This has not happened before. How did the 2024 Olympic Games flame light in Paris?

Yesterday marked the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This ceremony was quite unique and eventful. While not everything was perfect, it certainly offered plenty to see.

The ceremony began with a smoke salute in the colors of the French flag on the Austerlitz Bridge. It then proceeded through twelve parts, each named after symbols of humanity and sport: charm, synchronicity, freedom, equality, fraternity, sisterhood, athletic prowess, celebration, darkness, solemnity, solidarity, and eternity.

Following the traditional, yet unconventional events of the opening ceremony, one of the day's main highlights took place—the lighting of the Olympic flame. That also saw some changes.

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The honor of lighting the Olympic flame was given to multiple Olympic champions, judoka Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-José Pérec. They passed the flame to 100-year-old Charles Costes, a champion of the 1948 Olympics, and was supposed to light the main Olympic flame.

However, there was no traditional cauldron. Instead, the flame was lit on a hot air balloon. This was highly symbolic for France, as the hot air balloon was invented by the French Montgolfier brothers. After lighting the flame, the balloon ascended over Paris to the tune of the great French singer Édith Piaf, performed by Céline Dion.