Only in Paris: Olympics set for a one-of-its-kind Opening Ceremony
The Paris 2024 Olympics officially starts early on Saturday morning NZ time. But the Opening Ceremony will, as Europe Correspondent Mei Heron reports from the French capital, look very different to what we've come to expect from these set-piece events.
This one-of-a-kind ceremony won't have a traditional march into a stadium.
Instead, about 10,500 athletes from more than 200 countries will parade on 94 boats on the Seine, the river that runs through the heart of Paris.
Europe Correspondent Mei Heron reports on how the games have come together. (Source: 1News)
They'll travel 6km at sunset in a procession that will last three hours, 45 minutes and is expected to be watched by 1.5 billion people worldwide on TV and across social media.
Organisers say there won't be a single riverbank or bridge that won't be filled with music or performance — 3000 dancers will be involved as well as pop stars, tightrope walkers, and acrobats.
NZ flag bearer Jo Aleh on the Champs Elysees in Paris. (Source: 1News)
There will also be 80 giant screens along the route showing pictures of the athletes and artists.
An estimated 300,000 spectators will be watching along the banks of the Seine, and hundreds more expected to watch from their apartments and homes along the route.
The open-air nature of the event means the security operation is on an unprecedented scale. It is the largest peacetime deployment of security forces in French history.
A total of 75,000 police, soldiers and hired guards will be on patrol — that's more than four times the New Zealand police force. Of those, 1750 officers will be from dozens of countries including the UK, Germany, South Korea and Qatar.
Armed police have taken up position at the Sacre Coeur and other tourist sites across the French capital. (Source: Associated Press)
Dozens of roads will be closed and 44,000 barriers have been erected with an elaborate QR code system set up for residents.
France will even impose a no-fly zone for six hours with a range of 150km during the ceremony, grounding or diverting all aviation at Charles de Gaulle, one of Europe's busiest airports.
All this to light one cauldron, which will kick off France's third Olympic games, taking place across 16 days.
The Olympics by numbers
32 sports
329 medal events
16 days of competition
10,500 athletes
320,000 ticket-holders
9 billion euros estimated cost
* Follow coverage of the Opening Ceremony and all the action from Paris on 1News.co.nz and 1News at 6pm throughout the Games.
- Additional reporting by AP
