The Opening Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games was thrown in to chaos tonight as torrential downpours and gray skies marred the occasion, which is going down alongside the River Seine in entrance of 320,000 soaked spectators.
France’s distinctive plan to carry the opening occasion outdoor fairly than inside a stadium failed spectacularly this night as Parisians, celebrities, politicians and royals from everywhere in the world have been pressured to shelter from the horrendous rain.
The fastidiously choreographed open-air parade kicked off at 6.30pm UK time, with an unbelievable efficiency from American famous person Woman Gaga who wowed crowds as she carried out a surprising Folie Bergiere fully in French.
France’s tricolour flag erupted from the Pont d’Austerlitz Bridge with 6,800 athletes coated in plastic ponchos trying to maintain spirits excessive as they travelled down the famed waterway in an enormous flotilla of 85 boats.
Athletes on Staff GB‘s boat – lead by flag bearers diver Tom Daley and rower Helen Glover, with tennis stars Andy Murray and Katie Boulter onboard – determined to embrace the poor climate, forgoing raincoats and umbrellas as they beamed and waved to followers.
Meteorologists who predicted the weird wet July climate could be a ‘catastrophe’ for the out of doors ceremony seem to have been proved proper, because the heavy showers drowned out the music for these watching at house.
In the meantime the display screen on the Trocadéro the place hundreds of spectators are gathered appeared to undergo a blackout because of the dreary climate.
As an alternative of crowds sporting shorts and t-shirts to absorb the Parisian solar, streets have been lined with umbrellas and spectators – together with celebrities – turning to ponchos to guard from the rain.
Torrential rained marred the beginning of the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco with their youngsters Jacques and Gabriella
Dancers have been pressured to carry out routines within the rain as they took boats down the Seine
Torrential rain in Paris has marred the opening ceremony with many spectators seen sporting ponchos and holding umbrellas
A spectator covers his head with a flag to guard from the depressing onslaught of rain in Paris
The Opening Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games was marred by depressing rain tonight
Staff GB’s workforce embraced the rain, with many opting to not hassle with poncho to guard from the torrential showers
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer seems lower than impressed by the depressing climate in Paris
A sea of ponchos on the banks of the River Seine tonight as they watch the Opening Ceremony
Staff GB diver Tom Daley and rower Helen Glover reenact the Titanic as they journey down the River Seine
A display screen on the Trocadero breaks due to the onslaught of rain
Woman Gaga’s opening efficiency narrowly prevented the rain earlier than the heavens opened
Water is pushed off the stage below the Eiffel Tower
Tightrope walker Nathan Paulin performs on a excessive rope throughout the athletes’ parade on the River Seine
In the meantime spectators in London’s Mayfair fan zone soaked up the solar
The ceremony kicked off with a brief movie starring French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane carrying the Olympic torch earlier than he handed it native youngsters who emerged in actual life on the river banks.
These watching from the banks of the well-known river – in addition to from their armchairs everywhere in the world – have been then handled to a quintessential Parisian efficiency of the Can-can dance with dancers wearing pink lighting up the gray sky.
The ceremony has dwelled on many points of town’s historical past. The flame handed by the workshop of world-renowned French bag designer Louis Vuitton earlier than a dance made reference to the rebuilding of the Notre Dame fireplace of 2019.
A heavy metallic band burst into track in reference to the violence of the French Revolution, whereas an ode was paid to Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserables and a ‘headless’ Marie Antoinette was seen alongside the route.
Because the dance medley continues beneath on the banks of the river, the Olympic torch is being carried over town’s beautiful rooftops by a free-running athlete.
Talking after her efficiency, Woman Gaga advised the group: ‘I really feel so fully grateful to have been requested to open the Paris Olympics 2024 this yr.
‘I’m additionally humbled to be requested by the Olympics organising committee to sing such a particular French track – a track to honour the French folks and their great historical past of artwork, music and theatre.’
In the meantime greater than 600,000 persons are attending the Opening Ceremony within the stadium together with an enormous string of well-known faces, together with pop star Arianna Grande, Tennis champion Serena Williams and Hollywood royalty Stephen Spielberg.
Many arrived within the dry however shortly after the ceremony kicked off the heavens opened. VIPs and officers within the stadium ran to seek out cowl below plastic rain macs as rain lashed down.
