The opening ceremony is an opportunity for all of the athletes participating in the 2024 Olympics to be in one spot, donning their countries' colors. The festivities are different this year, as the Parade of Nations is water-bound, with the procession filled with boats going down the Seine River.
While the stars of the show are the Olympians, there are performers sharing the spotlight.
Several musicians are expected to perform during the three-hour ceremony in Paris. There are a number of French talents that will be singing, but one of the most iconic singers at the opening ceremony will be Canadian star Celine Dion.
The five-time Grammy winner has been away from the public eye for a couple of years now due to a health condition she was diagnosed with in 2022. Here is more on Dion's health and where her treatment stands.
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What happened to Celine Dion?
Dion first began canceling shows in late 2021. She had a new show in Las Vegas that was expected to debut on Nov. 5 of that year, but she was forced to push it back due to "unforeseen medical symptoms" that included muscle spasms.
In early 2022, she canceled the remainder of the North American leg of her "Courage" World Tour. This was once again due to "severe and persistent muscle spasms" that she was again getting treatment for.
"I was really hoping that I'd be good to go by now, but I suppose I just have to be more patient and follow the regimen that my doctors are prescribing," Dion said in a statement. "There's a lot of organizing and preparation that goes into our shows, and so we have to make decisions today which will affect the plans two months down the road."
In June 2022, she was officially diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, though she did not share that with the rest of the world until December of that year. Dion posted a video to her Instagram detailing her symptoms and how it had impacted her day-to-day life.
"Recently, I've been diagnosed with a very rare neurological condition called stiff-person syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people," Dion said in her video. "While we're still learning about this rare condition, we now know that this is what has been causing all of the spasms that I've been having."
She said that SPS was causing her problems with her singing and that she had to reschedule her 2023 shows for later in 2024.
"I'm working hard with my sports medicine therapist every day to build back my strength and my ability to perform again," Dion added. "But I have to admit, it's been a struggle."
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While Dion originally said she would return to the stage in 2024, she announced in May 2023 that she was cancelling all of her shows through April 2024.
"I'm so sorry to disappoint all of you once again," Dion wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "And even though it breaks my heart, it's best that we cancel everything until I’m really ready to be back on stage."
In an interview with Vogue France in April 2024, Dion said that she is unsure when she will return to performing again.
"I can't answer that… Because for four years I've been saying to myself that I'm not going back, that I'm ready, that I'm not ready," Dion said. "As things stand, I can't stand here and say to you: 'Yes, in four months.' I don't know... My body will tell me. On the other hand, I don't just want to wait."
Dion began making more public appearances in fall 2023. She attended a hockey game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights in November 2023, presented the album of the year award at the 2024 Grammys in February and also appeared at the 2024 NHL Draft to announce the Canadiens' first-round pick.
Now, she will be using her singing voice again at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics.
What is stiff person syndrome?
Stiff person syndrome, also referred to as SPS, is a "very rare condition that can cause your muscles to become rigid or spasm," according to WebMD. It's considered to be a "progressive neurological and autoimmune disorder that affects the brain and the spinal cord."
"People with SPS initially experience rigidity in the muscles of their trunk, which can then spread to other parts of the body over time," WebMD said. "Besides stiff muscles, stiff person syndrome can also cause intense muscle spasms. The stiffening can cause a change in posture over time, so people with SPS commonly hunch over."
SPS is incredibly rare. WebMD said that less than 5,000 living people have been diagnosed with it in the United States. Doctors also have not been able to pinpoint the exact reason for why SPS occurs, and there is no specific cure for the disease.
Dion detailed just how SPS was impacting her singing in an interview with NBC News' Hoda Kobt.
"It’s like somebody is pushing your larynx/pharynx," Dion said. "It was like talking like that, and you cannot go high or lower."
How old is Celine Dion?
Born on March 30, 1968, Dion is 56 years old.
Is Celine Dion singing at the Olympics opening ceremony?
Dion is one of the biggest names that will be performing at the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday. The five-time Grammy winner will be singing with Lady Gaga.
The pair are expected to sing "La Vie en Rose" by Edith Piaf in a duet.
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Is Celine Dion French?
Dion is French ... well, French-Canadian.
The singer was born and raised in Charlemagne, Quebec, a city about 15 miles northeast of Montreal. Both of her parents are of French descent, and she grew up speaking French, like most people born in Quebec.
