The Olympic Rings illuminate on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CAMERON SPENCER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Olympics |
PHOTOS: Paris Olympics opening ceremony

The Games began with a sprawling opening ceremony on the River Seine.

By Associated Press | ap@dfmdev.com

UPDATED: July 26, 2024 at 5:55 p.m.

PARIS (AP) — Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.

Here are photos of the opening ceremony performances and scenes:

The Olympic torch travels by boat as ceremonial smoke in the colors of the France flag appear over the Seine River Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

People wave from balconies in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, Pool)

This aerial photo shows the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (Lionel Bonaventure/Pool Photo via AP)

Lady Gaga performs in Paris, France, ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) — Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel
Lady Gaga performs in Paris, France, ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Lady Gaga performs in Paris, France, ahead the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) — Joe Cavaretta / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Lady Gaga performs in Paris, France, ahead the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Performers walk past a family on their balcony in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) — simonkr/E+ via Getty Images
Performers walk past a family on their balcony in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Cook Islands' Alex Beddoes and Lanihei Connolly wave their flag from a boat in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, Pool) — Cook Islands’ Alex Beddoes and Lanihei Connolly wave their flag from a boat in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, Pool)

People in the Montmartre district use umbrellas to protect from the rain in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Team Germany travel down the Seine River past Academie de France in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Lady Gaga performs in Paris, France, ahead the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Actors perform during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Wang Dongzhen/Pool Photo via AP) — ROBERT DUYOS / Sun Sentinel
Actors perform during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Wang Dongzhen/Pool Photo via AP)

A performer sits on a bridge in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) — John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel
A performer sits on a bridge in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Team Greece travel by boat down the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A performer moves across the river Seine on a high wire in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) — Alex Wong / Getty Images
A performer moves across the river Seine on a high wire in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Performers balance on ladders along the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros GiannakourisPool)

Performers dance along the banks of the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros GiannakourisPool) — ROBERT DUYOS / Sun Sentinel
Performers dance along the banks of the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros GiannakourisPool)

Smoke billows near windows as performers participate during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, Pool) — Michael Reaves/Getty
Smoke billows near windows as performers participate during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, Pool)

Planes perform over the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) — Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel
Planes perform over the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Athletes of Greece aboard a boat as it makes its way along the Seine in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (Ann Wang/Pool Photo via AP)

Saudi Arabia athletes walk across a bridge near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

A tight rope walker performs in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) — TIM SHARP / AP
A tight rope walker performs in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A torchbearer carries the Olympic flame over a building along the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, Pool)

A tight rope walker performs in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) — John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel
A tight rope walker performs in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A torch bearer runs atop the Musee d'Orsay, in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (Peter Cziborra/Pool Photo via AP) — Michael Laughlin/Sun Sentinel
A torch bearer runs atop the Musee d’Orsay, in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (Peter Cziborra/Pool Photo via AP)

Acrobats perform during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (Maddie Meyer/Pool Photo via AP) — Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel
Acrobats perform during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (Maddie Meyer/Pool Photo via AP)

Teddy Riner and Marie-Jose Perec watch as the cauldron rises in a balloon in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Celine Dion performs on the Eiffel Tower at the conclusion of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The cauldron, with the Olympic flame lit, lifts off while attached to a balloon, during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024, as the Louvre Museum is seen next to it. (Photo by JUNG Yeon-je / AFP) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images) — The cauldron, with the Olympic flame lit, lifts off while attached to a balloon, during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024, as the Louvre Museum is seen next to it. (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)

Athletes from Team United States of America are seen on a boat on the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Torchbearer former French cyclist Charles Coste (C) gives the Olympic flame to French former sprinter Marie-Jose Perec (L) and French judoka Teddy Riner (2L) during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024, at the Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries garden). (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP) (Photo by MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images) — Torchbearer former French cyclist Charles Coste (C) gives the Olympic flame to French former sprinter Marie-Jose Perec (L) and French judoka Teddy Riner (2L) during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024, at the Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries garden). (Photo by MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Originally Published: July 26, 2024 at 3:10 p.m.