Summer Olympics Begin in Paris with Big Party and Famous Singers

July 26th, 2024

In Paris, France, people are excited about the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics. The opening ceremony began with some trouble because of rain and problems with trains. But it turned out to be amazing! The famous soccer player Zinedine Zidane was the first to show the Olympic flame in a video. Lady Gaga sang beautifully in a show that was recorded before. There was also a person with a torch who looked like characters from French stories and video games. There was music from different kinds of artists. Philippe Katerine sang painted in blue, like a Greek god. A metallic horse with a rider showed the Olympic spirit. Athletes on boats danced even though it was raining, while people on the riverbanks waved and cheered. Singers Marina Viotti and Aya Nakamura performed with others, and everyone enjoyed their music. Some very famous sportspeople, like Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, were seen on the river too. At the end, the singer Celine Dion sang a powerful song under the Eiffel Tower. She was very good, and everyone clapped for her. Before, she had to stop singing because she was sick, but now she's back. The Olympics will have many more exciting events, and people can find out more from the news.

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💭 Discussion Questions

. Where is the 2024 Summer Olympics taking place?

. What was one challenge they faced during the opening ceremony?

. Name two famous people who participated in the opening ceremony.

📖 Vocabulary

🌐 Cultural context

The article is from France, a country known for its rich culture and history, including hosting grand events. Paris, its capital, is famous worldwide, often associated with art, fashion, gastronomy, and influence in culture. The Summer Olympics is a major international multi-sport event held every four years, and hosting it is considered a prestigious honor. The people of France value sports and arts, and luminaries from these fields like Zinedine Zidane, an iconic French footballer, and Celine Dion, a renowned singer, reflect their cultural pride.

🧠 Further reading

Olympic Games ceremony

Long ago, the first Olympic Games happened in Greece. These games had special ceremonies to start and finish the sports events. Today's Olympics still have ceremonies for opening, closing, and giving medals to the winners. These ceremonies remind us of the old Greek Olympics. For example, in the 2004 Olympics, winners got a crown made of olive branches. This was just like in the old times when winners got an olive wreath. The Olympic rules say that these ceremonies must have certain parts that can’t be changed. If the country hosting the Olympics wants to add something new to the ceremonies, they have to ask for permission from the International Olympic Committee. Even though technology has gotten better and hosts like to show their culture, the main parts of the ceremonies have stayed the same. These traditions are important, and every time the Olympics happen, the opening and closing ceremonies become more impressive and expensive. In the very old times, when someone won an event, they had big parties with food, drinks, songs, and poetry. Winners got an olive crown, and if they were rich, their parties were even bigger. This is where our modern Olympic ceremonies come from.

Effects of weather on sport

Weather is very important in sports. It can change games a lot. Sometimes, it can even stop games from happening or change the rules. When it's very hot, sports players can get sick from the heat. If it's too cold, they might get too cold. In some types of skiing, they won't race if it's colder than -25 degrees Celsius. People who organize sports have rules for practicing in hot weather to keep players safe. Hot weather makes the air thin. This can help some sports because there is less air for players to move through. Some people who make places for cycling races make them hot on purpose to help cyclists go faster. Rain can also stop sports. When it rains, the ground can be slippery and that's dangerous for players. Car racing like NASCAR doesn't happen if there's a lot of rain or if the track is too wet.

List of Olympic torch relays

The Olympic torch is a special flame that is carried from Greece to where the Olympic Games happen. It started in 1936 at the Berlin Olympics and has happened at every Olympic Games since then. Thanks to new rules made because of past protests, now the flame usually travels just in the country where the Olympics are held. People carry the flame through many places to share the spirit of the Olympics. This tradition is very important and many people watch it.