The Expansive Event Kicks Off the LVMH-Sponsored Games with Celebrity Guests and Special Partnerships
On the eve of this year’s Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, a prestigious gathering will unfold at the Frank Gehry-designed Fondation Louis Vuitton, marking the start of Paris’s summer of sport. LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault, Comcast NBCUniversal chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, Grammy-winner and Louis Vuitton men’s creative director Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour are collaborating to host a star-studded event aptly named the Prelude to the Olympics.
The event’s co-hosts include Charlize Theron, Serena Williams, Rosalía, and Omar Sy, who will engage with guests throughout the evening. The attendee list features a mix of artists, performers, and legendary athletes, including several Olympians. However, the games planned for the night will be light-hearted and accessible, not requiring any athletic training.
Pharrell has curated a variety of interactive installations and sport-inspired amusements, such as table tennis, foosball, archery, and basketball, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of an Olympics-themed Luna Luna in the 16th arrondissement. Culinary delights will be provided by Michelin-starred chef Jean Imbert, with cocktails from Moët Hennessy adding to the festivities.
Pharrell shared,
It’s an honor for me to co-host this very special event with Anna, Mr. Arnault, and Brian the night before the momentous Opening Ceremony. The Olympics are a celebration of diversity, humanity, and creativity—all of which bring us closer together as one human race. The Olympics are a humbling reminder that there is so much more that unites us than divides us. There is so much beauty in sport, and we will be celebrating this joyous time in a very special way.”
In a show of sportsmanship, Comcast NBCUniversal will make a charitable donation to the Olympic Refuge Foundation, aiding Olympic hopefuls and athletes competing on the IOC Refugee Olympic Team in Paris this year. The 2024 team comprises 36 individuals from 11 countries, participating in various sports from breaking to wrestling. This generous contribution highlights the spirit of unity and support central to the Olympic movement.
