TMZ Sports

LeBron James and Coco Gauff didn't let rain ruin their big moment at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony ... the two raised the American flag high and proud on the Team USA boat -- with big smiles on their faces!!

The tennis superstar and future basketball Hall of Famer were selected to be the flag bearers earlier this week ... and when it came time to shine on the Seine River on Friday -- they didn't disappoint.

The pair rocked white Ralph Lauren Olympic fits -- and despite sleeting rain -- they grabbed the Star-Spangled Banner and led the way for all of the Americans who will compete in the upcoming Games.

The Olympics opening ceremony kicked off with one of its wildest starts ever -- a castle full of beheaded Marie Antoinettes rocking out to heavy metal ... and boy, was it a sight.

The performance over in Paris Friday was electrifying -- heavy metal band Gojira teamed up with opera singer Marina Viotti to kick things off for a head-banging revolution ... while all the Marie Antoinettes sang along to the famous revolutionary song "Ah! Ça Ira!"

Red fireworks -- meant to symbolize blood, of course -- shot into the sky ... while actual fire and each band member staggered onto a different windowsill brought the performance to life.

Travis Kelce spotted a young Swiftie out at Chiefs practice Friday ... and he showed her some big-time love -- with his glove!

Check out footage from the end of Kansas City's workout ... as Taylor Swift's boyfriend was heading off the field, he noticed a girl in a "In My RED Era" shirt -- and he just had to thank her for her support with some gifts.

You can see, at first, he tossed one of his gloves to her, but when the connection missed ... he pointed at her and made sure she got his second one.

Lady Gaga has officially kicked off the Olympics opening ceremony -- putting on a showy performance on the steps of the Seine river ... and she did so by herself, for now.

Check it out ... the singer belts her heart out as she sings an all-French classic, known as "Mon Truc En Plume." Gaga seems to pay tribute to singer Zizi Jeanmaire with her performance -- which is filled with over-the-top pink feathered fans, dancers dressed in all-black, and a full jazz band.

Remember, Zizi memorably performed "Mon Truc En Plume" on "The Ed Sullivan Show" decades ago ... where she wore all-black and was joined by dancers carrying massive feathered fans. See the resemblance???

TNT isn't about to lose its media rights deal with the NBA without a fight ... it just sued the basketball org. -- claiming it has a "contractual right" to continue to broadcast its games going forward.

The media company -- whose parent organization is Warner Bros. Discovery -- filed the lawsuit in New York on Friday ... just days after Adam Silver revealed the NBA is moving on with Amazon Prime Video.

In their suit, TNT officials claim the NBA legally cannot accept Amazon's deal -- as they say they matched the offer to a T.

Lady Gaga is gearing up for her performance at the Olympics opening ceremony ... cramming in one last rehearsal before the big show.

The singer was seen practicing her number for the highly-anticipated performance ... as she was photographed singing on golden steps alongside the Seine in Paris. Gaga pulled out all the stops for her gig, too ... as she performed in a chic all-black ensemble next to dancers and a full jazz band decked out in similar monochromatic looks.

Gaga and her dancers rounded out the choreography by integrating over-the-top pink feathered fans ... reminiscent of the famed Moulin Rouge cabaret.

Dutch volleyball star Steven van de Velde, a convicted child rapist, is slated to compete in the Paris Olympics this week ... and the IOC is now facing serious pressure to investigate how he was able to be included in the Games despite his disgraced past.

Van de Velde allegedly raped a 12-year-old back in 2014 -- when he was 19. Authorities claimed he initially met the girl online -- and then flew from Amsterdam to London a short time later to have sexual relations with her -- this despite him being aware of her age. In 2016, he was convicted of rape and sentenced to four years in prison.

However, after serving 12 months behind bars in Britain, he was transferred to the Netherlands, where he was resentenced. Roughly a month later, he was released. Following his time served, he told a local media outlet he was not a pedophile.

Charles Barkley is finally speaking out on the NBA's breakup with TNT ... and it's clear as day, he's pissed over the split.

