With a spectacular opening held on the banks of the Seine on Friday, the 2024 Paris Olympics have started. The Olympics themselves were opened by French President Emmanuel Macron, after the President of the Games Organizing Committee Tony Estanguet, and the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, addressed the gathering.
The opening was held for the first time in the city itself and not at the stadium, so 45,000 police officers and thousands of soldiers were hired to secure the participants and spectators, which according to estimates were around 300,000.
And the large number of spectators could enjoy a fantastic show that could not be spoiled even by the heavy rain that “soaked” both the performers and the athletes in the ceremonial parade that took place on the boats down the river Seine.
