Early Saturday morning (Manila time), Team Philippines made its debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics in an unprecedented opening ceremony. The event featured the traditional parade of nations on the River Seine, where delegations from various countries sailed past dignitaries, including French President Emmanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, as well as thousands of spectators lining the banks.
Entering at the 148th position, the Philippines was represented by boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, both silver medalists from the Tokyo Olympics, who proudly carried the Filipino flag. The team was introduced at 3:29 a.m. Manila time, greeted by cheers from Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and other officials in a special section along the banks.
The Philippines is fielding 22 athletes in Paris, with notable gold medal hopefuls including two-time gymnastics world champion Carlos Yulo and world No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena. For the opening ceremony, however, 10 athletes and five officials represented the nation.
The parade, which included entertainment and cultural performances such as a Cabaret-themed act by Lady Gaga, followed an alphabetical order based on the French language. Exceptions to this order were Greece, which traditionally enters first as the birthplace of the Olympics, and the upcoming and current host nations—Australia (2032), the United States (2028), and France.
