Paris 2024 Olympics officially begin as opening ceremony sparkles despite rain
The 2024 Olympics opening ceremony set Paris alight in a dazzling display of dance, music and lights, despite soggy weather on Friday.
Teams of athletes from across the world floated along the River Seine in boats, marking the first time the occasion has been held outside of a stadium.
French-Canadian legend Celine Dion performed from the Eiffel tower whilst a flaming balloon lit by the ceremonial torch rose above Paris.
The colourful scenes came on a day of travel chaos in the French capital, after a series of "malicious acts" hit French national high speed rail services.
Here is how the night unfolded in photos.
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Smoke cannisters shooting out clouds of blue, white and red - the colours of the French flag - marked the beginning of the ceremony.
The Refugee Olympic Team were one of the first boatful's of athletes to float along the Seine.
Lady Gaga emerged from behind pink feather boas, to perform Renée Jeanmaire’s “Mon Truc en Plumes” (“My Thing With Feathers”) entirely in French.
She later posted on X about the performances, saying she felt "so completely grateful" to have been asked to perform.
As the rain began to draw in, spectators along the Seine braved the weather to watch the ceremony.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was among those watching from the main stadium in the Jardins du Trocadero.
He donned in a Team GB rain jacket while others were decked out in ponchos.
Spectators line balconies of buildings along the banks of the Seine to catch a glimpse of the action.
Team GB joined the hoards of athletes on the Seine's flotilla.
A red heart-shaped ring of smoke was drawn into the sky by the French Air Force elite acrobatic flying team.
Dancers performed at various points along the banks of the Seine, on bridges and boats.
Members of Team France celebrate the opening ceremony on their boat as the rain set in.
Dancers in dresses suspended above a bridge swayed back and forth.
The Eiffel Tower was lit up with the five Olympic rings.
Various bridges along the flotilla's route were lit up as countries' teams passed beneath.
A silver-clad figure wrapped in an Olympic flag was seen riding a metallic horse through the Seine as the ceremony reached its crescendo.
Zinedine Zidane, French football manager and former player, was handed the torch. He later passed the flame to Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal.
The torch was then carried back down the Seine in a boat by Nadal and Serena Williams, before being used to light a hot air balloon.
The flaming balloon then rose to the skies above Paris.
Celine Dion then appeared on a glimmering Eiffel Tower, singing to crowds below as the balloon floated in the night sky.
The star performed Edith Piaf’s L’Hymne A L’Amour in her first live public performance since revealing she is living with stiff person syndrome (SPS).
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