A whole lot of brollies have been raised obscure within the view for a lot of because the athletes, on 85 boats, headed down the river in direction of the Eiffel Tower.
A mechanical horse was seen travelling down the Seine carrying the Olympic flag down earlier than a horse rider arrived on the Trocadero.
Three-time Olympic medalist and Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet welcomed everybody to the video games, telling the group: ‘For the subsequent 16 days, you may be one of the best model of humanity.
‘You will remind us that the feelings of sport kind a common language that all of us share. Till 11 August, we’ll be by your aspect.
‘Your defeats can be our defeats. Your victories can be our victories. Your feelings can be our feelings.’
Staff GB ‘s boat can be lead by diver Tom Daley and rower Helen Glover who will wave the Union Flag to the group
PM Keir Starmer pulls on his raincoat to guard from the rain
A horsewoman carrying the Olympic Flag down the River Seine
The Olympic Ceremony in Paris has bought underway with a efficiency from Woman Gaga
The American famous person wowed crowds as she carried out a surprising Folie Bergiere type, singing fully in French amid an plume of pink feathers.
British athletes wave to the crowds
President Macron and Olympic chief Thomas Bach got solely muted applause as they rose from their seats to greet the crowds, in a extremely safe enclosure on the Eiffel Tower. The 2 males have been luckier than most, remaining below cowl within the VIP part.
Mr Bach referred to as for unity at a time of battle: ‘In a world torn aside by wars and conflicts, it’s because of this solidarity that we are able to all come collectively tonight.’
Tonight’s is the primary Olympic ceremony in 33 video games to be staged exterior with the plan backfiring spectacularly resulting in a surge of criticism.
One official, shielding from the rain, mentioned:’It’s such a disgrace that this rain has spoiled the night. The French folks have seemed ahead to this night time for a really very long time. However there’s nothing anyone can do in regards to the climate. Let’s hope the remainder of the Olympics is best.’
One other spectator from India mentioned: ‘I’ve simply seen the Indian workforce on the video display screen on their boat and now I am leaving. Sufficient is sufficient. I can not take this rain anymore. I’m 70 years outdated.’
Olympic organisers can be hoping the remainder of tonight’s ceremony goes extra easily after a ‘large arson assault’ earlier at present introduced mayhem to France‘s rail community – leaving each spectators and athletes stranded.
The ‘co-ordinated acts of malice’ on high-speed rail strains throughout the Channel has left sport followers dealing with journey chaos, with snaking queues forming at St Pancras at present as Eurostar trains have been delayed or axed.
Eurostar has advised prospects to cancel their journeys at present if they will – recommendation which was echoed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who was seen sat in a main seat on the stadium after travelling to France by aircraft as a substitute of his deliberate route from St Pancras.
In a significant blow to Olympics organisers, Eurostar delays are set to final till Monday, with one in 4 trains because of be cancelled at present and over the weekend, with floods anticipated to drench town tonight.
However French officers can be hoping all can be forgotten when Woman Gaga takes to the stage once more to carry out with Celine Dion throughout the four-hour ceremony which is about to be watched by greater than a billion folks.
Gray skies over Paris because the 2024 Olympic Video games kicks off
Crowds pressured to put on ponchos and maintain up brollies throughout the torrential rain
Let the video games start! The Opening Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics is formally underway
Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary on the video games
We’ll want a much bigger boat! Enormous Staff USA boat sails down the Seine carrying a whole bunch of athletes
A dismal night time in Paris because the opening ceremony continues
Staff New Zealand embrace the rain as they carry out the Haka
Andy Murray waves a flag throughout the Olympic Ceremony
The primary boats of athletes making their method down the River Seine
Spectators maintain umbrellas within the rain in entrance of the Eiffel Tower forward of the Opening Ceremony
Woman Gaga rehearses prior the opening ceremony of the Olympic Video games
The Opening Ceremony has been suffering from unhealthy climate
Athletes of the Refugee Olympic workforce arrive on the Seine
Chrissy Teigen placed on a leggy show as she joined husband John Legend and kids Luna, 8, and Miles, 6, on the Olympics Opening Ceremony on the Trocadero in Paris on Friday
Emmanuel Macron waves to folks within the crowd because the Opening Ceremony will get underway
Prime Minsiter Keir Starmer protects from the rain sporting a Staff GB rain coat
Sir Keir Starmer has arrive on the stadium
Ariana channelled her Good Witch Glinda character in a pale pink gown
The Olympic rings are displayed on the enduring Eiffel Tower, the place the opening ceremony will finish
Anna Wintour attended the pink carpet occasion with Australian movie director Baz Luhrmann
Automobiles go in entrance of the Arc de Triomphe which is adorned with the colours of the Paralympic Video games forward of the opening ceremony
Spectators are pictured taking their seats hours earlier than the ceremony within the pouring rain
Safety patrol on the Seine River in Paris, France, forward of the opening ceremony
British tennis star Katie Boulter seen on a ship with teammates forward of the opening ceremony
Various well-known faces, together with pop star Arianna Grande, Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and famend director Baz Lurthmann have been noticed arriving with umbrellas in tow as they prepare to observe the ceremony.
