Paris 2024 Kicks Off with Macron's Inauguration and Bulgarian Athletes Ready for Competition

French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris, with the Olympic flame being ignited at the end of an extensive relay by athlete Marie-José Perec and judoka Teddy Riner, who then lifted the flame into the sky with a balloon. The ceremony, lasting over four hours, concluded with a performance by Celine Dion among many other musical acts, creating an extravagant and innovative evening that is regarded as one of the most magnificent in the city's history.

Following the formal proceedings, the Olympic flag was raised, and speeches were delivered by Tony Estanget and Thomas Bach. The traditional parade of nations took place along the Seine River with boats, where boxer Stanimira Petrova and swimmer Lyubomir Epitropov carried the flags for the Bulgarian delegation.

The president of the organizing committee, Tony Estanguet, addressed the athletes, spectators, and guests with a lengthy speech in French and a brief one in English. He expressed immense pride in hosting the Games 100 years after Paris last welcomed the Summer Olympics. Estanget emphasized the longstanding love story between France and the Olympics, dating back to Pierre de Coubertin's revival of the Games.

"Games lovers in France and around the world - Welcome to Paris! We've missed you! It's a huge honor to welcome you here 100 years after we last hosted the Summer Games. It's often said that France is the land of love. One thing I know is that when we love, there is a long love story between France and the Olympic Games. This love story was born just a few kilometers from here, at the Pierre de Coubertin offers a revival of the Olympic games. And this love story has grown with the Games of Paris, Grenoble and the continuation of this legacy. So we put...