The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris began today, Friday, with an imaginative scenario, as the process of arriving the Olympic flame at the ceremony headquarters did not proceed before the dazzling display on the Seine River.

Famous French soccer star Zinedine Zidane was shown running through Paris in a pre-recorded video to bring the torch to the broken-down subway, handing it to young children riding a boat across the Seine River.

Huge police forces were deployed in Paris just hours after a sabotage attack targeted the country's high-speed train network, exposing security risks at a time of rising geopolitical tensions. These coordinated attacks caused major disruption to some of France's busiest railway lines and highlighted security risks at a time when all eyes are on the country.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks that occurred far from Paris and the rest of the Olympic cities.

Boat fleet

The ceremony involves a fleet of boats carrying nearly seven thousand athletes down the river near some of Paris's most famous landmarks. A huge plume of blue, white and red smoke rose above a bridge over the river as the ceremony began. “We are very excited, this happens once in a lifetime,” said Alize Pockras (17).

Nine-year-old Manu, who is preparing to watch the ceremony with his mother, said: “It is a wonderful opportunity to be here.”

It was raining intermittently earlier today in Paris, with meteorologists predicting rain so heavy that one described it as a "disaster" for the outdoor ceremony. Flavia Merluzzi, an agriculture student, said: “The rain will not stop me from cheering for the Olympics. Sports are everything to me and I will do everything to watch this.”

Details remained secret, including some of the artists participating in the ceremony and who will be the last to carry the torch and light the Olympic cauldron to mark the start of the Olympic Games. But in a hint of what might happen at the party, a Reuters reporter saw pop star Lady Gaga in the heart of Paris singing a classic French song from the 20th century. Amid rumors that famous Canadian singer Celine Dion might also participate in the concert, spectator Chantal Beauvais said it would be "magical" to watch.

This is the first time that the opening ceremony of the Olympics is held outside a stadium.

About 45,000 police and thousands of soldiers were deployed in a huge security operation in Paris to secure the opening ceremony. After the last Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022, war broke out in Ukraine and Gaza, making the Olympics held in a tense atmosphere.

France has imposed its highest security alert, although officials have repeatedly said there is no specific threat to the opening ceremony or competitions. At the same time, officials said, elite protection units escort Israeli athletes to and from competitions and provide them with protection 24 hours a day throughout the Olympic Games.

Dozens of world leaders will attend the opening ceremony, which will be protected by snipers from rooftops, and Paris's airspace will be closed.