Jamaican athletes looking forward to unique opening ceremony

PARIS, France:

As the country becomes a part of history at today's opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics, Jamaican athletes are excited at being able to display their flair in a creative way.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will officially open after today's proceedings, which start at 12:30 p.m. Jamaica time, as the athletes will be paraded on the banks of the river Seine, and not through a stadium - a first for the Olympic Games.

The unique ceremony will see all 10,500 athletes on approximately 100 boats sailing across the six-kilometre stretch, starting from the Austerlitz Bridge and ending at the Trocadero Gardens, across from the Eiffel Tower where the Olympic Caldron will be lit.

Tokyo Olympic 4x400m bronze medallist Stacey-Ann Williams is excited for this year's historic opening, although having to face one small problem, her swimming skills, should it become necessary.

"Well, I can't swim, for one. But I am pretty excited," Williams said with laughter. "I have never been scared of the water, seeing that I can't swim. But this is the first time that the opening ceremonies are not going to be in the stadium. It is something different and it is something to look forward to."

The ceremony, which pays tribute to Paris' culture, will see the boats pass by iconic landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre Museum. Additionally, they will pass some Games sites, including the Esplanade des Invalides (archery and road cycling) and the Grand Palais (fencing, taekwondo).

Commonwealth Games high jump champion Lamara Distin is hoping to be part of the festivities, to make a mark on her first Olympic Games.

"If I go, it would be great to experience it, because it is my first Olympics and I want to experience everything," Distin said.

Jamaica's colours will be adorned high, thanks to two-time World Championship silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts and swimmer Josh Kirlew, who will serve as the country's flag bearers.