athletes outdoors along the Seine presents security risks for French authorities. In the past, opening ceremonies have been held in stadiums.

“We can do it, and we will do it,” French President Emmanuel Macron told France’s RMC Radio and BFM TV in April 2024. “If we think there are security risks, we’ll have Plan Bs and even Plan Cs."

A crowd of more than 300,000 people is expected along the Seine to watch the athletes travel by in boats and take in the performances. Giant video screens are also set up for fans to watch the ceremony.

French military police will be using pioneering surveillance tech while flying in helicopters three miles away to watch for any threats officials told NBC News. They also will have SWAT teams ready to deploy in the instance of any terrorist attack.

“We will be watching, but you won’t see us and you won’t hear us,” one helicopter pilot told NBC News.

The country will deploy 45,000 police, military police and army troops. According to the Ministry of Interior, they have also conducted more than a million background checks on spectators and building workers.

Learn more here.

This year marks the first time in 100 years that the Olympics are being held in the French capital and the third time overall. The City of Light also hosted just the second Summer Olympics in history in 1900.

Compared to this year's spectacle of more than 10,000 athletes, which is expected to be viewed by a billion people around the globe, the 1924 Olympics in Paris were a much smaller affair. There were 3,089 total athletes, only 135 of whom were women, according to the Olympics website. Back then, there were 131 medals rather than this year, which has nearly 400.

The main innovation was the creation of the first Olympic village, where the athletes were housed in temporary wooden cabins.

Here's some sights from those Games a century ago.

Sporting her Team USA jacket designed by Ralph Lauren, Kelly Clarkson is ready for a "celebration of life" at the opening ceremony.

The singer is joining Peyton Manning and Mike Tirico in hosting this year's festivities, and she shared some quick words of excitement in a video on X before she headed out the door in Paris.

"It's going to be really, really rad," she said. "You're going to love it. It's going to be a celebration of life."

She said she got into the Parisian vibe last night with an entertaining dinner at a restaurant recommended by acting legend Michael Douglas. Then she played some Roblox with her children before embarking on her big day.

Ralph Lauren has a strong history with Team USA: This will mark the ninth time the designer has created the team’s looks for the opening and closing ceremonies.

Ahead of the Paris Olympics, the brand took TODAY inside the process.

“We have 40 tailors handmaking every outfit for Team USA,” Ralph Lauren’s chief branding and innovation officer David Lauren told Hoda Kotb July 26 on TODAY. “Every jacket fits the athletes perfectly.”

Athletes go to the Team USA Welcome Center, where they are all custom fitted for all of their Olympic clothing, including opening ceremony attire and what they will wear on a medal stand.

What do Team USA's opening ceremony outfits look like?

The opening ceremony outfits are a “distinctly modern take on a tailored look," per the brand in a press release.

Athletes taking part in the opening ceremony will wear a navy wool blazer accented with red and white, while Ralph Lauren’s pony logo appears on one side and the Team USA Olympics logo on the other.

They’ll also be decked out in a striped Oxford shirt and tapered jeans. Male athletes will wear a dark blue knitted tie, while female athletes will not. They will also walk in suede Buck shoes.

According to the brand the look "draws inspiration from the dynamic and vibrant host city of Paris and the rich heritage of Olympic and Paralympic sport and embraces a patriotic spirit reflected in a signature palette of red, white and blue."

From the LBC to the streets of Paris, rapper Snoop Dogg carried the Olympic torch through the suburban neighborhood of Saint-Denis on its way to the opening ceremony today.

His laid-back stroll in a white track suit and gold sneakers brought the whole Snoop vibe to the City of Light.

“Light it up, Snoop,” Savannah Guthrie said on TODAY this morning.

The California rapper, 52, will be providing his colorful commentary on all the action in Paris for NBC. He was the next-to-last leg of the Olympic Torch Relay before a surprise torchbearer will use it to light the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony.

Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast and NBC analyst Laurie Hernandez has high hopes for the United States women’s gymnastics team.

“I think we’re going to see some amazing gymnastics, not just from Team USA, but from all countries,” she said July 26 on TODAY.

The women's gymnastics competition begins July 28. Four of the five gymnasts on Team USA have competed in the Olympics before, with 16-year-old Hezly Rivera the lone rookie. Hernandez said that experience can only help.

“This the oldest women’s gymnastics team that we’ve seen in quite some time, so the fact that the youngest is Hezly Rivera … there’s a lot of these veterans coming in and being able to guide her, show her the way and just to make her comfortable in such a pressure-filled environment like this,” she said.

