This Friday, July 26, will go down in Olympic history. For the first time, the opening ceremony was held outside a traditional stadium, as nations from around the world paraded along the Seine. Boats traveled a 6-kilometer route, offering a unique spectacle to hundreds of thousands of spectators gathered along the riverbanks.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the presence of around 100 Ukrainian athletes, proud and joyful to be there, who were met with thunderous applause from the crowd as they made their way down the Seine. Their Olympic motto, “The Will to Win,” perfectly encapsulates their spirit.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh, a high jump Olympic champion from Dnipro, was also present on the Ukrainian delegation’s boat. She holds the women’s high jump world record with a leap of 2.10 meters.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony will be remembered as a moment of solidarity and celebration.
Tragically, it is worth noting that the war in Ukraine has already claimed the lives of 450 athletes. President Volodymyr Zelensky shared his pride and support for the Ukrainian athletes on X:
The ceremony is available for replay on France TV.
Ukraine will be represented at the Parc des Nations, the Trabendo, and La Villette during the Olympic Games. The Ukrainian House, Volia Space, will be open to the public daily from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. until August 10. More information is available here.
