July 26th 2024.
The Olympic games in Paris officially began on Friday night with the opening ceremony, but there was a twist this year. Instead of parading through the host city's stadium, the athletes were taken on a boat ride down the River Seine to greet the spectators. Among these athletes were tennis legend Rafael Nadal, former gymnast Nadia Comaneci, and track and field star Carl Lewis. However, not everything went according to plan, as Serena Williams and Lewis both struggled to maintain their balance on the boat.
Cameras caught Serena waving to the crowd as the boat passed under a bridge, but it seemed like she didn't realize they were still rolling. She took a deep breath and grabbed onto Comaneci's arm for support. The boat jolted again, causing Serena to stumble, and Lewis had to steady himself by holding his arms out to the side. BBC commentator Andrew Cotter couldn't help but comment on the moment, jokingly saying, "Nearly lost Serena there."
Eventually, the boat reached a jetty where Nadal passed on the Olympic torch to retired French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo. Earlier in the torch relay, Nadal was thrilled to receive the torch from former French and Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane. Nadal, a huge fan of Zidane's former team, will be competing in the Olympics in Paris.
Not everyone was a fan of the new opening ceremony format, however. Former Team GB swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who has won four Olympic medals in her career, felt that the show was "disjointed." She explained, "I think it's one of those experiences that is different when you're watching it on TV compared to being there in person." Adlington also mentioned the rainy weather, which may have put a damper on the event for some.
But despite the challenges, the Olympic torch was passed and the games officially began. It was certainly a unique and ambitious start to the competition, and while not everyone may have loved it, it was a memorable and historic moment for all involved.
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