In addition to the athletes who will participate in the parade, 3,000 dancers, artists and surprise guests will be featured in the Opening Ceremony.
WASHINGTON — The Opening Ceremony for the Paris Olympics kicked off Friday with the Parade of Nations along the Seine River.
Thousands of athletes are sailing along the River Seine toward the Eiffel Tower on dozens of boats. It is the first time in the Games’ modern history that the Opening Ceremony is outside a stadium setting. Roughly 94 boats, one for each national delegation, will parade along the river.
For an Opening Ceremony dubbing itself as “the largest in Games history,” expect the some big surprises.
Who is performing at the Olympics Opening Ceremony?
Most of the entertainment acts remain under wraps.
Lady Gaga, who was long rumored to perform at the Opening Ceremony, kicked off the lineup of surprises with a feathery performance.
The area near the start of the Olympic parade route where she was singing featured a makeshift yellow staircase in the traditional style of the old French subways, with an improvised subway sign simply but appropriately called PARIS.
Hours before the Parade of Nations, Lady Gaga was seen rehearsing for about an hour near the Austerlitz Bridge, a sign that the American pop star will perform at Friday’s opening ceremony.
She finished up around 5:40 p.m. Paris time and waved to fans as she walked off with her bandmembers.
Other rumors of possible performers include Celine Dion, who reportedly arrived in Paris as well, and Aya Nakamura.
If Dion does sing at the Opening Ceremony, it will be her first performance since revealing her Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis.
