Crew USA has formally arrived.
Tennis star Coco Gauff and NBA famous person Lebron James led the American delegation down the Seine River in a rain-soaked and star-studded opening ceremony.
App consumer? Click on right here to see the historic second as Crew USA arrives.
On-and-off showers — the primary rain at a Summer season Olympics’ opening ceremony in additional than 70 years — didn’t appear to hamper the keenness of the athletes.
“The rain can’t cease us,” James mentioned. “For myself and Coco, for us to have the ability to characterize our nation … us being Black youngsters as properly, characterize our tradition and characterize the place we come from, it provides everyone a lot hope the place we come from, and that’s all we will ask for. We take it with the utmost accountability and the utmost honor.”
James joined a big contingent of American athletes on a ship on the Seine River. With Gauff by his aspect — each clad in clear ponchos — James bobbed his head as he held the flag on the entrance of the boat.
For the primary time within the historical past of the Olympic Summer season Video games, the Opening Ceremony didn’t happen in a stadium.
As an alternative, a parade of athletes was be held on the river with boats for every nationwide delegation. The boats had been geared up with cameras to permit tv and on-line viewers to see the athletes up shut.