Hollywood actress Zendaya, Rolling Stone rick icon Mick Jagger, basketball participant LeBron James, actor Zac Efron, actress Queen Latifia, and rapper Snoop Dogg, have been additionally seen within the crowd.
Celebrities will assist kind the massive crowd of 320,000 spectators watching throughout 124 grandstands. There have been 222,000 free tickets obtainable to observe the £115million parade from the higher banks and 104,000 paid-for tickets on the decrease quays.
The flotilla of 100 boats carrying athletes from 200 nations are travelling by the guts of town.
The route has been cut up into 12 sections: Enchanté; Synchronicity; Liberty; Equality; Fraternity; Sisterhood; Sportsmanship; Festivity; Darkness; Solidarity; Solemnity and Eternity.
Snippers noticed on the roof of the Nationwide Meeting forward of the opening ceremony
King Philippe of Belgium noticed within the crowd with Queen Maxima
Fireworks explode forward marking the beginning of the Olympic Ceremony
President Macron meets the President of the Worldwide Olympic Committee Thomas Bach
Former US Olympic snowboarded Shuan White and his associate Canadian actress Nina Dobrev attend the ceremony
A spectator within the crowd pulls on a plastic poncho to guard from the rain
Spectators cowl themselves in plastic ponchos because the ceremony will get underway
The parade will finish in entrance of the Trocadero, reverse the enduring Eiffel Tower, the place the Olympic cauldron can be lit and the ultimate exhibits will happen.
Dignitaries together with US First Woman Jill Biden, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Schultz and varied members of European royalty can be President Emmanuel Macron’s particular friends by the Eiffel Tower.
French actress Laetitia Casta, Pharell Williams and legendary French hip-hop singer MC Photo voltaic are additionally anticipated to participate within the present.
Princess Anne, President of the British Olympic Affiliation, can be watching the ceremony from the UK’s solely hospitality venue by the Arc de Triomphe, often called Staff GB Home.
Right now’s journey chaos, which comply with 200 days of meticulous rehearsals, was the most recent drama to engulf the Olympics.
Parisian Hermance Bonjasson, 42, who spoke to MailOnline as she waited for a substitute practice to take her to the Vendee on the Atlantic coast, mentioned: ‘I am embarrassed that the world see us like this. This must be a really proud day for France, not a day for disappointment and annoyance.’
It comes after Staff GB dressage star Charlotte Dujardin was pressured to tug out of the Video games on Monday amid a whipping scandal.
Dujardin, who hoped to turn out to be Britain’s most adorned Olympian in Paris, was banned from competing by the Worldwide Federation for Equestrian Sports activities (FEI) after footage emerged of her whipping a horse 24 instances ‘like a circus elephant’.
The 39-year-old claimed she made an ‘error of judgement’ and is ‘deeply ashamed’ of her actions.’
Tennis champion Serena Williams arrives on the Opening Ceremony
Woman Gaga pictured working towards forward of tonight’s Opening Ceremony
Arianna Grande poses as she arrives for the Paris Opening Cerermony
Former tennis champion Boris Becker poses exterior the Eiffel Tower
Spectators in rain gear sit forward of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Sport
Anna Wintour with Australian movie director Baz Luhrmann on the Trocadero
US rapper, artist and designer Pharell Williams throughout the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games Torch Relay
US rapper Snoop Dogg carries the Olympic torch on the 2024 Summer time Olympic
Former Olympian Michael Johnson of america arrives in Paris, France, earlier than the opening ceremony
PARIS: Armed guards in Paris head of the beginning of the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games
PARIS: Dozens of Eurostar passengers are pictured surrounding a practice amid the delays
FRANCE: Staff of SNCF railway firm converse to passengers ready for his or her trains’ departure on the Gare Montparnasse practice station
The Netherlands have additionally discovered themselves below the highlight after convicted rapist Steven van de Velde was chosen for his or her volleyball workforce.
