ISTANBUL: The Paris 2024 Olympic Games officially began with an opening ceremony across Friday on the River Seine. "Prologue. We must bring the Olympic Torch back to Paris," Paris 2024 official website wrote on X. "It accidentally arrived at Stade de France. It is awaited by thousands of athletes and spectators on the river Seine. Thank you, Zinedine Zidane," it added. A notable assembly of dignitaries, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, among others, were present at the ceremony. It was graced by the presence of Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Askin Bak, alongside Hasan Arat, executive board member of the EOC, or the European Olympic Committee and President of Besiktas Football Club. Opening ceremony takes place outside main stadium for first time in Olympic history Paris 2024 marked the first time in the history of the Summer Games that the opening ceremony was held outside a stadium . Eighty-five boats set sail from beneath the Austerlitz Bridge, each carrying athletes from 204 countries and the Refugee Olympic Team under the artistic direction of French director and actor Thomas Jolly. They embarked on a 4-mile (6-kilometer) parade along the Seine, culminating at the Pont d'Iéna (Jena Bridge) where the Eiffel Tower stands. The boats navigated the Seine, passing some of Paris's most iconic historical and touristic landmarks. The journey included views of the Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris City Hall, the Louvre Museum, Tuileries Garden, Les Invalides Monument, Grand Palais and the Eiffel Tower, showcasing the city's rich cultural heritage. Despite rain, the opening ceremony was attended by around 300,000 spectators that was proceeded with a series of events that highlighted France's rich historical and cultural heritage. Mete Gazoz, who brought Trkiye its first-ever Olympic medal in archery in Tokyo 2020, and Busenaz Surmeneli, who took the first-ever Olympic medal in boxing for Trkiye, carried the Turkish flag at the ceremony. A total of 101 athletes, including 54 women and 47 men will represent Trkiye in Paris. Source: Anadolu Agency
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