Indonesia’s Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto attended the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, which took place on the Seine River in Paris at around 7:30 PM local time on Friday, July 26, 2024, or 12:30 AM WIB on Saturday, July 27, 2024.
The ceremony began with a parade of all participating nations, including Indonesia. Despite the rain, Prabowo stood up from his seat on the banks of the river, wearing a transparent raincoat, and waved to the Indonesian athletes as they passed by, offering words of encouragement.
The Indonesian contingent, consisting of fourteen athletes, was led by Chef de Mission Anindya Bakrie, with judoka Maryam March Maharani carrying the flag. The athletes, including cyclist Bernard Benjamin van Aert and swimmers Azzahra Permatahani and Joe Aditya, looked sporty and elegant in outfits designed by Didit Hediprasetyo, Prabowo’s son, inspired by Raden Saleh’s story. The uniforms featured red and white hues and were complemented by Javanese blangkon.
This year’s opening ceremony was unique as it was held outside the main stadium, with athletes parading along the Seine River on 85 boats, passing by iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.
The Paris 2024 Olympics will continue until August 11, 2024, with athletes from around the world competing in various sports.