The athlete was sentenced to 4 years in jail in 2016 after pleading responsible to raping a 12-year-old woman when he was 19.
He is not going to be staying on the Olympic Village and feedback defending him from his team-mates have stirred additional controversy.
Former marathon world champion Paula Radcliffe additionally apologised after she wished him the ‘better of luck’.
‘I’m mortified that I expressed it so badly and did not condemn the rape out loud,’ mentioned Radcliffe.
Earlier, in an interview with radio station LBC on Wednesday, she mentioned: ‘I do know that he’s married now and has settled down.
‘I believe it is a powerful factor to do to punish him twice and if he is managed to efficiently flip his life round after being despatched to jail, and to qualify and to be taking part in sport on the highest stage, then I truly want him one of the best of luck.’
She was talking about doping offenders being allowed to compete once more after serving bans.
Right now, one other doping row reached boiling level as main swimmers condemned the ‘failed’ China anti-doping investigation.
French President Emmanuel Macron is pictured this morning on the Elysee palace in Paris
French army personnel patrol exterior Gare du Nord station in Paris after a ‘coordinated’ assault on rail infrastructure
Police patrols exterior on the Louvre forward of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Video games
Spectators make their method by safety checks forward of the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games, in Paris, France, 26 July 2024
Caeleb Dressel, a seven-time Olympic gold medallist mentioned he didn’t believe within the case involving optimistic drug checks from 23 Chinese language athletes within the run-up to the final Olympics.
Earlier this month, an unbiased report backed the choice to not dispute the Chinese language authorities’ claims that the swimmers ingested trimetazidine (TMZ) by contamination.
Eleven of these swimmers will compete for China in Paris.
When quizzed on whether or not he had confidence there was a stage taking part in subject in Paris, US swimming nice Dressel mentioned: ‘No, probably not. I do not assume they’ve given us sufficient proof to assist them in how this case was dealt with.’
Particulars of the case have been first made public in April, having not been shared on the time in 2021.
The World Anti-doping Company (Wada) mentioned it was ‘not ready to disprove’ the conclusion made by the China Anti-Doping Company (Chinada) and selected to not attraction.
In one other scandal, Canada was pressured to sack two workers members from their girls’s soccer workforce after they used a drone to fly over and movie the coaching periods of rivals New Zealand.
Gendarmes exterior the Gare Du Nord practice station in Paris, France, after ‘malicious acts’ severely disrupted journey throughout the nation
French organisers can be hoping the mud will settle because the opening ceremony marks the official begin of the video games.
That is regardless of a few of the motion bought underway two days prior on Wednesday.
The ceremony is an integral a part of them Video games; not solely does it mark the beginning however it is a chance for folks to find the tradition of the host nation by music, dance and fireworks.
A complete of 6,800 athletes – representing 206 nations – and near 120 heads of states, sovereigns and heads of presidency will attend and take part within the ceremony.
The scope, measurement and general spectacle of the opening ceremony improves each match, with every host nation bidding to out do the final and Paris can be no totally different.
For the primary time, the opening ceremony can be held exterior of a closed stadium, with Paris internet hosting a water parade for the Olympics.
Throughout the parade, there can be over 2,000 artists, 1,000 loudspeakers and 1,800 costumers with the delegations and passengers passing by on the boats.
Though the floating parade was initially deliberate as a folks’s occasion alongside the banks, the French police have intervened and for safety causes most spectators can be assigned to an space or allotted seats in fenced-off areas for the ceremony.
Every nation will debut their athletes with one in every of their most prolific names holding their nationwide or regional flags originally of the ceremony.
Greece historically debut first as a nod to the place the Olympics first originated, with the host nation being final to function.
The Olympic anthem will then ring out after the top of state of the host nation publicizes the graduation of the Video games.
The long-lasting Olympic flame will then be introduced ahead for the lighting of the primary torch which is the end result of the opening ceremony in addition to the discharge of doves, symbolising peace amongst all nations.
Andy Murray can be amongst 39 Staff GB rivals waving from the highest of their vessel.
