In an audacious twist on an opening ceremony, hundreds of athletes sailed along the Seine past animated performers on bridges, banks, and roofs to usher in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris spectacularly.
The 'greatest show on earth' began with the first-ever substitution of a canal for a stadium. The almost four-hour performance concluded with sprinter Marie-Jose Perec and French judo champion Teddy Riner lighting a cauldron shaped like a hot air balloon that flew far over the Paris sky.
The Tricolore was hoisted over the Austerlitz Bridge by red, white, and blue pyrotechnics. The 6,800 athletes representing 205 delegations passed by many of the most well-known sites in the French city aboard 85 boats and barges.
Throughout the program, there were unexpected performances by Canadian legend Celine Dion and American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga, who both had moving comebacks.
The initial plan of creative director Thomas Jolly to use the Parisian sun to "make the water sparkle" was derailed by heavy rain in the evening. The day had begun with significant disruption when arson assaults attacked the French train network.
Athletes were compelled to include rain ponchos and umbrellas in their planned attire due to the heavy rain, but this did not take away from the exciting narrative of around 2,000 musicians, dancers, and other artists about French history, art, and sport.
The highest number of athletes were on board the final two boats to parade, which carried multiple delegations together: the US, which will host Los Angeles in 2028, and France.
Great Britain's flagbearers at the Summer Games in Paris, which are being held for the third time in its history, were rower Helen Glover and diver Tom Daley.
Athletes were informed they were now "part of an event that unites the world in peace" by International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach at the beginning of the 33rd Summer Olympics, which are being held against a challenging political background both domestically and internationally.
The 32 sports at the Games will see around 10,500 competitors participate until they end on August 11.
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