Olympics torch ceremony, explained: France surprises viewers with Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, more as final torch bearers

Every element of this year’s Olympic opening ceremony was coated with globalism.

Friday’s festivities, expected to be a love letter to the city of Paris and France, delivered just that. But they also veered on all sorts of different paths, with a series of non-French stars — both inside and outside the sports world —receiving shine.

Lady Gaga, Celine Dion and Shaheem Sanchez were among the performers who were born and reside outside of France’s borders. And they weren’t the only non-French stars ones to receive vital responsibilities during the proceedings.

So too were Spain’s Rafael Nadal, Romania’s Nadia Comaneci and the United States’ Serena Williams and Carl Lewis, all of whom were tasked with transporting the vaunted Olympic torch across the waters of the Seine toward its final destination.