The former Phoenix Suns superstar unloaded on the Association in a statement on Friday morning ... nearly two days after Adam Silver's league decided to move on from Turner Sports in favor of a new media rights deal with Amazon Prime Video.

Barkley -- who's been a part of TNT's wildly popular "Inside the NBA" program for decades -- called the league's decision greedy ... while accusing its officials of never really giving TNT a fair shake in the negotiation process.

Getting drunk and bragging about causing chaos at the 2024 Paris Olympics is a pretty dumb move for an alleged Russian spy -- but French cops say that's exactly what happened before they arrested the guy!

Police in the French capital hauled away 40-year-old Kirill Gryaznov from his apartment after he popped up on the radar of European intel officers who were keeping a close eye on him for months, according to French outlet Le Monde.

Gryaznov had been kicked off a flight from Istanbul to Paris back in May, reportedly because he was totally wasted.

Swifties are flocking to the internet to commemorate the anniversary of Travis Kelce first trying to make a move on Taylor Swift ... which ultimately resulted in their love story.

For those not following the Swelce saga ... last year, the NFL star admitted on his "New Heights" podcast that he fumbled the chance to shoot his shot at the pop star.

As he told brother and cohost Jason Kelce, he put his phone number on a friendship bracelet for Taylor and planned to give it to her at her Kansas City concert ... but didn't get a chance to meet with her.

Celine Dion certainly knows the power of love ...reveling in the adoration she's getting from fans as she returns to the spotlight -- people were eating it up ahead of her Olympics gig.

The singer, who's set to perform with Lady Gaga at the opening ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics, received the warmest of welcomes from fans Thursday night in the City of Lights.

CD was decked out in full Dior ... and greeted with screams and chants as she left her hotel. The singer blew kisses to the crowd and took a few photos.

Thousands of travelers looking to get to Paris ahead of the start of the Olympics have been stranded ... after French officials say railways in the country have been hit by a series of coordinated arson attacks.

According to the SNCF -- the organizer of France’s high-speed train network -- the "malicious acts" took place overnight Thursday ... and appeared to be a planned "massive attack" by people who had the goal of crippling public transportation just hours before the Games' Opening Ceremony goes down in Paris later Friday.

So far, authorities don't seem to have any leads on suspects ... although the public prosecutor's office said it's launched an investigation.

Snoop Dogg's blazin' in Paris ... or, at least his left hand was -- 'cause the dude carried the Olympic flame Thursday marking a huge moment for himself and hip hop culture.

The rapper carried the torch through the northern Parisian suburb Saint-Denis ... and check out the pics 'cause Snoop looks like one proud pup while doing his part to get the flame to its final destination.

Snoop -- clad in an all-white tracksuit with "Paris 2024" and the Olympic rings splayed across the back -- waves to the crowd during his portion of the jaunt, staring at the torch in awe.

Looks like Adele and her boo Rich Paul are finally heading down the aisle -- 'cause if the latest buzz is anything to go by, the engagement bells are ringing!

The singer's sports agent BF, Rich Paul, finally popped the question last Thursday after months of keeping us all guessing, The Sun reports ... adding she said yes to a jaw-dropping four-carat diamond ring, which appeared to be on her hand during an outing last week.

Word on the street is that Rich planned the whole proposal in Adele’s hometown of Tottenham, London. Everything went off without a hitch, and the happy couple celebrated by FaceTiming friends and family to share the big news.

With an influx of visitors heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, French police are cracking down on prostitution ... and we've learned an anti-pimping brigade is even leading the charge.

The Press Office for the Police Prefecture tells TMZ ... authorities are doing what they can to combat illegal sex work in the City of Lights. We're told checkpoints and other road operations are targeted to try and put a stop to pimping in the Bois de Vincennes, Bois de Boulogne and Belleville sectors.

A formal brigade -- known as the BRP -- has even formed ... and we're told they will make their presence seriously known in the area. There is also a group in charge of surveilling night establishments, such as cabarets ... where anti-sex work laws will be reinforced.