Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.
PARIS -- Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution,
As global audiences tuned in, Paris put its best foot forward -- quite literally, with a spectacular launch that lifted spirits and joyous French cancan dancers featured early on. A humorous short film featured soccer icon Zinedine Zidane. Plumes of French blue, white and red smoke followed. And Lady Gaga sang, in French, with dancers shaking pink plumed pompoms, adding a cabaret feel to what is expected to be a more than three-hour show.
Still, as the show got underway, optimism soared that Paris -- true to its motto that speaks of being unsinkable -- might just see its gambles pay off. Usually during Olympic opening ceremonies, the parade of athletes takes place during a pause in the razzmatazz. But Paris shattered that tradition by having the parade and pageantry at the same time, blending sports and artistic expression.Paris had plenty of aces up its sleeve. The Eiffel Tower, its head still visible below the clouds, Notre Dame Cathedral -- restored from the ashes of its 2019 fire -- the Louvre Museum and other iconic monuments will star in the opening ceremony.
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