The Olympic opening ceremony offers the host country a chance to dazzle the world with a uniquely magnificent show.
The commencement of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was exactly that – the organizers abandoned the traditional ceremony format, becoming the first Games to host the opening event across an entire city instead of a stadium.
Thousands of athletes and performers marched along the River Seine on a rainy evening, culminating in the night sky and the Eiffel Tower being illuminated in vibrant technicolor, delivering an extraordinarily ambitious, singular spectacle.
Enjoy some of the most striking photos from the ceremony last night
