Opening ceremony goes off without a hitch
The most ambitious opening ceremony ever appeared to go smoothly today, without any notable mishaps or scheduling errors — except, of course, for the unfortunate rain.
Oldest living French Olympic medalist among Olympic torchbearers
Charles Coste, the oldest living French Olympic medalist, was among the athletes who carried the Olympic torch.
Coste, 100, was born in 1924 — the last time France hosted the Games. Coste won gold in the 1948 London Olympic Games in the team pursuit cycling event.
Céline Dion performs after the cauldron lighting
She is here!
Singer Céline Dion, who has been open about her struggles with stiff person syndrome, is giving what could be the final performance of the opening ceremony.
Her voice soars over Paris as she sings "Hymne à l’amour."
It's Dion's first performance since she disclosed her diagnosis in 2022.
It's lit! The Olympic cauldron receives the flame for Paris Games
After being carried by a number of athletes, the Olympic cauldron has officially been lit.
The torch continues until the end
After its boat ride down the Seine, the Olympic torch was handed to Amélie Mauresmo, who ran it toward the Louvre before handing it off to Tony Parker, where the pair carried on their journey to the Louvre.
They were joined by three French Paralympic legends, and then by two handball players. The torch continued on through a parade of French Olympians including fencers, gymnasts, swimmers and cyclists.
A total of 24 athletes carried the torch.
Elaborate light show projected from Eiffel Tower
A spectacular light show is being displayed on the Eiffel Tower as the torch makes its way to its final destination: the cauldron.
The Olympic torch continues its journey
The torch was passed from soccer great Zinedine Zidane to tennis star Rafael Nadal.
Nadal brought the flame back to the Seine and boarded a boat with Serena Williams, Carl Lewis and Nadia Comăneci.
It is unclear where they are headed.
Macron proclaims the Paris Games open at last
French President Emmanuel Macron has proclaimed the Games officially open.
Now we await the cauldron lighting.
IOC president highlights gender parity in 2024 Olympic Games
For the first time, the Olympic Games will have an equal 50-50 ratio between male and female athletes, IOC President Thomas Bach said.
At the 1900 Paris Olympic Games, which were the first to include women at all, only 2.2% of athletes were women. That number has steadily risen, with the female field at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics reaching 48%.
As Paris hosts the Olympics for the third time, women officially comprise half of the Olympic field.