Inside Australia's horror start to the Paris Olympics as team is hit by a robbery, transport chaos, a rogue swimming coach and THAT Matildas disaster

Australia's Olympic campaign is already off to a wobbly start and the opening ceremony along the River Seine hasn't even started yet.

The ceremony, starting at 7:30pm local time [3:30am Saturday AEST], features athletes parading along the River Seine in barges for six kilometers, watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators and an estimated three billion viewers globally.

However, the Aussies have already faced a number of setbacks before setting foot on the floats that will travel down a river that has faced controversy for allegedly being polluted with sewage. 

The swimmers are the shining lights in our Olympic squad and are expected to bring home a haul of medals from Paris, but they were given less than royal treatment upon arrival in France.

The Australian swimming team found themselves stuck in a crammed bus that took over 45 minutes to get them to training - with no air-conditioning.

'Bus rides to the pool are jam packed … 45 mins to comp pool,' swimmer Shayna Jack wrote on social media.

'No aircon or windows down.

'But has also gotten lost. Crazy start to the chaos.'

That came after comments made by coach Michael Palfrey that has created a frosty divide inside the Dolphins squad.

Palfrey expressed a desire for a South Korean athlete that he also coaches to defeat the Aussies in the same race, leading for many calling for him to be immediately axed.

Swimming Australia head coach Rohan Taylor indicated that Palfrey would face consequences after the Games but allowed him to stay for the competition. 

And that was just the start for the Aussies. 

The women's water polo side, the Stingers, copped perhaps the worst luck of all with five players contracting COVID and being forced into isolation, putting their entire Olympic campaign in jeopardy.

'There have been five athletes in total who have tested positive,' Australian chef de mission Anna Meares confirmed on Wednesday during a press conference.

'They [affected players] have been wearing their masks, they are isolating from other team members when they are not training, they are not going into the high-volume areas of the allotment like the gym and the performance pantry and more broadly, we have our respiratory illnesses protocol in place.' 

Then there was the Matildas, perhaps unfairly over-hyped heading into the Games, they came back to earth with a thud in the opening clash. 

The Matildas were dealt a savage blow months ago when their captain and best player, Sam Kerr, was ruled out due to a knee injury that has sidelined her since January. 

Optimistic supporters woke up at 3am on Friday to watch the Matildas take on Germany, only to quickly have their medal hopes pulled out from under them in devastating fashion.

The Matildas were outclassed, losing 3-0, which left their Olympic campaign hanging by a thread with furious fans turning on the darlings of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on social media.

The Aussies were also sharply reminded that petty crime is an issue in Paris. 

Two days before the Games, BMX champion Logan Martin faced a setback when thieves targeted his team van in Belgium. 

Martin's wallet, gear, and the team physiotherapists' massage table were stolen. He shared a video showing the smashed window of the van.

And the Australian Opals got terrible news before the opening ceremony as well, robbed of star veteran player Rebecca Allen because of a soft tissue injury.

The 31-year-old injured her hamstring during the practice match against Canada on Tuesday evening.

She was, however, still hopeful of taking some part in Paris, but scans have now confirmed a high-grade hamstring strain.

Despite these issues, slalom canoeist Jessica Fox and hockey star Eddie Ockenden will lead the Australian team as flag-bearers, with about 80 athletes from 17 sports expected to participate in the parade. Other athletes will march through the Olympic village before watching the ceremony as a group.

As the host of Brisbane 2032, Australia will be third last in the parade order, ahead of the United States and France. The parade route will feature dancers on every bridge, with performances by Lady Gaga and Celine Dion expected, including a rendition of Edith Piaf's 'La Vie en Rose.'

The parade will end at the Trocadero, where the Olympic cauldron will be lit, officially declaring the Games open. Despite the early setbacks, Australia's athletes remain hopeful and determined to make their mark in Paris.