Olympic Games return to Paris with spectacular waterborne opening ceremony

After a century-long wait, Paris welcomes back the Olympic Games with a splashy and "Seine-sational" opening ceremony, making itself a truly moveable feast.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open before the waterborne ceremony reached its climax when Teddy Riner and Marie-Jose Perec lit the cauldron with the Olympic flame.

The iconic River Seine glistened with cheers and shouts around 7:30pm when the audacious Paris Olympics opening ceremony, featuring global sports stars parading on a flotilla, was finally brought on stream.

The French capital, dubbed by Ernest Hemingway as "a moveable feast," was in full flow, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the city's previous Olympic Games and the last edition under the presidency of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics.

"One hundred years on, the Games are back in our country. And for us, it's a historic opportunity to reinterpret the great hallmarks of the Games to show the world the best of France: its boldness, creativity, avant-garde spirit, and openness," said Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet.

For the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony took place outside the host city's main athletics stadium. From the Austerlitz Bridge to the Trocadero, around 6,800 athletes, assembled behind their flagbearers, cruised down a 6km stretch of the Seine on 85 boats.

Despite rainy conditions, the parade allowed athletes to bask in the beauty of Paris' most famed monuments, including the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, the Grand Palais and the Eiffel Tower, with some hosting the opening ceremony's musical performances.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the Seine's banks to catch a glimpse of the athletes and revel in the festive atmosphere, while many more in Paris immersed themselves in the gala on 71 giant screens, embodying the slogan "Games wide open."

A number of Parisian landmarks have been transformed into venues for an unprecedented fusion of sports and heritage, welcoming people from all over the world to an open-air sports arena during the fortnight of competition.

The Paris Olympics are set to host over 10,000 athletes from around the globe competing in 329 events across 32 sports, with the notable addition of breakdancing - known as breaking at Paris 2024.

As well as the 100th anniversary of Paris last staging the Olympic Games, this year also marks the 40th anniversary of China's breakthrough Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France.

China has sent a big team of 405 athletes to Paris. While its prowess in sports like athletics and team ball sports will face stern tests, the country is expected to shine in its traditionally strong events such as table tennis, badminton and diving.

Young Chinese athletes are also seeking to capture global attention, with medals in emerging Olympic sports such as breakdancing, sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing.

Beyond the competitions, cultural exchanges between China and the world are also highlighted at the Paris Olympics. The newly-opened China House, operated by the Chinese Olympic Committee, serves as a platform to promote Chinese culture and enhance international exchanges, functioning as a reception hall for sports diplomacy.

"It is both a platform to showcase the rich tradition of Chinese sporting culture and a bridge for fostering international friendship and promoting cultural exchange," said Yu Jianyong, deputy secretary general of the Chinese Olympic Committee.

Featuring interactive installations and various cultural activities including Chinese tea ceremonies, calligraphy and traditional music performances, the facility allows visitors to appreciate Chinese culture.

"It will interact with various sectors of French society and organize activities for Chinese and French athletes to further advance Sino-French friendship," Yu said.

Apart from its elite athletes, China's presence is also palpable away