LeBron James & Coco Gauff Lead Team USA At Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony On River Seine

The 2024 Summer Olympics kicked off today with an exciting opening ceremony in Paris. For the first time, over 10,000 athletes paraded along the Seine River instead of inside a stadium. Basketball icon LeBron James and rising tennis star Coco Gauff served as flag bearers.

As dusk settled over the Seine River, Team USA’s athletes paraded on a boat. The 20-year-old Gauff, the youngest American to ever carry the flag at an Olympic opening, expressed her excitement about the honor.

“It’s incredible to be here alongside LeBron,” Gauff told reporters. “I’m thrilled to represent our country and eager to compete.”

James, a four-time NBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, spoke about the significance of his role as flag bearer, emphasizing its impact beyond sports.

“It goes back to my hometown into my communities — all the communities,” James continued. “For myself and Coco. For us to represent our country, us being black kids as well, representing our culture, representing where we come from, it gives everybody so much hope where we come from. And that’s all we can ask for. We take it with the utmost responsibility and the utmost honor.” 

Other notable Team USA members present on the boat included NBA sharpshooter Stephen Curry and WNBA standouts Brittney Griner and A’ja Wilson, highlighting the depth of talent across multiple sports.

In the Olympic Village, athletes can look forward to finding 300,000 condoms and cardboard beds.