For three-time host city Paris, reinvention and originality are key.

With all of the city's renowned scenery, where better to host the Opening Ceremony than the Seine, which winds through the city's landscape?

Among many of Paris' programing innovations is a first-ever opening showcase river cruise, presenting both the competition's best athletes and the capital's best views, as Zora Stephenson says in Episode 4 of The Podium: An NBC Olympic and Paralympic podcast, titled "Pre-Games Bonus: Never Before Seine." In this chapter, Stephenson provides some familiar names — like Nyjah Huston, Oksana Masters, Hannah Roberts, Daniela Moroz and more — a preview of what's to come and shares their reactions.

"I can't speak for other countries, but I know Team USA's boat's going to be rocking," said Tokyo silver medalist and track and field star Rai Benjamin.

Plus, an inside look at two of the Olympics' newest events, breaking and kiting.

"We don't pick the music ... so when you're standing up there, you have no idea what you're gonna get, and it's up to you to react to what the DJ has decided to put on," said American breakdancer Sunny Choi. 

Hear all that and more on this week's episode of The Podium.

Episodes of The Podium release weekly in the lead-up to Paris, then every day once the Olympic flame is lit at the Opening Ceremony.

Follow the show on the iHeart App, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or your favorite podcast platform.