Every member will put on an unique Ben Sherman bomber jacket, that includes motifs of the nationwide flowers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire.
The river’s historic quays have changed the stands, and hundreds of spectators will end up to observe this unprecedented present, which can embrace performances on town bridges.
The present is anticipated to climax in a lazer spectacular ending shortly after 11pm.
Bars and eating places throughout Paris have been granted particular permission to remain open till daybreak for town to revel within the occasion environment.
Inventive Director of the ceremonies, Thomas Jolly, has recruited France’s greatest choreographers, composers, couturiers, circus performers, singers and up-and-coming abilities to supply the world a glimpse into French tradition.
He mentioned: ‘This Ceremony is a mirrored image of the Video games of Paris 2024, breaking conventions and welcoming the surprising with myriads of references, surprises, hints to French tradition.
‘Dive right into a merry and playful whirlwind as the primary boats of the Parade of Athletes method. Prepare for a journey by time and feelings.’
Opening the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games, President Macron, of France, will say: ‘A century after the 1924 Video games, our Metropolis of Gentle is being reunited with its Olympic ambitions in essentially the most spectacular style.
‘The Opening Ceremony on the Seine River on 26 July can be an unprecedented spectacle in entrance of 300,000 folks, with billions extra watching on TV all over the world.
‘It’s going to kick off a 16-day competitors which can mark historical past and depart an enduring legacy.
‘Just like the occasions to return, it’s going to mix the fantastic thing about our heritage with that of the spectacle.
‘This second of togetherness between humanity, our athletes and our artists could have one overriding aim: to usher in a brand new Olympic period, with an emphasis on sustainability, parity and constructing the long run.
‘By means of this ceremony, our nation will present the world what it’s.
‘As a result of France isn’t just the product of historical past, heritage, and tradition handed down by the centuries.
‘It’s an epic story, a continuing quest for freedom and progress.
‘True to its historical past, and like this distinctive ceremony which you’ll witness, it’s common.
‘Let the occasion start!’
In the meantime Mayor of Paris, Anne Higaldo, will say: ‘Paris is extraordinarily proud to be internet hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Video games 2024.
‘They are going to be a communal celebration of sporting excellence, and an unforgettable second of public festivity, with the Opening Ceremony laying the muse stone.
‘The stands will transfer from the stadium to the riverbanks, giving method to an distinctive stage proper within the coronary heart of Paris. We’ll watch the parade of athletes from all nations, the mosaic of colors of all of the flags, marching below the frequent banner of the Olympic values.
‘This international occasion has been made potential by meticulous preparations and an bold long-term method, which started in 2016 with the opening of the riverbanks to pedestrians.’
On a day of pleasure and chaos, US rapper Snoog Dogg carried the Olympic torch by Paris earlier on Friday – as viewers joked that it resembled an enormous hashish joint.
The rapper – well-known the world over for his love of marijuana – is in Paris as a particular correspondent for US TV community NBC and carried the Olympic flame on a brief run across the Stade de France this morning.
For Paris 2024, Olympic organisers turned to French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, who mentioned he drew inspiration from the themes of ‘equality, water and peacefulness’ in creating the curved metal beacon, which has ripples on its decrease half.
However viewers watching Snoop – actual title Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr – instantly considered one thing else related to the rapper because it burned at one finish: a rippling hashish joint.
Considerations over safety have led to the most important army and police operation in France in peacetime.
Floor-to-air missiles and 75,000 police, military and safety guards are a part of the most important peacetime deployment of pressure in France’s historical past for the Olympics opening ceremony.
Groups of frogmen have been sweeping the River Seine for explosives previously few days, whereas drones and a police surveillance helicopter whirred above them, and demining models scoured quays and close by streets.
Round 250 British officers and 50 police canines can be in France throughout the Olympics, as a part of the £350 million safety operation.
In one other blow to organisers, France’s metrological workplace has points a yellow alert, warning of rain and flooding in Paris. One meteorologist has described it as a ‘catastrophe’.
Some Parisians have forsaken the annual exodus from the capital to the nation’s seashores and mountains to observe the Video games.
Amongst them are Marcel and Jeanne, a middle-aged couple from Montmartre.
Marcel, 42, an insurance coverage dealer mentioned: ‘Usually Paris is empty in August as a result of everybody goes on vacation, and we do similar.
‘However this yr we now have determined to remain and watch a few of the occasions.’
