Watch: Team SA flag bearers Rooskrantz and Simbine fly SA flag high.

By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

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A historic boat parade down the River Seine launched the Paris Olympics with spectacular French flair Friday, as the City of Light welcomed the world’s greatest athletes for a sporting extravaganza.

A show-stopping performance by Celine Dion, a flaming Olympic cauldron lifted into the night sky by hot-air balloon, and a dazzling Eiffel Tower light show brought the curtain down on a four-hour celebration of French culture, history and art.

Braving torrential rain, some 300 000 people lined the river banks to cheer on the armada carrying competitors past the city’s iconic sights: the Eiffel Tower bearing the five Olympic rings, the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral.

Team South Africa, in the uniform designed and provided by Mr Price Sport, was led out by the official flag bearers: Caitlin Rooskrantz Artistic Gymnastics) and Akani Simbine (Athletics).

Each athlete wore a classic khaki blazer, with the women athletes wearing theirs with a white round-neck top paired with dark green baggy pants with yellow graphic details.

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The men donned their blazers with white shirts and black pants.

While the outfits looked stylish under the flashing lights during the ceremony, it didn’t look all that comfortable in videos spotted on social media. The shoulder pads seemed a bit over the top.

In an interview before the ceremony, Rooskrantz said that she really liked the outfit.

“It’s special. It’s unique. It’s a bit vibey. Us Gen-Z love that. I think it’s really special,’ said the gymnast. This year’s outfit is vastly different to what they wore at the 2020 Toyko Olympics opening ceremony.

The bold print of their outfits was a mixture of black and white animal prints with small details of the flag. The women wore matching sets while the men wore printed tops with khaki shorts. Because it was during the pandemic they each wore matching masks.

What to look out for on the 27th of July

Jordy Smith is in the first round of action in the surfing competition in Tahiti on Saturday night, along with compatriot Sarah Baum in the women’s event, as they look ahead to next week’s knockout rounds, and Tatjana Smith turns out in the 100m breaststroke heats on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, Candice Lill goes in the women’s cross country mountain bike race, and she will fancy her chances of causing an upset.

And Monday could be one of the best days of the Games for South Africa, with Hatherly lining up among the favourites in the men’s cross country race and Tatjana Smith (provided she qualifies) gunning for a medal in the 100m breaststroke final.

Another potential podium contender, backstroke swimmer Pieter Coetze, will also be targeting a place in the 100m final on Monday.

Other athletes to watch over the next few days include road cyclist Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, who will open her fourth Olympic campaign in the time trial on Saturday.

Elsewhere, in the rowing regatta, Paige Badenhorst is in the heats of the women’s single sculls on Saturday and the men’s pair of John Smith and Christopher Baxter will line up on Sunday.

In team sports, the national men’s hockey side face the Netherlands in their first pool match on Saturday and the women’s team are up against Australia on Sunday, while the women’s rugby sevens squad play two matches on Sunday.

It is often said that the results in the early stages of the Olympics are crucial in lifting the vibe in the national team’s camp, and the SA squad should have good reasons to celebrate soon.

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