Paris is set to break a century-old Olympic tradition with a unique opening ceremony featuring Lady Gaga and Celine Dion.

On Friday night, the two stars will perform a special version of Edith Piaf’s famous song, “La Vie en Rose,” by the River Seine.

Instead of holding the opening ceremony in a stadium, as has been the custom for over a hundred years, the Paris Olympics will feature a spectacular event along the river. Teams will sail from the Austerlitz Bridge on a 6km journey through Paris, ending near the Trocadero.

Celine Dion, who is French-Canadian, shared her excitement on X, saying, “Every time I return to Paris, I remember there’s so much beauty and joy still to experience in the world. I love Paris, and I’m so happy to be back!”

Paris has been preparing for this historic event for months. In recent days, the River Seine has been surrounded by miles of chain-link fencing as part of a large security effort. Fans with tickets will watch from specially built stands on both sides of the river. The final moments of the ceremony will be shown on 80 giant screens around the city.

The torch relay, which has traveled through all 64 French territories, will conclude with rapper Snoop Dogg carrying the flame through the suburb of Saint-Denis, where the main stadium, Stade de France, is located.

The Paris Olympics have already begun with events in sports like rugby sevens, handball, and archery. Olympic champions Tom Daley and Helen Glover will lead Team GB as flag bearers, aiming to achieve a new record of 70 medals from a single Games.

The 1924 Paris Olympics, held at the Olympic Stadium in Colombes, saw 3,089 athletes, including only 135 women, and featured speeches and carrier pigeons.

French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the ambitious plans, saying, “At the beginning, it seemed to be a crazy and not very serious idea. But we decided it was the right moment to deliver this crazy idea and make it real.”