The 2024 Paris Olympics will officially commence on Friday with a groundbreaking opening ceremony held along the River Seine, featuring 10,500 athletes from around the world. The U.S. flag bearers will be tennis star Coco Gauff and basketball player LeBron James, marking Gauff's first Olympic appearance after missing Tokyo 2021 due to COVID-19. Namibia is sending four athletes to compete, while Panama will be represented by eight athletes across various sports, emphasizing the global participation in this historic event. The Games village, located across three northern communes of Paris, includes amenities such as a multi-faith center for athletes. As excitement builds for the Olympics, athletes are arriving in Paris, with events already underway in soccer. The Games signify a return to normalcy amid political tensions in the U.S. and a celebration of international athleticism.