By Jose Antonio Castaneda
23 Jul 2024, 20:31 PM EDT
Everything seems to be prepared and almost ready for Celine Dion to return to the stage this Friday during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Although there is no official confirmation so far, the presence of the Canadian singer in a luxury hotel in Paris only accelerated the growing rumours that have not yet been denied.
Celine Dion was spotted arriving in Paris, looking happy and in good spirits ahead of what will be her apparent return to the stage, after revealing that she is battling Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disease that paralyzes different parts of the body to the point of causing falls, strong muscle spasms and progressive body stiffness. “It’s like being strangled by a hand,” the star told NBC a few days ago.
The singer’s presence in the “City of Light” raises expectations for the spectacle that will take place on the Seine River to mark the start of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Regarding Celine’s performance, direct sources told TMZ that it could consist of the interpretation of a single song, for which the organizing committee will pay her $2 million dollars, plus the expenses of flights and lodging for her family.
“They are paying a lot of money. A ridiculous amount,” the source told the outlet.
The dream of performing alongside the Eiffel Tower, the great symbol of Paris, could become a reality this Friday during the grand opening spectacle of the Olympic Games, which is expected to be an impressive nautical parade along the Seine. The end point of the route will be a point near the Trocadero Gardens, opposite the Tower.
It is worth mentioning that this will be the first time in the history of the games that the opening ceremony (in which more than 3,500 actors, dancers and musicians will participate) will be held outside a stadium.
If this participation is confirmed, as everyone expects, Celine Dion would once again be the protagonist of an Olympic opening ceremony, having been there at Atlanta in 1996. Now, all the media attention is focused on the Le Royal Monceau hotel, located just 500 metres from the Arc de Triomphe. Dion has been staying there since yesterday, as has Lady Gaga, another celebrity who has been much talked about in recent days as a possible protagonist of the opening ceremony.
Keep reading more from Celine Dion:
· The 3 most shocking revelations from the Celine Dion documentary
· Celine Dion is reportedly working secretly to give a series of shows in Las Vegas
· Belinda shows the interaction she had with Celine Dion through Instagram