Celebrities and world leaders watched on as the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games got under way.

A global audience of over one billion people is expected to watch the opening ceremony, which has seen the whole of central Paris turned into an open-air theatre.

Earlier, arson attacks on France's high-speed rail network early on Friday paralysed train travel to Paris for around 800,000 people across Europe, according to the CEO of national railway company SNCF.

Paris Olympics 2024 latest: Lady Gaga and Zinedine Zidane among stars at opening ceremony

Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Athletes of Great Britain are seen aboard a boat in the floating parade on the river Seine during the opening ceremony. Pool via REUTERS/Nir Elias
Image: Team GB athletes aboard a boat in the floating parade on the River Seine. Pic: Reuters
Flagbearers Thomas Daley and Helen Glover. Pic: Reuters
Image: British flagbearers Tom Daley and Helen Glover. Pic: Reuters
Image: British tennis players Andy Murray and Jack Draper wave flags on the team boat. Pic: Reuters
Lady Gaga performs in Paris, France, ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Pic:AP
Image: Lady Gaga performs at the opening ceremony. Pic: Reuters
The Eiffel Tower is decorated with the Olympic Five Rings during the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Pic: The Yomiuri Shimbun/AP
Image: The Eiffel Tower decorated with the Olympic rings. Pic: The Yomiuri Shimbun/AP
Smoke resembling the flag of France. Pic:PA
Image: Smoke resembling the flag of France. Pic:PA
This aerial photo shows the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony. Pic AP
Image: An aerial view of the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony. Pic: AP
Tthe Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral on the Ile de la Cite, right, as boats carrying Olympic athletes float along the Seine in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony. Pic AP
Image: The Notre-Dame during the opening ceremony. Pic AP
Smoke billows near windows as performers participate during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Pic: AP
Image: Smoke billows during a performance at the opening ceremony. Pic: AP
Spectators shelter from the rain at the Trocadero during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Pic: PA
Image: Spectators shelter from the rain at the Trocadero. Pic: PA
The France Olympic team during the opening ceremony. Pic PA
Image: The France Olympic team during the opening ceremony. Pic: PA
Athletes from North Korea. Pic: Reuters
Image: Athletes from North Korea. Pic: Reuters
A water display is seen on a floating platform along the River Seine. Pic: AP
Image: A water display on a floating platform along the River Seine. Pic: AP
Aircraft of the Patrouille de France are seen flying over Paris during the opening ceremony. Pic Reuters
Image: Aircraft of the Patrouille de France flying over Paris. Pic: Reuters
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo arrive at the Trocadero ahead of the opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Pic: PA
Image: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande arrive at the Trocadero ahead of the opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Pic: PA
John Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen arrives at the Trocadero ahead of the opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Pic: PA
Image: John Legend with his wife Chrissy Teigen and their children. Pic: PA
Serena Williams arriving at the Trocadero ahead of the opening ceremony. Pic: PA
Image: Serena Williams. Pic: PA
Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington arrive at the Trocadero ahead of the opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Pic PA
Image: Rebecca Adlington and Chris Hoy. Pic: PA
Pharrell Williams arrives at the Trocadero ahead of the opening ceremony. Pic: PA
Image: Pharrell Williams arrives at the Trocadero ahead of the opening ceremony. Pic: PA
Image: Prime Minister Keir Starmer shelters from the rain. Pic: Reuters

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