PARIS − Being selected as your country’s flag bearer is a very distinguished honor. LeBron James was rightfully chosen to be the men’s flag bearer for Team USA. James, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, a four-time champion, four-time MVP and could soon add three-time Olympic gold medalist, is the best basketball player of his generation. He’s universally recognized as the first- or second-best basketball player ever.

“It’s an absolute honor,” James said about being Team USA’s flag bearer, via USA Basketball. “I appreciate it man. Team USA has given so much to all of us and to me over the last 20 years. I understand right now in a country so divided, I hope this moment and that moment will unite us or bring us together. …I will hold that responsibility with a lot of honor and just appreciate it.”

Now that James can add flag bearer to his already Hall of Fame resume, should the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Organizing committee eye James to light the cauldron at the 2028 Games?

Get Olympics updates in your texts! Join USA TODAY Sports’ WhatsApp Channel

The late Rafer Johnson, a gold medalist in the decathlon, lit the cauldron when the Summer Olympics were previously in Los Angeles in 1984. Muhammad Ali famously was coined to light the torch at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

Who will get the honor in 2028? It’s not too soon to start thinking about possible choices. USA TODAY Sports selects the top five candidates to light the torch at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Michael Jordan

A six-time NBA champion, six-time NBA Finals MVP and five-time MVP, Jordan’s resume speaks for itself. He’s one of the biggest icons in sports history, if not the biggest.

Jordan is regarded by many as the best basketball player ever and he has two Olympic gold medals, including a 1992 gold medal as the leading member on the Dream Team.

Jordan seems like a logical choice. He was tabbed as North America’s best athlete of the 20th century by ESPN.

Not to mention, his Jordan Brand still remains as a mega force in sports fashion.

LeBron James

James was selected by his Team USA peers to be the men’s flag bearer for the U.S. at the Paris Olympics. He’s the first men’s basketball ever to be selected.

The 39-year-old NBA superstar is a four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA Finals MVP, four-time MVP and 20-time NBA All Star. Plus, the all-time NBA scoring champion.

James is already a part of Los Angeles history having won one of his four titles as a Laker and he became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in a purple and gold uniform.

Michael Phelps

A compelling argument can be made for Phelps to light the torch. He’s the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 career medals. He also holds the Olympic record for most total gold medals (23).

Phelps competed in five total Olympics. He was selected as the Team USA flag bearer for the 2016 Olympics.

Serena Williams

Williams won 23 Grand Slam titles, the second most all time. She regarded as the best women’s tennis player ever. But she also won four Olympic gold medals (three in doubles and one in singles).

The retired tennis star also started playing tennis early on in Los Angeles-suburb Compton, which adds to the intrigue.

Tiger Woods

Golf had only been an Olympic sport twice (1900 and 1904) prior to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The past three Olympics have featured golf, but Woods hasn’t been among the participants.

The lack of Olympic participation will likely hurt Woods’ chances to light the torch, but there’s no denying he is one of the best golfers in the history or the sport and one of its most dominant athletes with 15 professional major golf championships.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

The 2024 Paris Olympics kicked off with an opening ceremony unlike any other, with athletes from more than 200 nations floating down the Seine River on boats. The city itself served as a magnificent backdrop as the parade of nations unfolded with iconic landmarks making appearances throughout the show.

Now, on the East Coast, NBC will re-air the opening ceremony in primetime. USA TODAY Sports will bring you live updates, highlights and more throughout the opening ceremony replay in primetime. Follow along.

Opening ceremony makes Assassin’s Creed reference

The opening ceremony made multiple references to Assassin’s Creed, one of the most successful video game franchises in the world. The franchise has sold more than 200 million copies since November 2007 and is developed by French publisher Ubisoft.

When do events start again?

Paris Olympics action starts up again at 2:30 a.m. with Group Play in badminton mixed doubles, women’s and men’s singles, and women’s and men’s doubles.

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

Lady Gaga performs ‘Mon Truc En Plumes’ in opening ceremony

The Oscar- and Grammy-award winning musician led a performance of French musician Zizi Jeanmaire’s iconic song along the Seine River.

How many countries are in the Olympics?

There are 206 total countries, including the Refugee Olympic Team.

What number Olympics is the 2024 Games?

The Paris Olympics are the 33rd edition of the modern Summer Games. There have been 24 Winter Games events, most recently in Beijing in 2022, bringing the total to 55 combined Olympic Games.

Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson make Olympic debut

NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson joined Olympics host Mike Tirico for NBC’s broadcast for the opening ceremony. Their debut was met with mixed response, including from social media.

Why is Greece first in the Parade of Nations?

Greece – considered the birthplace of the Olympic Games – has gone first in the Parade of Nations since 1928.

