The Paris 2024 Olympic Games brought a unique and symbolic twist to the traditional lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony. Instead of a standard ground-based setup, the cauldron for these Games was hoisted into the air by a hot-air balloon as a tribute to the historic first ride in a hydrogen-filled gas balloon conducted by French inventors in 1783. Designed by Mathieu Lehanneur, the cauldron is not just a centerpiece for the event but a symbol of liberty, echoing the values encapsulated in the French national motto. With a 7-meter ring and supported by a towering 30-meter hot-air balloon, the cauldron soared into the sky from the Tuileries Garden, near the Louvre Museum, evoking both a sense of innovation and a nod to France's rich history in aeronautics. This creative and visually stunning display added an extra layer of meaning to the opening ceremony, capturing the essence of the Games and French heritage in a single breathtaking moment.