Celine Dion has shared her heartfelt emotions following her return to the stage at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday. Her performance of Édith Piaf’s “Hymne à l’amour,” which concluded the grand ceremony at the Eiffel Tower, marked her first live performance since announcing her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome in December 2022.
“I’m honored to have performed tonight, for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, and so full of joy to be back in one of my very favorite cities!” Dion wrote after her performance.
Dion also took the opportunity to celebrate the athletes competing in the Olympics. “Most of all, I’m so happy to be celebrating these amazing athletes, with all their stories of sacrifice and determination, pain and perseverance,” she wrote. “All of you have been so focused on your dream, and whether or not you take home a medal, I hope that being here means that it has come true for you!”
The opening ceremony featured performances by Lady Gaga, Aya Nakamura, and others on the Seine River, showcasing athletes from over 200 nations.
“You should all be so proud, we know how hard you have worked to be the best of the best. Stay focused, keep going, my heart is with you!” Dion added.
In an April interview with Vogue France, Dion had opened up about the uncertainty of her return to the stage, expressing the challenges she faces and her ongoing determination. “It’s morally hard to live from day to day,” she admitted. “But there’s one thing that will never stop, and that’s the will. It’s the passion. It’s the dream. It’s the determination.”
