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Rafa Nadal and Serena Williams in epic move as Olympics opening ceremony finishes with bang

The start of the opening ceremony in Paris was widely panned, but the ending was amazing.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·5-min read

The first four hours of the Olympics opening ceremony might have gone down like a lead balloon, but the final 30 minutes were absolutely spectacular and featured the cauldron in a hot-air balloon. The majority of Saturday morning's opening ceremony (Aussie time) was widely panned, with viewers complaining there wasn't enough focus on the athletes.

The unique idea to bring the athletes down the River Seine on boats - rather than a traditional stadium ceremony - also didn't go over too well, and many watching around the world thought the event was way too long. But those who stuck around until the very end were treated to something truly special.

Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams and Celine Dion during the Olympics opening ceremony.
Rafa Nadal and Serena Williams were on a boat, Celine Dion performed on the Eiffel Tower, and the Olympic cauldron took off on a hot-air balloon. Image: Getty

After the ceremonial speeches were finished, French football legend Zinedine Zidane handed the Olympic torch to Spanish tennis icon Rafa Nadal. The 14-time French Open winner then boarded a boat with fellow tennis legend Serena Williams, as well as gymnastics champion Nadia Comaneci and American runner Carl Lewis. The four icons then made their way by boat back up the River Seine toward the Louvre.

Rafa Nadal, Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci and Serena Williams, pictured here during the Olympics opening ceremony.
Rafa Nadal, Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci and Serena Williams. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)
Rafa Nadal, Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci and Serena Williams.
Rafa Nadal, Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci and Serena Williams in their boat. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)

The torch was then passed between a number of French athletes - including Amelie Mauresmo (France's only woman to be ranked World No. 1 in tennis) and NBA champion Tony Parker. Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner then lit the Olympic cauldron to officially open the Games.

But it was no ordinary cauldron - it was a seven-metre-wide ring of flames topped by a massive hot-air balloon. Once the cauldron was lit the hot-air balloon took off into the Paris night in one of the most iconic scenes in Olympics history.

Organisers said the cauldron was “a tribute to the first flight in a hydrogen-filled gas balloon,” which took place in Paris in 1783. The hot-air balloon is iconically French, after it became the first human-carrying aircraft built by physicist Jacques Charles and engineer Nicolas-Louis Robert.

The Olympic cauldron, pictured here attached to a balloon.
The cauldron, with the Olympic flame lit, lifts off while attached to a balloon. (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)
The Olympic cauldron, pictured here flying through the Paris sky.
The Olympic cauldron flying through the Paris sky. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Perec is one of France’s most famous Olympic athletes, winning three gold medals in track and field across the 1992 and 1996 Games. She was named an Officer of the Legion of Honour in 2013 - France’s highest commendation. Riner is one of the most physically imposing athletes in French history. Standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 131kg, Riner is a three-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, triumphing in the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Games.

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If the iconic scenes with the hot air balloon weren't enough, Celine Dion then performed on a platform on the Eiffel Tower. The French-Canadian star's performance marked her return to performing after a number of years out of the spotlight.

She was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome in late 2022, which caused her to postpone a tour at the time. The rare neurological disorder causes rigid muscles and painful muscle spasms, which have affected Dion’s ability to walk and sing. In June she told The Associated Press that returning to the stage required therapy, “physically, mentally, emotionally, vocally.” She added: “So that’s why it takes a while. But absolutely why we’re doing this because I’m already a little bit back."

with agencies