The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics began on Friday, an unprecedented and spirited show with 7,000 athletes parading down the Seine River past the French capital's historic monuments, dampening spirits despite the threat of rain.
For the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony is taking place outside the main stadium, with around 300,000 people watching from specially-built stands on the banks of the river and 200,000 from balconies and apartments in person.
As tradition dictates, the Greek delegation had the honor of leading the flotilla as the cradle of the modern Olympic movement.
In an exciting, high-risk departure from past opening ceremonies, athletes will sail down the river in an armada of 85 boats.
The show will combine both French culture and history and great Olympic moments from the past while American pop star Lady Gaga wowed the crowd of VIPS and fans with an opening performance at the event.
Despite heavy rain forecast and a wave of attacks that paralyzed France's high-speed rail network early Friday, organizers were confident they would pull off the spectacular event.
Games chief organizer Tony Estanguit said before the show that some changes would be made if it was wet, but insisted the weather would not spoil the mood.
It's going to be a beautiful moment, it's going to be a great party he added.
Basketball superstar LeBron James, who will be one of Team USA's two flag bearers along with tennis star Coco Goff, dons a clear plastic poncho to protect him from predicted flooding just before the teams board the boats. Seen equipped with
Long queues formed at access points along the Seine hours before the start of the parade.
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After passing through scanners and checkpoints, first-timers discover numerous floating stages installed in river channels and bridges decorated with flags and the pink and purple colors of sports.
The atmosphere is really friendly said 75-year-old Frenchman Jean-Eves Hérault, who watched the show with his granddaughter.
There are many foreigners, we are enjoying it. It is good for France.
A massive security operation was carried out for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, with security fences erected along both banks of the Seine.
The event will be guarded by 45,000 police and paramilitary officers and another 10,000 soldiers and 22,000 private security guards will complete the security operation.
Police snipers were deployed on high points along the river, overlooking hundreds of buildings.
French security forces are on high alert to prevent terrorist attacks marring the start of the first Olympics in Paris in 100 years, while acts of sabotage by hostile foreign powers are also a known threat.
French officials declined to comment on the identity of those responsible for the rail sabotage, who appeared to have a sophisticated understanding of the network.
Far-left French anarchists have a history of targeting the train network with arson attacks.
Suspicion may also fall on Russia, which French President Emmanuel Macron has said in the past was planning to target the Games.
Around 3,000 dancers are set to perform along the riverfront and among monuments including Notre Dame Cathedral during the Paris Olympic opening ceremony, which will promote diversity, gender equality and French history.
The City of Light's landmarks and architecture served as the backdrop for both the Friday night show and most games thereafter.
Paris' vision is for a more cost-effective and less polluting Olympics than previous editions, with the competitions taking place at historic sites around the capital.