How many spectators are at the opening ceremony?

According to Olympic officials, 320,000 spectators are spread out in 124 grandstands along the river.

When is Team USA’s first event?

Team USA athletes have already started competition, beginning with rugby sevens on Wednesday with a 12-12 tie against host France.

Team USA is back in action after the opening ceremony starting with mixed doubles competition in badminton. Americans Vinson Chiu and Jennie Gai take on China’s Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping starting at 2:30 a.m. ET.

How many boats are in the opening ceremony?

The Paris Olympics marks the first opening ceremony to be held outside of a stadium. Thousands of athletes are riding on 85 boats for the ceremony.

Steven Spielberg kicks off primetime

The Oscar-winning director started off the broadcast with a montage of incredible moments and tributes to the host city, Paris.

Paris Olympics opening ceremony in primetime

NBC will replay the opening ceremony in primetime on the East Coast, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Paris Olympics 2024: How to watch the Summer Games across TV and streaming

Every event at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be aired live across NBC, USA Network, E!, CNBC, GOLF Channel, and there will be a Spanish broadcast on Universo and Telemundo. All events will be available to stream live on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com.

Date: July 24-Aug. 11

TV: Games broadcast across NBC, USA Network, E!, Telemundo, Universo, CNBC and Golf Channel

Streaming: Peacock, nbcolympics.com, fuboTV

Team USA flag bearers

Team USA selected four-time Olympian LeBron James as the male flag bearer for the opening ceremony. He is the first men’s basketball player to serve as a flag bearer and the third basketball player overall after women’s basketball team members Sue Bird (2020) and Dawn Staley (2004).

Three years after missing the Olympic Games in Tokyo because of a positive COVID-19 test, tennis star Coco Gauff is the female flag bearer for Team USA. She’s the first tennis player to have that honor.

Where is the opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympic Games?

The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympic Games will be held in downtown Paris on the Seine river. The parade of nations will bring athletes down the river before stopping at Trocadéro Palace to finish off the ceremony.

How long is the opening ceremony?

The opening ceremony is scheduled for four hours of broadcast time, both live and in primetime coverage.

2024 Olympics schedule

The 2024 Olympic Games began on July 24 and finish with the closing ceremony on Aug. 11. Check USA TODAY’s Olympics schedule for a daily event times and viewing options.

How many athletes are in the opening ceremony?

An estimated 10,500 athletes are competing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games but not all of them will be in the Parade of Nations. Paris Olympics officials estimate 6,800 athletes are attending the ceremony.

Smallest countries in the opening ceremony

Tuvalu is the smallest country by estimated population in the Parade of Nations. The Polynesian island nation has an estimated population of 11,312 people as of 2022 and has two athletes in the Paris Olympics: Karalo Maibuca (men’s 100 meters) and Temalini Manatoa (women’s 100 meters).

Pacific island nation Nauru is close behind with one athlete – men’s 100 meters athlete Winzar Kakiouea – and an estimated population of 12,668 as of 2022.

Monaco is the smallest country by size (0.8 square miles) and has six athletes in the Paris Olympics:

Marie-Charlotte Gastaud, women’s 100 meters
Marvin Gadeau, men’s +100 kg judo
Quentin Antognelli, men’s single sculls rowing
Théo Druenne, men’s 800-meter freestyle
Lisa Pou, women’s 10 km open water swimming
Yang Xiaoxon, women’s singles table tennis

How many events are in the Paris Olympics?

There are 339 events across 32 different sports in this year’s Summer Games. Team USA is competing in 31 out of 32 sports; U.S. athletes are not competing in team handball.

Which country has the most athletes at the Paris Olympics?

The U.S. has the most athletes at the games with 592.

Parade of Nations order

The Parade of Nations order is set alphabetically in the host nation’s language, hence why some countries are higher than expected. For example, Spain is earlier in the order than expected because the French word for Spain is Espagne.

Future host nations are at the end of the Parade of Nations as well. Australia will host the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane and the U.S. will host the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, so both countries are at the end of the parade ahead of this year’s host France.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

PARIS – The 2024 Paris Olympics are officially underway.

Thousands of spectators gathered along the River Seine in rainy conditions on Friday to welcome athletes from all over the world in an opening ceremony that was a Paris showcase.

There were performances, a tightrope walker, a fashion show, an athlete parade on boats on the Seine, a light show, a memorable performance by singer Celine Dion and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron that rose into the air on a hot air balloon.

Here are the five best things that I saw on the ground at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony:

Athletes riding on boats on Seine

Team USA had the largest national delegation at the opening ceremony with 593 total athletes, so of course they occupied a large boat. LeBron James and Coco Gauff were the flag bearers for the U.S.

