The city of Paris transformed into a colossal amphitheatre, with the iconic Seine River serving as the track for the athletes' parade, as France showcased its cultural diversity, spirit of revolution, impeccable craftsmanship, and architectural heritage in a riveting opening ceremony for the 33rd Olympic Games on Friday.
French judoka Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-Jose Perec, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, illuminated the Olympic cauldron in a dramatic moment. Positioned beneath a hot air balloon, they lowered their torches in tandem to ignite the flame, symbolizing the start of the Games.
French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open, marking the formal beginning of competitions for the next 16 days.
The spectacle started with a dreamy break from tradition as the 'Parade of Nations' kicked off the proceedings. Athletes from 205 countries and one refugee team sailed down the Seine on boats, despite the rain threatening to play spoilsport.
The Indian contingent was led by two flag-bearers -- two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and table tennis legend A Sharath Kamal and was 84th on the call sheet. The women in the contingent were draped in sarees, while the men sported the traditional kurta-payjama in the colours of the national flag.
A total of 78 Indian athletes and officials participated in the ceremony.
The six-kilometer parade started from Austerlitz Bridge, with 85 boats carrying more than 6,800 athletes amid loud cheers from the gathered crowd.
The opening ceremony also gave a sweet nod to Hindi as it was among the six languages used in the infographics to pay tribute to the contribution of prominent French women during the segment titled 'sisterhood'.
Lady Gaga sang a French cabaret song near Notre-Dame cathedral, a giant plume of blue, white and red smoke was sent high above a bridge over the Seine.
A fleet of barges started taking athletes on a 6 km-stretch of the river, by some of the French capital's most famous landmarks.
Huge applause rang out for the Greek boat - the first one, by tradition - and even bigger cheers erupted for the boat that followed, carrying a team made of refugees.
Water fountains threw up jets of water in the middle of the Seine as the boats went by, with athletes waving at the crowds, amid a huge visible police presence.
The ceremony comes just hours after a sabotage attack on the high-speed TGV rail network caused travel chaos across France and put the spotlight on the security risks at a time when all eyes are on the country.
The show started by depicting a fictional scenario in which the arrival of the Olympic flame goes awry, ahead of the extravagant show on the river that will kick off the summer Games.
French soccer superstar Zinedine Zidane was shown running across Paris to bring the flame, in a pre-recorded video that included him taking it onto the metro.
Spectators were treated to postcard-like depictions of France and a huge cancan line performed by Moulin Rouge cabaret dancers on the banks.
"We are super excited, it happens once in a lifetime," 17-year-old Elise Boukorrass said.
It had been raining on and off earlier in the evening in Paris and weather forecasters have predicted heavy showers, with one meteorologist even calling it a "disaster" for the open-air ceremony.
"The rain won't stop me from cheering on the Olympics - sport is everything to me and I'd do whatever it takes to watch this," said Flavia Merluzzi, 20, an architecture student.
Details have been kept secret, including who will be the last to carry the torch and light the Olympic cauldron to mark the start of the Games. The torchbearer - their face hidden and identity concealed - was shown jumping on the roofs of Paris.
Amid rumours that Canadian singer Celine Dion could also be part of the show, spectator Chantal Beauvais said it would be "magical" to watch her.
It was the first time that an opening ceremony has taken place outside a stadium.
Some 45,000 police and thousands of soldiers have been deployed in a huge security operation in Paris for the opening show. Armed police patrolled along the river in inflatable boats as the armada made its passage along the Seine.
Since the last Games - the Winter Olympics held in Beijing in 2022 - wars have erupted in Ukraine and Gaza, providing a tense international backdrop. France is at its highest level of security, though officials have repeatedly said there is no specific threat to the opening ceremony or the Games.
Israeli competitors are being escorted by elite tactical units to and from events and given 24-hour protection throughout the Olympics due to the war in Gaza, officials say.
Scores of world leaders are in Paris for the opening ceremony, which will also be protected by snipers on rooftops. The Seine's riverbed has been swept for bombs, and Paris' airspace is closed.
For the Games more generally, radar-surveillance planes and Reaper drones will monitor sensitive sites from above, and Mirage 2000 fighter jets will be on standby to intercept aircraft straying into restricted airspace.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who won a second mandate two years ago, had hoped the Olympics would cement his legacy. But his failed bet on a snap legislative election has weakened him and cast a shadow over his moment on the international stage.
More than 10,500 athletes will compete at the Olympics, 100 years since Paris last staged the Games. Competition started on Wednesday and the first of the 329 gold medals will be awarded on Saturday. The closing ceremony will take place on August 11.