Hernandez points to Brazil as a potential threat to the U.S., but she is optimistic the Americans will be a force in these Games.

“I’m telling you, it’s going to be a fight. Team USA, looking strong as ever, and I do think that gold is in the future,” she said.

Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson of the U.S. women's national soccer team joined TODAY on July 26 after USA kicked off its start to the Olympics with a 3-0 victory over Zambia.

Rodman gave USA a lead the 1-0 lead in the first 20 minutes, while Swanson set a record with back-to-back goals in two minutes.

"I think that ultimately, we had a really fast start to the game and two great balls by Lindsey and Soph to get me in," Swanson said.

Hours before the opening ceremony begins, Olympic fans are ready.

TODAY's Keir Simmons previewed the Seine-set opening ceremony from a riverbank spot with a view of the Eiffel Tower. In the distance, fans were already gathered.

"Look at those bleachers. What a place to have a ticket!" Simmons said, pointing to a bleachers with a front-row seat. "It's going to be a party as Team USA comes here."

Part of France's high-speed rail network was affected by a "coordinated" arson attack the morning of the Olympics opening ceremony, France’s national rail network SNFC said in a news release.

SNFC said the "massive attack" would impact 250,000 passengers on Friday, with 800,000 over the weekend due to cancelations.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal tweeted at 4:50 a.m. ET that the country’s intelligence services and law enforcement agencies were tracking down suspects.

SNCF chairman and CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou told reporters fiber optic cables at at least three locations were set on fire. TODAY's Tom Llamas said the attack came just as sections were opening to the public.

Read more here.

Tom Llamas said the attack came just as sections were opening.

Unlike any opening ceremony in Olympic history, athletes in Paris won't be strolling inside a stadium in a flag-waving frenzy — they'll be floating down a river.

All the patriotic fervor will take place over more than three hours as 10,500 athletes on nearly 100 boats glide down a 3.7-mile section of the Seine in the heart of Paris. They will pass iconic landmarks such as Notre-Dame and the Louvre along the way before ending their journey at the Trocadéro near the Eiffel Tower.

TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb will be on the bridge along the Seine near spectators, who will line the river to view the opening ceremony. 

The boat procession is timed to the sunset.

“With the natural light of the setting sun, the event will be even more sublime, with a truly poetic dimension, inviting both athletes and the public to appreciate the natural beauty of the City of Light,” Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, said in a news release.

Basketball star LeBron James and tennis sensation Coco Gauff will serve as flag bearers for the United States delegation.

“And not only am I here, playing my first Olympics, I have the honor to be the flag bearer, which is something I never thought in my lifetime,” Gauff told TODAY on July 24 from Paris about being chosen.

She also tweeted on X after the news was announced.

“I usually have goals, and I wouldn’t say predict, but I believe I can do certain things. And I definitely would never have believed or predicted that I could do this.”

James, who will lead the men's basketball team in its quest to win its fifth straight gold medal, was also moved by the chance to be a flag bearer.

“It’s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together,” James said in a statement from USA Basketball.

There will be a scripted order of events in Paris leading to the iconic lighting of the Olympic cauldron and a show-stopping artistic performance.

The order is determined by a protocol from the Olympic Charter that has to be followed at every Olympics. This is how it will go, according to the Olympics website.

1. French President Emmanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will make their entrance.
2. The French national anthem will be played.
3. The parade of athletes from 206 countries will take place in boats floating down the Seine River.
4. The symbolic release of doves will be held.
5. The Olympic Laurel Award will be given to Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
6. Official speeches by Macron and others will be given.
7. The official opening of the Games will be declared.
8. The Olympic flag will be raised, followed by the playing of the Olympic anthem.
9. Athletes, judges and coaches take the Olympic oath.
10. The lighting of the Olympic flame will take place by a person who won't be revealed until that moment.
11. The artistic program will be held featuring 3,000 dancers, artists and more.

The underdogs, the superstars, the torchbearers, the performers, the Olympic flame, a spectacle on the Seine — we can't wait!

Don't miss a minute of today's opening ceremony in Paris by streaming it live on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, the NBC app and the NBC Olympics app. The ceremony will start with a preview show at noon ET and be followed by the start of the festivities at 1:30 p.m. ET.

TODAY's Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb will be right in the middle of the action, bringing you all the sights and sounds.

If you can't watch it live, don't worry. You can catch up on all you missed on NBC, which will show an encore in primetime at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT, 6:30 p.m. MT and 7:30 p.m. PT.

Here’s everything you need to know about watching the Olympics.