Rain fails to put a dampener on Paris Olympics opening ceremony on River Seine
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Paris welcomed the Olympic Games with an opening ceremony like no other as athletes sailed down the River Seine to the sound of Lady Gaga and more, but relentless rain put a dampener on the party.
Legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane starred in a video to tee up the arrival of the Olympic flame before flares set off from the Austerlitz Bridge formed a tricolore.
A total of 85 boats then carried the team delegations on a six-kilometre journey through the centre of Paris, with more than 300,000 spectators lining the banks of the river.
The parade continued through 12 ‘scenes’, with dances and performances along the river each telling part of the story of Paris and of France.
Of the 206 nations are represented at this year's games, the Greek delegation was the first to take to the Seine (Greece always goes first due to the origins of the Olympic Games.)
As the first group of boats were winding their way through the city, there was a break from the team introductions for Lady Gaga to burst forth from behind an array of pink feathers and perform alongside the river, close to Notre Dame cathedral, singing entirely in French.
Thereafter, a second flotilla of boats began to make their way along the Seine.
Ireland's delegation was the 36th to be welcomed during the ceremony, and the team's flag carriers were golfer Shane Lowry and athlete Sarah Lavin.
The final three delegations were Australia, where the Olympics will take place in 2032, the USA, where the 2028 games will take place, and hosts of this games, France.
As Friday's events unfolded, the weather did not play ball as the ceremony was hit by steady rain, but there was still a carnival atmosphere as an array of performances sought to convey the story of Paris and of France.
Once at the Trocadero, athletes – having long since abandoned any hope of keeping dry – began to gather by the long stage down the centre of the temporary stadium, which staff were busily trying to keep free of standing water with mops.
After the games were addressed by Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, and Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, the Olympic Torch was handed to Zinedine Zidane once again. Zidane, in turn, passed it to 14-time French Open Winner, Rafael Nadal.
Rafa then joined fellow tennis icon Serena Williams - and legendary Olympians Carl Lewis and Nadia Comaneci - aboard a speedboat that raced up the Seine in the direction of the Lourve.
Thereafter, the torch was passed through a procession of famous French athletes before the final pair - two-time judo gold medalist Teddy Riner and three-time gold-winning sprinter Marie-José Pérec - lit the cauldron for Paris 2024 in the Gardens of the Tuileries.
Let the games begin.