The opening ceremony of the “Paris 2024” Olympic Games is currently underway (ERT1), opening the curtain on this summer’s premier sporting event.
The ceremony started at 20:30 and is expected to end at 00:15 in the morning, Greek time.
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The Greek delegation marched first with flag bearers Giannis Antetokounmpo and Antigoni Drisbiotis in the ceremony, which will be attended by more than 10,000 athletes, dozens of political figures with global influence and thousands of artists.
WATCH THE CEREMONY LIVE STREAMING FROM ERT1
The live of the opening ceremony
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With the weather not being an ally of the organizers, the opening ceremony began, as it has been raining heavily in Paris since the morning.
The big difference with the opening ceremonies of previous Olympic Games is that this one in Paris is being held outside the stadium for the first time. Specifically, it takes place along a 6 kilometer route in the Seine.
Those who went to the opening ceremony try in every possible way to protect themselves from the rain
From early on, around 300,000 French people took their place on the stands for the ceremony, as did, of course, the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who, accompanied by his wife, arrived in the “City of Light” to attend the opening ceremony of the great organization.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Mareva Grabovski
Nine minutes after the start of the opening ceremony, the “blue and white” boat made its appearance, with the Greek delegation appearing on the Seine first, as is customary.
As is known, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Antigoni Drisbioti were the flag bearers of our country, which will be represented in Paris by 100 athletes.
The boat that carried the Greek expedition
The arrival of the Greek mission as presented on a giant screen
After our mission, the group of refugees followed, which was applauded by the audience.
With the parade of 206 Nations all the lights turned on Lady Gaga, who was one of the heavy cards of the organizers in the entertainment part of the opening ceremony.
The impressive American performer gave her own show, which was accompanied by wind and string instruments, knowing the audience’s awe.
Disruption and inconvenience due to sabotage on high-speed trains
The day of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games was overshadowed by the sabotage of the high-speed trains, which resulted in more than 800 thousand passengers not being able to move in the French capital.
The French railway company SNCF suffered during the night of Thursday to today Friday (25-26/7) a “massive attack of a range capable of causing paralysis” of the TGV high-speed train network, which was “largely disrupted”, it informed to AFP, a few hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
“We are diverting some trains to classic lines, but we will have to cancel a large number” of routes, SNCF added in a statement.
The French railway company clarified that “this situation is expected to last at least throughout the weekend, while repairs are carried out”.
Three high-speed train lines were vandalized overnight in France, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the state railway company, which caused major traffic problems on the day of the official opening of the Paris Olympics.
Of course, the security measures in view of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games are draconian.
“Lobster” Paris, because of the Olympic Games
The 6 km area of the Seine where the boats with the teams will pass for the opening ceremony has already been blocked off.
Metro stations around the area have already been closed and according to the latest update, 45,000 police, 10,000 military and around 20,000 private security men will be on patrol during the Opening Ceremony.
At the same time, there will be helicopter patrols over the Paris sky.
Source: www.zougla.gr
