Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Highlights: France president Emmanuel Macron declares the Games open

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: The lighting of the cauldron, followed by Celine Dion's brilliant performance marks the closure of the ceremony! It has been a pleasure bringing the live updates of the ceremony to you! We will return as the action begins at the Olympics on Day 1 tomorrow.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Legendary singer Celine Dion sings from the Eiffel Tower as the cauldron is lit. She receives a massive cheer from the crowd present at the venue.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: French judoka Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-José Pérec, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, have lit the Olympic Cauldron, which now sails the night sky in Paris.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Former French basketball player and NBA star Tony Parker takes over the torch in front of the Louvre.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Rafael Nadal hands over the torch to former world no.1 French tennis star, Amelie Mauresmo, who sprints her way besides the Seine river, greeting the fans in thousands!

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Carl Lewis, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Nadia Comaneci carry the Olympic torch aboard the boat. A legendary moment, indeed!

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: A brilliant light show at the Eiffel Tower follows Nadal walking off with the Olympic torch, receiving thunderous applause from the crowd.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Now this was worth the wait. Zidane walks through the ramp at Trocadero, where he finds Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal waiting to take over the Olympic torch. The two embrace as Zidane hands over the torch to the Spaniard.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: France's legendary footballer Zinedine Zidane arrives at the Trocadero! He is handed the Olympic torch by the masked figure

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: French president Emmanuel Macron declares the Paris Olympics open!

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Following a charged-up speech from Astanguet, Thomas Bach, the IOC President, welcomes the world to the Paris Olympics. He applauds the Paris 2024 organising committee, commending on the success of achieving gender parity in the edition.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Filippo Grandi, the United Nations high commissioner for refugees, has been a given the Olympic Laurel. This is followed by a speech from three-time Olympic gold medallist, Tony Astanguet, who is the president of Paris 2024.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: The Olympic Flag has been unfurled, which was followed by the orchestra playing the Olympic Anthem. The ceremony now shifts to a small video on the Refugee Olympic Team, and the contributions of UNHCR towards sports.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: We are now heading towards the final act of the Olympic Ceremony, which will be culminated with the lighting of the Olympic flame. The masked figure walks through the Trocadore, carrying the Olympic flag on their hand.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Volunteers, each carrying a participating nation's flag, have now lined up in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower. Meanwhile, the masked man makes a dramatic entrance, slowly arriving on an electricity-powered horse aboard a boat.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Following the end of the floating parade, the artists come together to showcase different dance forms, mesmerising the fans. Following the acts, we will move to the final event of the opening ceremony, when the Olympic flame will be lit.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: A 573-athlete strong French contingent arrives in front of the home crowd. Massive cheers from the crowd as Melina Robert-Michon, athletics (discus), and Florent Manaudou, swimming (London gold medalist in the 50-meter freestyle and three-time Olympic silver medalist) bear the national flag.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: The much-awaited USA contingent has finally arrived at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony! NBA legend LeBron James and tennis sensation Coco Gauff bear the US flag

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Serbia's contingent arrives to significant cheers. No sign of Novak Djokovic, though. He may have skipped the ceremony to prepare for the tennis event, which begins tomorrow at Roland Garros. Singapore, Slovenia athletes also arrive in the floating parade, followed by African nation Somalia

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: One of Neeraj Chopra's biggest competitors at the javelin event, Arshad Nadeem bears the Pakistan flag as their contingent arrives at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Countries continue to arrive at the Seine river, as we slowly move towards the final stages of the ceremony.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: The ceremony transitions to a breathtaking fashion show, celebrating Paris as the ultimate global fashion destination. Known as the fashion capital of the world since the 16th century, Paris continues to set the trends and standards in the industry. Paris Fashion Week is also one of the 'Big Five' alongside Milan, New York, London, and Tokyo.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Athletes from Maldives, Mauritius, and Mauritania have now arrived at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. On one side of the river, artists, clad in whites, enthrall fans with brilliant dance performances complimented by light and water shows running throughout the passage at the Seine.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Japan and Kenya acknowledge the fans at the Seine river. Shigeyuki Nakarai, who makes his Olympic debut in Breaking, bears the flag for Japan. Lesotho, Lebanon, and Libya follow in the floating parade.

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: Statues are now being erected in honour of French women who significantly advanced gender equity. Among these remarkable figures are celebrated playwright Olympe de Gouges, politician Giselle Halimi, journalist Paulette Nardal, botanist Jeanne Barret, renowned writer Christine de Pizan, teacher and feminist activist Louise Michel, director and film producer Alice Guy, and politician Simone Veil. These women have each left an indelible mark on French history. A great way to honour their legacy!

Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony Live Updates: The Minions bring their signature humour to the Paris Olympics, participating in various sports on the current Olympic roster. Their hilarious attempts at playing these sports receive a massive cheer from the crowd.