In Pictures: Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony

The delegations from Cameroon, Canada, the Central African Republic, Chile and China sail on a boat during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The world's biggest sporting event, the Summer Olympics, is the stage for legendary sporting moments every four years.

The cauldron, with the Olympic flame lit, lifts off while attached to a balloon as the torchbearers French former sprinter Marie-Jose Perec and French judoka Teddy Riner stand in front during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden) in Paris on July 26, 2024.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and French President Emmanuel Macron attend the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, July 26, 2024. Paris 2024 marks a milestone in the history of the Olympic Games by moving the ceremony out of a stadium.

The horsewoman (C) arrive with the Olympic flag at the Trocadero Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Spectators sit on seats in the stand on the Pont du Carrousel ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. In an ambitious, high-risk departure from past opening ceremonies, up to 7,500 athletes were poised to sail down a six-kilometre (four-mile) stretch of the Seine in an armada of 85 boats.

A general view of the Eiffel Tower and lasers lighting up the sky, during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Performers are seen during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. AFP

Floriane Issert (centre), a Gendarmerie non-commissioned officer of the National Gendarmerie, rides on a horse while leading volunteers carrying flags of Olympic teams on the Iena Bridge during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The torch bearer holds the Olympic Torch on a boat during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The Summer Olympics, the world's largest sporting event, begins in Paris on July 26. It's the 33rd Games since the modern Olympics started in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Over the years, the Olympic movement gained momentum and shed some of its amateur moorings. The Paris 2024 Games is pledged to be the "greenest in history," and the French have promised a "Games Wide Open".

Spectators watch on as the big screen shows the Smoke resembling the flag of Team France over Pont d’Austerlitz during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. The first games of the Olympics were played Wednesday in soccer and rugby.

Fireworks in the French national colours explode over Pont d'Austerlitz during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024.

Military jets fly over in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024.

Spectators wave French flags during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024.

British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo (CL) and US' singer Ariana Grande (CR) arrive ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The delegations from the United Arab Emirates, Ecuador and Eritrea sail along the river Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024, as the Eiffel Tower is seen in the background.

Athletes of Team Spain hold Spanish flags during the opening ceremony.

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Tightrope walker Nathan Paulin performs on a high rope during the athletes’ parade on the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Maddie Meyer / POOL / AFP)

The delegation from Greece sails on a boat in front of Pont d'Austerlitz during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024.

Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal and his son Rafa Junior react on a balcony during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

People gather along the river Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Security officers of the United Arab Emirates border forces, patrol with dogs in front of the Pyramide du Louvre, designed by Chinese-US architect Ieoh Ming Pei, a few hours prior to the start of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (C) applauds at the announcement of the British athletes during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Smoke billows near windows as performers participate in the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

A sniper stands on the roof of the National Assembly ahead the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Satou Sabally of Germany takes a selfie with athletes on the boat before the opening ceremony.

Athletes of Spain take a selfie before boarding their delegation boat ahead of the opening ceremony.

A man takes a selfie with Olympic Phryge, the official mascot of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the bank of the Seine River.

US First Lady Jill Biden (R) sits next to US Ambassador to France Denise Campbell Bauer (L) ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024.

India's delegation sails on a boat during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Athletes from Refugee Olympic Team's delegation sail in a boat along the river Seine at the start of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024.

Overview of the Trocadero venue in the rain, during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

US tennis player Serena Williams arrives ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024, as the Eiffel Tower is in the background.

Members of the Brazilian delegation pose in their boat on the river Seine ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

A grab of a drone video released by the Olympic Broadcasting Services shows an aerial view of the Eiffel Tower (L) and Trocadero (rear R) at the start of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris, on July 26, 2024.

Members of the Canadian delegation are seen ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Police officers gather before Seine river and the Louvre, prior to the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Athletes in the delegation of Belgium aboard a boat in the floating parade on the river Seine.

Athletes from Saudi Arabia delegation sail in a boat during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)

US singer Lady Gaga sings a song at the Sully bridge area before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

French gendarmes patrol in front of the Pyramide du Louvre, designed by Chinese-US architect Ieoh Ming Pei, a few hours prior to the start of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024.