Paris promised a party this summer and the first night of the 2024 Olympics certainly lived up to the theme in a historic Opening Ceremony.
The rain that fell was unable to dampen the spirits of a city that has waited seven years for this moment – as they sang, danced and laughed like Gene Kelly in a ceremony like no other down six kilometres of the River Seine.
It was fitting that the Team GB flag was carried by two athletes from water sports and Tom Daley and Helen Glover looked right at home as they proudly waved the Union Flag.
Behind them, Sir Andy Murray’s enthusiasm was obvious as he prepares for his last tennis tournament before retirement, while the likes of canoe slalom’s Joe Clarke, trampolinist Bryony Page and the women’s hockey team joined them in waving flags.
Team GB have already begun at Paris 2024 with the archery team competing in the traditional pre-Games ranking round.
And the action comes thick and fast from Saturday, with the likes of Adam Peaty and Max Whitlock in action on day one, plus medal opportunities in the 3m synchronised diving and cycling time trial.
But, for now, the sport can wait. This ceremony was all about unity, inclusivity and fun – lots of fun.
There were 320,000 spectators– all basking in the atmosphere created by a ceremony that featured 2,000 artists.
Zinedine Zidane got the party started in the opening video, making his way around Paris with the Olympic torch, before pop star Lady Gaga emerged from behind pink pom poms to sing French song Mon Truc en Plumes.
With the crowd going wild, the party was in full swing. The delegations came through in batches rather one wave, sandwiched by short interludes that included a French cancan, a spectacular choreography sequence on the Notre-Dame scaffolding and a light-hearted re-enactment of the theft of the Mona Lisa.
Team GB emerged mid-way through the procession – soaking wet but loving every second – as Glover and Daley posed like Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Titanic.
Near, far, wherever you are... 😉#OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/xFbbCCk1y1
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 26, 2024
At the end of the procession were USA and Australia – the hosts of the next two Games in 2028 and 2032 – before France were the last to emerge to a massive cheer.
They joined the other nations at the Trocadero outside the Eiffel Tower against a sensational backdrop of fireworks and a light show. The main moment then arrived – as two French sporting icons lit the Olympic Cauldron.
The joint honour was given to athlete Marie-José Pérec, a three-time Olympic gold medallist in the 200 metres and 400 metres, and judoka Teddy Riner who has five Olympic medals to his name, three of which are gold.
Breaking from tradition, the flame was lit in a cauldron - a ring of flames seven metres in diameter, topped by a 30 metres high and 22 metres in diameter hot-air balloon.
Celine Dion's rendition of Edith Piaf's Hymne à l’amour was a spectacular end to a spectacular night. If the Games are half as good, Paris 2024 will be special.
Sportsbeat 2024