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Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony LIVE: Tom Daley and Helen Glover to fly flag for Team GB as French capital gears up for huge celebrations after travel chaos threatens to overshadow start of summer Games

1 month ago 9

By Ed Carruthers and Emily Cooper

Published: 16:30 BST, 26 July 2024 | Updated: 17:57 BST, 26 July 2024

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Leak in the VIP tent

By Emily Cooper

It looks as though a worker is attempting to fix a leak in the roof of the VIP tent.

One seat directly below the leak is reserved for Thomas Bach - President of the International Olympic Committee.

Let's hope he doesn't mind a soggy bottom!

 Mike Egerton/PA WireRESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

 International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach arrives to attend the reception for heads of state and governments ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Ariana Grande arrives in the rain

By Emily Cooper

A string of famous faces have started to arrive for the opening ceremony including popstar Ariana Grande.

Dressed in a baby pink dress with delicate white gloves, Grande is clealry pointing to her role as Glinda in the upcoming Wicked movie - based on the musical of the same name.

Her co-star Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, is also in attendance wearing an emerald green gown and matching boater hat.

Entertainer Ariana Grande arrives in Paris, France, before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

 Christophe Petit Tesson/Pool//PA WireRESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

The Olympic ceremony route!

By Ed Carruthers

Tonight's ceremony is set to last approximately three-and-a-half hours and will work in two stages.

First is the flotilla, which will see athletes and Olympic delegates traverse down the River Seine for 6km.

They'll board their boats and embark from the Austerlitz Bridge, which is located beside the Jardin des Planets.

The flotilla will then set sail and travel west along the iconic river passing by some of the French capital's world-renowned landmarks.

They'll pass by the two islands in the centre of the river, the Ile Saint Louis and the Ile de la Cite - home to the Notre Dame Cathedral - before travelling up the river past some of the official Games venues including the Place de la Concorde, the Esplanade des Invalides and the Grand Palais.

The floating parade will end in front of the Eifel Tower and stop at the Palais du Trocadero before the ceremony's grand finale.

Several ceremonial procedures will take place at the palace, with French President Emmanuel Macron set to deliver the opening remarks.

But there's been plenty of security activity on the River Seine already today...

French police patrol on boats on the Seine river prior to the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (Thomas Samson/Pool Photo via AP)

Members of the Raid (French police intervention unit) patrol on boats on the Seine river prior to the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP) (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

The Olympic torch is nearly here!

By Ed Carruthers

The Olympic torch began its journey to Paris on April 16 and is close to wrapping up it's epic journey to the French capital.

Along the way, a whopping 11,000 torch bearers have carried the Olympic flame, including none other than American rapper Snoop Dog!

French airport evacuated due to bomb scare

By Ed Carruthers

Amid the travel chaos that swept across the country earlier this morning, an airport located on the Swiss-French border was evacuated earlier today, following a bomb scare.

Basel-Mulhouse airport terminals were evacuated before being reopened, with flight operations ‘gradually restarting’.

'For safety reasons, the terminal had to be evacuated and is currently closed,' the Basel-Mulhouse EuroAirport said on its website.

Some Parisians have now shared their embarrassment following what's been a chaotic Olympics opening day.

Hermance Bonjasson, 42, who spoke to MailOnline as she waited for a replacement train to take her to the Vendee on the Atlantic coast, said: 'I'm embarrassed that the world see us like this. This should be a very proud day for France, not a day for sadness and annoyance.'

France’s rail network comes to a halt after ‘massive arson attack'

By Ed Carruthers

A chaotic morning has unfolded here in Paris after a ‘massive arson attack’ on Frances’ rail network last night.

Fires were started at key installations bringing trains to a halt with around 800,000 passengers affected by the disruption.

The Gare du Nord - the main Eurostar station in Paris where some Team GB athletes arrived last week - was hit by the attacks on the rail network according to a spokesperson for SNCF - France’s rail operator.

Services have been cancelled or delayed causing havoc among those looking to get to tonight’s opening ceremony - with 300,000 spectators expected as well as members of the public.

It comes after a 40-year-old man was charged with working ‘with a foreign power to try and incite hostilities in France earlier this week.

Transport minister Patrice Vergriete said that there had been a series of ‘coordinated malicious acts’ on Friday morning in the run up to the opening ceremony.

The brollys are out...

By Ed Carruthers

Fans are slowly arriving at the banks of the River Sein ahead of the ceremony and many have taken note of the adverse weather warnings and have come dressed appropriately with ponchos!

I've spotted plenty of brollys popping up around the riverside, but let's hope the rain holds off!

Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators hold umbrellas in the rain in front of the Eiffel Tower ahead of the Opening Ceremony REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

This photograph shows a view of the Louvre Pyramid designed by Chinese-US architect Ieoh Ming Pei and a wing of the Louvre museum with tourists reflected in a puddle after the rain in Paris on July 9, 2024. (Photo by JOEL SAGET / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION - TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION (Photo by JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images)

Spectators in rain gear sit ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP) (Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)

 Rain drops reflect the Eiffel Tower at the beach volleyball venue Champ de Mars ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 23, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Is Macron's audacious Olympic ceremony set to be a damp squib?

By Ed Carruthers

It's been a bit of a chaotic morning in Paris.

While this is set to be one of the biggest events in Olympic history - and notably the first opening ceremony to be held outside of a stadium - travel chaos earlier today has threatened to cause several hiccups to the curtain raiser.

Meanwhile, showers and an ominous forecast are threatening to cast a dampener on tonight's parade, with France's meteorological office having just issued a flood warning.

Breaking:Flood warning issued to france

By Ed Carruthers

We start off with a breaking bit of news this afternoon that could spell 'disaster' for the opening ceremony.

The French meteorological office, Meteo-France, is predicting 'flooding rains' on Friday evening, just as the opening ceremony is set to commence along the River Seine. The show is still set to go on as planned.

According to L'Equpe, the office issued a yellow alert and that flooding could take place from 8pm tonight.

Grey skies have been seen over Paris today, with light intermittent drizzle falling - but temperatures are expected to stay warm throughout the evening.

Approximately 25mm of rain is expected to fall between 6pm and midnight, which could spell a washout for Emmanuel Macron's ambitious opening ceremony.

'It’s going to be a disaster for these few hours,' Marliere, the head of independent weather forecaster Agate Meteo, said on RMC radio.

'I’ve been running models for two hours, going full circle, comparing all weather models, but unfortunately, everything is confirming this trend for the start and the end of this evening. We won’t be able to avoid it.'

A world first!

By Ed Carruthers

The magnitude, logistics and sheer size of this event is truly extraordinary.

This will be the largest Olympic opening ceremony in the history of the games, with Olympic chiefs hoping to honour the City of Light through tonight's ceremony.

It's also set to be one busy evening too!

As I mentioned above, this will be the first time an opening ceremony at the games will take place outside a closed stadium with 160 boats set to make their way along the River Seine and stop outside the Palais du Trocadero.

Each national delegation will send their athletes in the boats along the river, with approximately 94 of the boats set to transport competitors along the 6km stretch of the Seine.

The remainder of the boats are set to host Olympic delegates and those who have paid for the privilege of sailing with the Olympians.

We'll also be able to get a good glimpse of all the competitors on the flotilla, with each boat set to be fitted with television cameras, too!

 Photo by JOEL MARKLUND/BILDBYRÅN/Shutterstock (14603991d) General view of Eiffel Tower Stadium and the Eiffel Tower when David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig of Sweden take part in a beach volleyball familiarisation session during day -1 of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 25, 2024 in Paris. Paris 2024 Olympics, day -1, Beach Volleyball, Sweden, Familiarisation, France - 25 Jul 2024 13675391

Security patrol the Seine River in Paris, France, ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Paris 2024 Olympics - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Police boats patrol the Seine river in Paris, France, ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. Ricardo Mazalan/Pool via REUTERS

Good afternoon and welcome!

By Ed Carruthers

Well, it's finally here! The Olympic flame has arrived in Paris and we're ready for a fortnight of sporting action!

While the Olympic Games are set to officially commence tonight following this evening's opening ceremony, a host of events have already begun, including football, rugby sevens, archery and handball.

A total of 10,500 athletes from 206 countries around the world are due to attend tonight's unique opening ceremony, which will take place on the River Seine.

This will be a first for the Olympics, with tonight's curtain raiser being the first time an opening ceremony has been held outside of a stadium.

The event is due to commence at 6.30pm BST (7.30pm local time), but we'll have all the latest updates, commentary and key talking points live here on Mail Sport.

FILE - The Olympic rings are set up at Trocadero plaza that overlooks the Eiffel Tower, a day after the official announcement that the 2024 Summer Olympic Games will be in the French capital, in Paris, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. After getting off to a rocky start last year, organizers of the Summer Games said Paris 2024 has broken the record for the most number of tickets sold or allocated in the event's history. And yet, tickets are still available. (AP Photo//Michel Euler, File)

Key Updates

  • Ariana Grande arrives in the rain

  • The Olympic ceremony route!

  • French airport evacuated due to bomb scare

  • France’s rail network comes to a halt after ‘massive arson attack'

  • Flood warning issued to france

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