PARIS, France — The Olympic Games Opening Ceremony always seems to have its share of surprises.
In Rio, it was a shirtless Tongan that stole the show. In South Korea he returned, and then again in Tokyo.
The ceremony, which marks the official commencement of the Olympic Games, brings the world together. From the fashionable debut of each team during the Parade of Nations followed by the lighting of the Olympic flame makes for an unforgettable night.
Seattle local and 2021 sprint canoe gold medalist Nevin Harrison said she can't wait.
"It's going to be pretty magical, I think with the Eiffel Tower in the background right here, the course and all the wonderful elements of the city," Harrison said. "It's going to be really, really amazing. I'm sure it'll be crowded and crazy and chaotic. But I think having this big event right after COVID where everyone's finally able to come together and celebrate sport, it's going to be really wonderful."
For USA 3-on-3 basketball player and Cashmere High alum Hailey Van Lith, she said cruising the River Seine on a boat will be "a once-in-a-lifetime experience," but she's also excited about the food and fashion.
"It's funny because my memories of watching the Olympics and my childhood is the gymnastics and the track and field [competitions]," Van Lith said. "So it's not really even about basketball, which is what I play. But that type of ceremony, they're just so historic, and there's so much more meaning behind them and sports. ... It's really about uniting the globe and us all coming together."
This will be Seattle Storm star Jewell Loyd's first trip to Paris, but her second Olympic Games. She loves how the Opening Ceremony allows her to take in the accomplishment of making it this far.
"I don't think you realize how significant the Olympics are until the Opening Ceremony," she said. "It's really awesome, because you look at all the athletes and they all look different, different backgrounds, different countries. You don't have to look the same as I do. At the end of the day, we all just want to be kids."
When is the Opening Ceremony?
Opening Ceremony coverage will begin live at 9 a.m. PT Friday, July 26, on KING 5.
For the first time in history, the ceremony will not be held in a stadium. One of the world's most iconic waterways, the River Seine, will host a 4-mile-long flotilla with over 90 boats featuring thousands of athletes from over 200 countries. The boats will go past spectators along the banks of the Seine and the floating parade will finish at the Eiffel Tower.
In addition to live coverage of the entire Opening Ceremony, KING 5 will air primetime coverage of the event beginning at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Primetime in Paris will be NBC's new nightly show with coverage of all the day's biggest events along with enhanced storytelling and reaction from Mike Tirico and the rest of the network's coverage team. Daily primetime coverage will begin on KING 5 at 8 p.m. PT. Snoop Dogg is expected to provide his unique commentary on the days' events during most of the primetime broadcasts.
Alex Didion contributed to this story.