Paris Olympics 2024: Recap of the opening ceremony as the Games are underway with parade on River Seine
The Paris Olympics unique opening ceremony is underway, with athletes taking part in a parade down the River Seine before the Games are officially launched.
Recap all the news and colour in our live blog below.
Zidane with the flame
Zinedine Zidane is the first prominent French star to hold the flame as the ceremony begins with a haunting introduction through the Paris underground.
The Olympic flame has emerged to a huge burst of red, white and bleu on the River Seine.
Not long now
A thick carpet of cloud covers the city of love, yet thousands eagerly surround the riverside in anticiaption for the opening extravoganza.
The first boat is set to depart in less than 15 minutes to kick-start the 2024 Opening Ceremony.
Snoop Chien
Popular American rapper Snoop Dogg ran one of the legs for the iconic torch relay through the city in the hours leading up to the Opening Ceremony.
With bright golden kicks on, the rap legend danced his way through the streets of Paris as the torch made its way around the city.
Crunching the numbers
Nearly 100 boats carrying around 10,500 athletes will make their way along the heartbeat of the city, the River Seine, during the parade.
The flotilla will start their voyage next to the Jardin des Plantes and continue 6km west passing iconic landmarks including the Notre Dame and the Louve and a variety of Games venues before finishing at the Trocadero – the esplanade across from the Eiffel Tower where the cauldron will be lit.
A brush with royalty
Despite her ties to Denmark, Australian-born Queen Mary of Denmark has proven her loyalites may still lie with Australia.
The Aussie turned Dane greeted the Australian team in the Olympic Village before they geared up for the Opening Ceremony.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie
The Australian Olympic team is kitted up and Opening Ceremony ready.
With their traditional green blazers on, the strong force of green and gold athletes are set to be led by their two flag bearers Eddie Ockenden and Jessica Fox.
Hello, G’day, Bonjour!
Welcome to the ‘official’ start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and the much anticipated Opening Ceremony.
For the first time in history, the host nation will hold an outdoor extravaganza to welcome visiting athletes and dignitaries, via a fleet of boats drifting past a massive crowd of over 300,000 lining the River Seine.
Australia will be well represented with a big contingent, headed by our history-making flag bearers.
Time to don your green and gold, get your game face on and settle in for our LIVE blog … Let’s go!
