French gold-medallists Perec and Riner light Olympic cauldron

French three-time Olympic gold medallists Marie-Jose Perec and Teddy Riner lit the Paris 2024 Olympic cauldron on Friday during the opening ceremony, where it will burn while the Games are underway in the French capital.

Perec, 56, won three gold medals in athletics across two Games. Riner, who is competing in Paris, has secured two individual judo gold medals and one team gold.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared open the Paris Olympics at the end of a spectacular but rain-soaked opening ceremony, held for the first time outside the main stadium.

"I declare open the Games of Paris celebrating the 33rd Olympiad of the modern era," said Macron, launching the Games exactly 100 years after Paris last hosted the Olympics.

The opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris kicked off with frenzy and excitement amid heavy security, following threats of rain and potential sabotage attacks.

A fictional scenario depicting the arrival of the Olympic flame going awry was shown ahead of an extravagant show on the River Seine to kick off the summer Games.

French soccer superstar Zinedine Zidane was shown running across Paris to bring the flame in a pre-recorded video, which included him taking it onto the metro.

Just hours after a sabotage attack on the high-speed TGV rail network, a huge police force was on display in Paris. The attack caused travel chaos across France and highlighted security risks at a time when all eyes are on the country.

The ceremony featured a fleet of barges taking nearly 7,000 athletes on the river past some of Paris' most famous landmarks.

A giant plume of blue, white, and red smoke was sent high above a bridge over the river as the ceremony started.

"We are super excited, it happens once in a lifetime," said 17-year-old Elise Boukorrass.

It had been raining on and off earlier in the evening in Paris, and weather forecasters predicted heavy showers, with one meteorologist even calling it a "disaster" for the open-air ceremony.

"The rain won't stop me from cheering on the Olympics—sport is everything to me, and I'd do whatever it takes to watch this," said Flavia Merluzzi, 20, an architecture student.

Lady Gaga sang a French cabaret song near Notre-Dame Cathedral, and a winged man played accordion.

Amid rumors that Canadian singer Celine Dion could also be part of the show, spectator Chantal Beauvais said it would be "magical" to watch her.

It was the first time an opening ceremony took place outside a stadium.