Paris Celebrates Olympic Day -- Photodesk

(ATR) Thirty-three sports demonstrations and 320,000 participants kicked off Olympic Day festivities in Paris on June 23.

The celebration organized by the Paris 2024 Olympic bid along with the City of Paris began with bid co-chairman Tony Estanguet and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo leading 200 paddlers down the River Seine to the iconic Pont Alexandre III bridge.

Awaiting the bid leaders on the other side of the bridge was a floating 150-meter track, the main attraction at the two-day Olympic Day celebration. The paddlers coalesced around the track as eight famous French athletes including Teddy Riner, Nicolas Batum, Renaud Lavillenie and Heather Arneton raced down the track.

The athletes were followed by groups of youth runners who did their best to imitate judo champion Riner who won the athlete race.

Adjacent to the floating track on the bank of the Seine were more sporting demonstrations for sports such as wheelchair basketball, table tennis and pole vault.

Estanguet said he was excited to have such a great turnout on the first day of celebrations.

"I’m very happy and when I look around people are happy too," he said. "It’s a great opportunity to engage more and more people and to also share one of the pillars of our project which is a celebration in a unique part of Paris with maximum people."

The Olympic Day celebrations continue June 24 highlighted by French President Emmanuel Macron’s appearance scheduled for later in the evening. He is expected to play a bit of tennis and possibly demonstrate more of his passion for sport.

Around the Rings will continue to provide coverage on the scene in Paris.

Click here to view photos from day one of the festivities.

Photos by Kevin Nutley on the scene in Paris.

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