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

More than 10,000 athletes from over 200 nations will compete at the Paris Olympics. Friday night was an extravaganza, but it was about the athletes — and they had one heck of an entrance on the Seine.

“Dear fellow athletes, this is the pinnacle of your journey,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said to the Olympic athletes. “You have come to Paris as athletes. Now you’re Olympians.”

Paris fashion show

Paris has been known as the fashion capital of the world since the 16th century, so it was fitting that the opening ceremony featured a fashion show. Paris fashion week begins in late September this year. Spectators got a brief preview.

Eiffel Tower light show

Standing 1,083 feet tall, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most well-known monuments in the world. The opening ceremony featured a light show at the iconic tower that could be seen all over Paris.

Unique lighting of cauldron

The Olympic cauldron was lit by Teddy Riner, a three-time Olympic champion in judo, and Marie-Jose Perec, a three-time Olympic champion in track and field. Then it rose into the air on a hot air balloon.

Céline Dion performance

The opening ceremony was punctuated by a performance by singer Céline Dion who sang “L’Hymne à l’amour” from the Eiffel Tower in an emotional moment. It marked Dion’s first performance since she announced her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome in 2022.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins have a long-term contract agreement that solidifies the team’s commitment to him as their franchise quarterback.

The deal is for four years and $212.4 million, with $167 million guaranteed, Athletes First announced on Instagram. The pact makes him the third-highest paid player and quarterback in the NFL based on average annual value.

Tagovailoa, 26, has played four seasons with the Dolphins since he was the fifth overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft.

In 2023, he led the NFL with 4,264 passing yards.

In 2022, he led the NFL with a passer rating of 105.5.

All things Dolphins: Latest Miami Dolphins news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Since the arrival of coach Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa’s confidence and proficiency have sky-rocketed.

And although Tagovailoa has had multiple concussions, general manager Chris Grier has also been consistent in expressing Miami believes it has its answer at quarterback.

Miami Dolphins believe in Tua Tagovailoa’s future

The Dolphins have long been enamored with Tagovailoa’s rhythm, timing, anticipation and accuracy.

After bulking up and training in jiu-jitsu to prevent injury in 2023, the quarterback has slimmed down in the offseason. McDaniel also has said Tua is capable of extending more plays in 2024.

Critics have noted he has not fared as well against very good teams or in cold conditions. Tua also does not have elite arm strength.

But the Dolphins believe he is an ideal fit for McDaniel’s offense, which is predicated on timing, ball placement, speed and misdirection.

Tua Tagovailoa’s long-term contract extension was always goal

The Dolphins took a step back as a franchise in 2019, intending to use a high draft choice on their quarterback of the future in 2020.

Tagovailoa, who has yet to lead the Dolphins to a playoff victory, will forever be compared with first overall pick Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals and sixth overall pick Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Each of those players received contract extensions before Tagovailoa, who was scheduled to play on a fifth-year option of $23.2 million this season.

Burrow’s deal is for $55 million per season. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence tied him this offseason as the NFL’s highest-paid player.

Herbert’s deal is for $52.5 million per season.

It was truly never a question of if the Dolphins would give Tua his new deal.

It was only a matter of when.

In a first-of-its-kind opening ceremony, the 2024 Paris Olympics officially began Friday on the River Seine, with athletes from the 206 participating nations forming a photogenic flotilla through the City of Light.

This is the first time the ceremony has not been held inside a stadium. Instead, the city’s iconic landmarks provided a stunning backdrop for the parade of nations, with the athletes traveling on boats along the six-kilometer route through Paris from the Pont d’Austerlitz to the Trocadero.

Mother Nature didn’t fully cooperate, but thousands of Olympians, performers and spectators alike didn’t let the precipitation rain on their parade. A rainy early forecast gave way to cloudy skies and an eventual heavy downpour, but cheering crowds still lined the banks of the Seine and fountains heralded the arrival of the athletes.

Get Olympics updates in your texts! Join USA TODAY Sports’ WhatsApp Channel

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

LeBron James, Coco Gauff carry USA flag

NBA superstar LeBron James, 39, and tennis champion Coco Gauff, 20, led the American delegation into the Games in a vote by their fellow Team USA athletes.

‘It’s a great opportunity for myself to continue to inspire the next generation and super excited to be here,’ said James, a senior member of the U.S. men’s basketball team who is participating in his fourth Olympic Games.

Gauff, 20, is the USA’s youngest Olympic flag bearer in history. She was supposed to represent the U.S. in Tokyo in 2021, but was forced to withdraw after she tested positive for COVID-19 days before her scheduled departure.

