Paris welcomed the Olympic Games with an opening ceremony like no other as athletes sailed down the River Seine despite the rain on Friday.
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.
As the 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.
The threatened rain arrived as the Olympic flame was transferred to the river bank to make its way through the crowds.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was among those watching from the main stadium in the Jardins du Trocadero, donned in a Team GB rain jacket while others were decked out in ponchos.
Other famous faces within the stadium – aside from IOC president Thomas Bach and French President Emmanuel Macron included Ariana Grande, Serena Williams and John Legend.
The parade continued through 12 “scenes”, with dances and performances along the river each telling part of the story of Paris and of France.
Great Britain team hit the screens, with Andy Murray among those accompanying flagbearers Tom Daley and Helen Glover.
Eurostar arson attacks cause rail chaos
Hours before the opening ceremony Eurostar and other French high-speed rail networks were thrown into chaos as a series of arson attacks disrupting travel to Paris.
One in four Eurostar trains were cancelled on Friday and will be over the weekend following “co-ordinated” vandalism which caused disruption ahead of the Olympics in France.
The rail operator, which runs international services from London St Pancras, confirmed 25% of its trains would no longer run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Attal said there will be “massive consequences,” with “hundreds of thousands” of people stuck while trying to visit Paris for the Games or holidays.
Eurostar said in a statement: “Due to co-ordinated acts of malice in France, affecting the high-speed line between Paris and Lille, all high-speed trains going to and coming from Paris are being diverted via the classic line today Friday July 26.
“This extends the journey time by around an hour-and-a-half. Eurostar expects this situation will last until Monday morning.”
Trains from London to Paris and Lille were being delayed by around an hour and a half, with a quarter cancelled. Eurostar said this would remain the case over the weekend, with the service not back to normal until Monday.
All high-speed trains to and from Paris have been diverted to a slower line and the company urged customers to postpone their journeys if possible.
Prosecutors in Paris opened a national investigation, saying the crimes could carry sentences of 15 to 20 years.
French rail operator SNCF said the situation should last “at least all weekend” but that teams were already on site carrying out checks and beginning repairs.
Meanwhile, Gaga has said it was her “supreme honour” to perform at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
The 38-year-old surprised viewers by singing in French during her performance on Friday evening, which saw her deliver a burlesque take on the French classic Mon Truc En Plume.
On X, formerly Twitter and Instagram, she said: “I feel so completely grateful to have been asked to open the Paris @Olympics 2024 this year.
“I am also humbled to be asked by the Olympics organising committee to sing such a special French song—a song to honour the French people and their tremendous history of art, music, and theatre.
“This song was sung by Zizi Jeanmaire, born in Paris a French ballerina, she famously sang Mon Truc en Plumes in 1961.
“The title means ‘My Thing with Feathers’. And this is not the first time we’ve crossed paths.
“Zizi starred in Cole Porter’s musical Anything Goes which was my first jazz release.
“Although I am not a French artist, I have always felt a very special connection with French people and singing French music.
“I wanted nothing more than to create a performance that would warm the heart of France, celebrate French art and music, and on such a momentous occasion remind everyone of one of the most magical cities on earth – Paris.
“We rented pom poms from Le Lido archive – a real French cabaret theatre.
“We collaborated with Dior to create custom costumes, using naturally moulted feathers. I studied French choreography that put a modern twist on a French classic.
“I rehearsed tirelessly to study a joyful French dance, brushing up on some old skills – I bet you didn’t know I used to dance at a 60s French party on the lower east side when I was first starting out.
“I hope you love this performance as much as I do. And to everyone in France, thank you so much for welcoming me to your country to sing in honour of you – it’s a gift I’ll never forget.”
The singer congratulated the athletes who are competing and added that it was her “supreme honour” to sing for them.
As the ceremony moved down the river, it paid tribute to the country’s culture and history including Les Miserables, a popular novel by Victor Hugo, which has subsequently been turned into a musical.
Following a sequence paying homage to the historical epic, French heavy metal band Gojira performed at the Conciergerie, a former courthouse and prison in the city.
Among the other performers was French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura, who sang while dressed in a golden dress paired with gladiator boots and gold jewellery.
The celebrations were met with heavy rain with performers, including pianist Alexandre Kantorow, braving heavy showers during their performances.
