Paris Olympics: Lady Gaga rocks opening ceremony with her jaw-dropping act

Lady Gaga took center stage during the opening ceremony of the Paris Games on Friday along the Seine River.

Dressed in pink much like a Flamingo, she delivered a jaw-dropping French cabaret, which received massive applause on social media.

This is the first Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games to be held outside a stadium, and the whole city of Paris has turned into a massive stadium and theater.

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games began with the 'Parade of the Nations' in which athletes from 205 countries sailed down the iconic Seine river on boats, marking a dreamy break from tradition despite rain threatening to play spoilsport.

French President Emmanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee head Thomas Bach were in attendance as French football legend Zinedine Zidane was shown sprinting down the streets of Paris with the Olympic flame in a pre-recorded video.

The athlete parade this time is taking place on boats along the Seine and is passing several iconic Parisian landmarks.

More than 10,000 athletes are making their appearances on about 100 boats along River Seine, passing by iconic Parisian landmarks, including Notre Dame, Pont des Arts, and Pont Neuf, while the floating parade departs from the Austerlitz bridge beside the Jardin des Plantes and end at the Trocadéro.

Several iconic performances dazzled the opening ceremony with one of them being performed by 80 artists from the Moulin Rouge whose dance dates back to the 1820s.

In a novel presentation, a mysterious Olympic torchbearer is also made to pass through different historic and iconic buildings in Paris depicting French art and history through some dramatised performances before the final lit-up ceremony.

French pop star Aya Nakamura performed at the ceremony. Apparently, the French-Malian singer was abused racially after it was announced that she would perform at the opening ceremony. The Parade of the Nations continues with Cuba, Dominican Repubic among the countries who are passing by.

The Indian contingent is led by two flag-bearers -- two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and table tennis legend A Sharath Kamal. The athletes donned traditional attire including white kurtas and sarees waving the tricolours as they made their way on the cruise.

Photo courtesy: Olympic Khel

Legendary singer Celine Dion enthralled the audience with her performance.

She later posted on X: "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! 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! - Celine xx."

Meanwhile, First Lady Jill Biden is leading the US delegation at the event.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach delivered the message of hope in the Olympics 2024's opening ceremony on Friday (July 26) as persistent rain failed to ruin excitement of the never-seen-before Paris parade.

"I invite everybody: Dream with us. Like the Olympic athletes, be inspired with the joy that only sport can give us. Let us celebrate this Olympic spirit of living life in peace, as the one and only humankind, united in all our diversity," Thomas Bach said.