Olympic greats carry Olympic torch to cauldron

Four Olympic legends — Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, U.S. tennis player Serena Williams, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci and U.S. track and field star Carl Lewis — helped carry the Olympic flame to its final destination. They did so in fashion, on a French speedboat that looked straight out of a ‘James Bond’ film.

Giannis Antetokounmpo makes history for Greece

Greece (with flag bearer Giannis Antetokounmpo) led the procession, followed by the Refugee Olympic Team. Antetokounmpo became the first Black Olympic flagbearer for Greece, which he called a ‘huge honor.’

France, as the host nation, is the final country represented in the parade and is immediately preceded by the hosts of the next two Summer Games: Australia (2032) and the United States (2028). The rest of the countries in between are ordered alphabetically in French.

Lady Gaga, Celine Dion perform at Olympics opening ceremony

It was a guarded secret, even as she walked down the golden staircase covered by pink feathers held by dancers, but Lady Gaga emerged to sing the first notes of the opening ceremony. (In French, of course.)

There were numerous performances throughout the four-and-a-half hour affair, including a dance sequence from France’s world-renowned Moulin Rouge and a head-banging performance that combined heavy metal band Gojira with headless Marie Antoinettes, pyrotechnics and traditional opera singers.

They saved the best for last. Celine Dion, who is battling stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition that causes muscle spasms and affects her vocal cord, performed a powerful ballad from the Eiffel Tower after the Olympic Cauldron was officially lit.

Dion performed at the opening ceremony nearly 30 years ago at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Minions take over River Seine

The waters of the River Seine have been a point of contention leading up the Paris Games, but viewers got a peak of what’s under the water during the opening ceremony … Minions. The camera playfully panned underwater to show a submarine full on Minions, stars of the ‘Despicable Me’ franchise, practicing for various Olympics sports, including gymnastics, weightlifting, archery, volleyball and track and field. They even stole the Mona Lisa.

It didn’t go so well for the Minions. An errant arrow pierced a window and sank their submarine.

Peyton Manning’s … wristband?

You can take a quarterback off the football field, but you can’t take football out of the quarterback. That was on full display Friday when NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning was spotted wearing a wristband during the opening ceremony, one that a quarterback would normally wear during a game for calling plays.

‘This is just my wristband,’ said Manning, who is providing commentary for NBC, alongside Mike Tirico and Kelly Clarkson. ‘I have notes on all 200 countries, all 10,000 athletes.’

Tirico added: ‘That’s just Peyton Manning being Peyton Manning.’

Snoop Dogg being Snoop Dogg

The Grammy-nominated rapper is serving as a special correspondent for NBC throughout the 2024 Paris Olympics. He danced, laughed and captivated viewers with his hilarious commentary, memorable catchphrases and positive attitude during the opening ceremony: ‘I’m chilling like a villain. Raindrops falling on my head, but we still playing to win baby.’

He also provided fashion advice. After Team USA sprinter Noah Lyles shared that he and Snoop Dogg ‘are going to the same nail tech,’ the rapper said: ‘Noah (Lyles) stays spooned and groomed, dipped and whipped, suited and booted. … I know he was going to be fresh to death. Ya dig? That’s my guy.’

‘Imagine’ brings the chills

‘Imagine,’ a song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono that promotes world peace, has become the unofficial song of the Olympics. Pianist Sofiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet performed the anthem on a floating platform on the Seine, a poignant moment that marked the end of the Parade of Nations and beginning of the Games.

Kelly Clarkson said the chilling rendition was the best performance of the night.

Team USA opening ceremony outfits

Ralph Lauren is the official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, providing 14 different tailored pieces and accessories for the ceremonies, as well as Villagewear for the Games. Ralph Lauren has designed Team USA uniforms dating to the Beijing Summer Games in 2008.

An extra accessory came in handy during the opening ceremony on Friday – a poncho.

Simone Biles sits out opening ceremony

One American missing from the Team USA delegation is Simone Biles. Biles’ parents Ronald and Nellie Biles attended the opening ceremony and caught up with ‘Today’ host Hoda Kotb and Snoop Dogg, where they revealed that Biles is not in attendance. Nellie Biles said the gymnast opted out in preparation for team qualifying, which kicks off at 3:30 a.m. ET Sunday, July 28.

‘She is feeling really good,’ Nellie Biles said of four-time Olympic gold medalist. ‘I spoke to her this morning and she’s feeling great.’

Although Biles wasn’t at the opening ceremony, her family was representing. Nellie Biles said 17 members of the Biles family is in Paris to cheer on Biles.

Will the opening ceremony be replayed?

‘Today’ show hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb will be stationed on a bridge over the Seine. And reporter Maria Taylor will be embedded with Team USA, interviewing athletes from the river.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.