07/26/24 05:46:00
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07/26 17:44 CDT AP PHOTOS: Paris glitters in the rain for ambitious Olympic
opening ceremony
AP PHOTOS: Paris glitters in the rain for ambitious Olympic opening ceremony
Paris has kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century with a rain-soaked,
rule-breaking opening ceremony.
Widespread travel disruptions triggered by what French officials said were
coordinated arson attacks on high-speed rail lines and rains in Paris had
dampened the mood ahead of the ceremony's start on Friday evening.
But as global audiences tuned in, the show's spectacular launch immediately
lifted spirits. Crowds crammed along the River Seine and watching from
balconies "oohed" and "aahed" as Olympic teams began parading in boats along
the waterway.
In a most grand finale, a hot-air balloon brought an Olympic ring of fire into
a rainy sky and singer Celine Dion belted from the Eiffel Tower as Paris kicked
off its first Summer Olympics in a century.
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