Canadian singer Celine Dion, who has been battling a severe neurological condition known as stiff-person syndrome, made a triumphant return to the stage during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This was her first public performance after a long hiatus due to her illness.
Celine Dion performed on an open-air stage at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in pouring rain, singing a cover of Edith Piaf’s famous song “L’hymne à l’amour”—the most well-known French love anthem. For this special performance, the singer chose a luxurious silver gown adorned with jewels by Christian Dior.
The song “L’hymne à l’amour” was written by Edith Piaf in 1949 and dedicated to her lover, French-Algerian boxer Marcel Cerdan. Their relationship, which began during Piaf’s tour in the United States, tragically ended after two years when Cerdan died in a plane crash over the Atlantic Ocean.
Celine Dion was not the only star to perform at the opening ceremony. American singer Lady Gaga also sang in French on the banks of Notre-Dame during a break between the presentations of the national teams.
In December 2022, Dion revealed her diagnosis on social media and canceled her world tour. Due to the illness, she has experienced difficulty walking and using her vocal cords, making it challenging to perform on stage. For the past few years, she has been actively collaborating with researchers specializing in her condition, but progress has been slow due to the rare nature of the disease.
The Paris 2024 Olympics will run until August 11. This year, 10,714 athletes from 206 countries will compete, fewer than the 11,092 athletes who participated in the previous games in Tokyo. The Ukrainian team has secured 124 licenses to compete in 26 of the 32 disciplines.
This performance marked Celine Dion’s first public appearance in five years. Her emotional rendition of “L’hymne à l’amour” accompanied by an orchestra and in a sparkling gown under the Olympic rings left an unforgettable impression on the audience. Even the pouring rain did not dampen the magic of the moment.
According to journalists, Dion was paid a fee of $2 million for the performance. A video of her performance has already appeared on YouTube, garnering millions of views and receiving an outpouring of support and admiration from fans worldwide.
