Tennis legends Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, and Amelie Mauresmo graced the Initial Function of the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 27 with their presence. They took part in the famous light transfer, passing the fire among themselves before it lit the Olympic cauldron.
During the twelfth and last section of the function, called ‘Eternité’, Rafael Nadal got the light from French football legend Zinedine Zidane, who had taken it from the secretive light conveyor.
The Spaniard then passed the torch to 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams:
They were joined by track and field star Carl Lewis and Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, embarking on a journey down the Seine with the torch in a boat.
After the boat reached its destination, Rafael Nadal handed the prestigious torch to former World No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo, the current director of the French Open.
Mauresmo carried the torch for a while before passing it to former NBA legend Tony Parker. Joined by 16 Olympians and Paralympians, they made their way to the cauldron. The final torchbearers, French athlete Marie-Jose Perec and judo practitioner Teddy Riner lit the cauldron, following which a hot air balloon lifted the flame high into the Paris sky.
