The Paris Olympics' opening ceremony got under way after a rough start to the Summer Games, with rainy skies over the Seine and suspected acts of sabotage targeting France's flagship high-speed rail network.
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Here are some of the highlights of the ceremony:
* ZIZOU'S FLAME
French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane kicked off the opening ceremony with the Olympic flame in his hands. In a pre-recorded video, he ran through a Parisian traffic jam before delivering the flame to a group of children on the metro who then made their way through the Catacombs and to a boat, at which point the broadcast switched to a real-time view of the Seine River.
* LADY GAGA DAZZLES
Lady Gaga delivered a dazzling performance as the first musical act during the ceremony - except it was all pre-recorded. The Grammy and Oscar-winning performer kicked off her performance on steps along the Seine singing Zizi Jeanmaire's Mon Truc en Plumes.
* THE HOODED CHARACTER
Is it from Phantom of the Opera or Assassin's Creed? It's actually both and more. The mysterious torchbearer who appeared in a hooded, masked costume was inspired by characters from French culture: Belphegor, the Iron Mask, the titular character from Phantom of the Opera, Fantomas, Ezio from Assassin's Creed and Arsene Lupin. The torchbearer ran atop the Musee d'Orsay, dashed past Pont Neuf, rode a boat with a kid holding the flame and later cartwheeled down a red runway.
* THE WEATHER
Despite the rain, joy and happiness still filled the gloomy skies of Paris, with musical performances, colourful smoke plumes in the air and audiences cheering as each boat floated by the Pont d'Arcole. From every window along the river, groups of people waved to the athletes, who danced and celebrated to the lively music. While each team was kitted out in distinct uniforms, clear ponchos united athletes and crowds across nationalities.
* THE SEMI-NAKED BLUE MAN AND THE HORSEWOMAN
The former would be the French singer and actor Philippe Katerine, singing Nu (Naked). Katerine, 55, became popular in France in the 2000s with his dance beat Louxor, j'adore. Katerine appeared lounging on a rug, painted in powdery blue from head to toe and seemingly clad in a smattering of leaves and flowers. He was channeling Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and festivity, with a song about "the absurdity of violence between human beings".
Sometime after Katerine's performance, a glittering metal horse galloped across the water with an armoured horsewoman astride. The horsewoman, Gendarmerie non-commissioned officer Floriane Issert, was meant to be "the representation of the Olympic spirit and of Sequana". She and her trusty horse - which eventually turned into a real equine - passed under bridges as dove wings unfurled to symbolise a message of peace.
* FRENCH MUSICIANS TAKE GLOBAL STAGE
France's top artists from different musical genres showed off on the global stage. Opera singer Marina Viotti meshed her skills with the death metal style of Gojira. Singer Aya Nakamura strutted down a golden carpet on the Pont des Arts. In a gold feathery outfit, the French Malian performer sang her hit songs Pookie and Djadja alongside the choristers from the French Army and French Republican Guard orchestra members. Parisian rapper Rim'K also made an appearance, while mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel delivered an emotional interpretation of the French national anthem La Marseillaise.
* OLYMPIC LEGENDS UNITE FOR FINAL TORCH RELAY
Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis and Nadia Comaneci rode down the Seine wearing life jackets. Charles Coste, the oldest French Olympic champion at 100, took the Olympic flame from his wheelchair, and passed it to French judo great Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-Jose Perec. Other notable Olympians who played an influential role included Tony Parker, Zidane and Amelie Mauresmo.
* CELINE DION IS BACK
Underneath the Eiffel Tower's Olympic rings, Celine Dion showed she's back to singing form after a career-threatening diagnosis as her vocals soared on Edith Piaf's Hymn to Love. As a pianist played alongside her, Dion reached out to the assembled crowd, who applauded her performance before the monument began to sparkle. It was an impressive showing for Dion, who cancelled her world tour after revealing her stiff person syndrome diagnosis. She returned to the Olympic forefront almost three decades after she performed The Power of the Dream during the opening ceremony at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Australian Associated Press
