Netflix star a surprise contender to light Olympic flame in Paris

Paris has been gripped by whispers ahead of the Olympics Opening Ceremony with surprise sightings in the French Capital.

French actor Omar Sy has been named as a surprise contender to light the Olympic flame. (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP)

Rumours are running wild ahead of the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony with organisers successfully keeping their biggest secret under wraps.

American artists Lady Gaga and Snoop Dogg are in the Olympic city ahead of Saturday morning’s (AEST) grand opening and are among several global stars linked with the difficult assignment of bringing flare to the traditional procession of athletes.

The Paris Games is already making history with its opening spectacular to take place outside of the State de France Olympic stadium — the first time the ceremony has not taken place inside the venue used for the athletics events.

Instead more than 9000 athletes will be paraded down a 6km stretch of the river Seine from the Austerlitz bridge in the east to the Eiffel Tower - on 85 barges and boats.

More than 300,000 people are expected to line the banks of the Parisian river with 45,000 police in attendance.

A global audience of more than one billion TV viewers will be tuning in to watch the spectacle with many commentators unconvinced about the gamble of taking the blockbuster ceremony away from the athletics track.

Here’s everything we know about the iconic event.

Who will light the Olympic cauldron?

The prospect of an actor lighting the Olympic cauldron may come as a shock to many, but word has begun to spread that much-loved French entertainer Omar Sy is in the running for the job.

The French film star is a household name in the host nation and has won widespread acclaim for his performances in iconic feel-good film The Intouchables and the hit Netflix series Lupin.

It would be another break from tradition with the Seoul Games in 1988 the last time no athlete was involved in the lighting of the cauldron.

Global news agency Reuters reports less than 12 people know the identity of the person given the big job with the individual themselves yet to be told about the honour.

French actor Omar Sy. Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP.

The outlet described the covert operation as “one of sport’s best-kept secrets”.

While Sy is the one whose name has been spreading there are other clear candidates for the prestigious appearance.

French running legend Marie-Jose Perec — who was expected to be Cathy Freeman’s fiercest rival at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney before her shock decision to pull out — is considered a popular option.

Perec is a three-time gold medallist from the Atlanta and Barcelona Olympics.

Paris 2024 organising committee president Tony Estanguet refused to rule Perec out when asked directly about her chances of lighting the cauldron.

French football icon Zinedine Zidane is another obvious candidate.

The Real Madrid legend led his team to World Cup glory in the 1998 tournament on home soil and was also part of the team that won Euro 2000.

He is also viewed as a uniting force in the politically divided country because of his position as an ambassador for migrants in France.

Zidane is the son of Algerian parents who fled to France during the African country’s civil war. He is also a non-practising Muslim.

According to Reuters, astronaut Thomas Pesquet and a combined group representing the survivors of the 2015 terror attack are also very real options.

Rumours swirl over headline entertainment

An artist’s impression of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Photo by Florian Hulleu / Paris 2024 / AFP.

Video of Lady Gaga in Paris just days before the start of the Olympic Games has sparked rumours the US pop star will perform as the boats make there way to the Trocadero esplanade, sitting on the opposite side of the river to the Eiffel Tower.

The 38-year-old was seen arriving at a hotel in the French capital in videos posted on social media.

The music for the opening ceremony is yet to be fully announced.

Franco-Malian R&B star Aya Nakamura is widely tipped to perform despite criticism from far-right politicians, including Marine Le Pen who suggested an appearance by her would “humiliate” France.

Celine Dion has also been spotted in Paris, fuelling rumours she too could take part in either the opening or closing ceremony.

French electro superstars Daft Punk said they had turned down an invitation to play in the opening ceremony, while globe-trotting French DJ David Guetta has been overlooked — much to his irritation.

Lady Gaga. Snoop Dogg. Celine Dion.

American rap icon Snoop Dogg is not expected to participate in the ceremony, despite bringing his swagger to Paris to promote the event and participate in the torch relay through the city.

Acclaimed writer of French TV series “Call My Agent” Fanny Herrero and best-selling author Leila Slimani have directed the production and have confirmed that 3000 dancers will feature among the many entertainers.

Who are the final torch bearers?

Snoop Dogg will be one of the final bearers of the Olympic flame in the hours before the ceremony begins.

The 52-year-old will carry the torch through the streets of Saint-Denis in the north of Paris, which is home to the Stade de France venue.

Snoop Dogg, whose full name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr, heralds from Los Angeles, the host city for the 2028 Games. He has also featured heavily in promotions for US broadcast rights holder NBC.

The urban artist will be joined by several other big names on the final day of the relay, including: Ukrainian former pole vaulter Sergei Bubka, French actor Jean-Pascal Zadi, French rapper MC Solaar, French comedian Booder and French actor Laetitia Casta.

The torch was first lit in April at the site of ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Games.

The torch arrived at the French port of Marseilles on May 8. It has since passed through different regions of France and will end its journey at the Eiffel Tower.

What will the Australian team look like?

Jess Fox and Eddie Ockenden. Pic: Michael Klein

Australia’s team of 460 athletes will be led up the river by flag bearers Eddie Ockenden and Jess Fox.

Fox will become the second paddler to carry the flag following the late Dennis Green who carried the flag at Munich 1972.

Eddie Ockenden will become the second hockey Flag Bearer, following in the footsteps of Ric Charlesworth who led the Team at Seoul 1988.

Not every Australian athlete will be in attendance with the Matildas among several teams based outside of France.

The Boomers are also expected to be unable to attend because of their schedule where they will play their opening game at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille the morning after the Ceremony.