BBC Radio 5 Live

This morning on BBC 5 Live, Nicky Campbell was asking callers, listeners and guests: What does the Olympics mean to you?

Among those guests were some of the great and good of British sport - here's what they had to say...

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport in Paris

Police presence around the key areas involved in the opening ceremony has certainly increased today. There is a real security presence around the river with horses, bikes and vans all deployed to the various spots along the Seine.

Image source, BBC Sport

Steve Parry
Olympic bronze medal winning swimmer on BBC Radio 5 live

There is a tension.

I've been to seven Olympic Games now. I’ve commentated on five and went to two myself.

This is the most security I’ve ever witnessed at a Games.

I don’t think it’s the Games, I think it’s the opening ceremony.

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport in Paris

Having been in the quiet away from the action earlier at the Aquatics Centre, I’ve made my way to the Eiffel Tower - the business end of tonight’s ceremony.

Security is tight and you cannot get any closer than the picture above without certain tickets or accreditation - but that hasn’t stopped hundreds of people coming for the classic photos.

Steve Parry
Olympic bronze medal winning swimmer on BBC Radio 5 live

It's getting exciting here. I was just over the road having a croissant and a coffee, watching all of the people with the all of their different coloured shirts on, representing different countries.

It really is ramping up. It's palpable on the streets of Paris - the feeling.

Before Tokyo, everything Jade Jones touched at an Olympics turned to gold.

She became Olympic champion as a teenager at London 2012, before winning gold again at Rio 2016.

Gold in Tokyo would have ensured she became Wales' greatest female Olympian and the most successful Olympic taekwondo athlete in history, so it was a seismic shock when she lost in the first round of competition to Refugee Team competitor Kimia Alizadeh.

There was another shock just weeks before this Olympic Games, as the UK Anti-Doping Agency ruled Jones was clear to compete in Paris after provisionally suspending her for failing to provide a urine sample in December 2023.

The 31-year-old successfully argued against the ban after presenting confidential medical records which UKAD concluded showed she bore "no fault or negligence".

The women's -57kg category takes place all in one day, as usual, with Jones hoping to reach the final at 20:39 BST on Thursday, 8 August.

Image source, Getty Images

Katie Falkingham
BBC Sport in Paris

Image source, BBC Sport

As far as swimming pools go, this one is in a pretty special place!

As well as hosting the equestrian, Chateau de Versailles will also welcome the modern pentathlon later in the Games.

The build-up to tonight's opening ceremony has been disrupted by a series of fires to hit high-speed rail lines in France. BBC News is covering that story live.

Frank Gardiner, the BBC's security correspondent, has just appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to give the latest analysis.

"Whoever did this planned it very carefully. It’s co-ordinated disruption. It’s not been classed as terrorism. It’s vandalism, or sabotage, as France has put it. Nobody has died. Nobody’s been hurt. But three of France’s four high-speed rail links have been severely disrupted.

"Who could be behind this? It’s unlikely to be Isis or al-Qaeda, because they tend to go for maximum casualties. The prime suspects are extremists activists, whether far left or far right, also those with possible links to the Kremlin.

"President Macron has said previously he had no doubt Russia would try to disrupt the Olympics as punishment for France’s support for Ukraine. It’s major disruption, major embarrassment for the French state."

There are so many big names at Paris 2024, even the stars are starstruck. Here, let US Open tennis champion Coco Gauff explain...

There's plenty of anticipation around the basketball at Paris 2024, with the USA sending a squad packed with NBA superstars.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum had been speaking to BBC Sport before their opener against Serbia in Lille on Sunday (16:15 BST) - and discussing the importance of bringing joy to the fans back home.

'At this moment, nothing can break me'published at 14:15 British Summer Time 26 July 2024

14:15 BST 26 July 2024

American gymnast Simone Biles made worldwide headlines when she withdrew from a number of events at the last Olympics in Tokyo.

Biles had been aiming for six gold medals at the Games, but instead won a silver and bronze, before pulling out of four events to prioritise her mental health.

In the build-up to Paris 2024, she has explained what really happened.

Biles will be part of the US team as they begin qualifying on Sunday.

If you haven't heard of Noah Lyles before now, you certainly will hear plenty over the next two and a bit weeks.

US sprint star Lyles here talks through some of his most outrageous outfit choices of the past few years, and explains why he likes to make a statement both on and off the track.

While TeamGB have great medal aspirations in Paris, in their way across many events stand the behemoth which is the United States Olympic team.

Some of the best known American athletes are competing at the Games - here are some of the biggest names to look out for...

Harry Poole
BBC Sport in Paris

As far as birthdays go, celebrating by the River Seine as the Paris 2024 opening ceremony unfolds right before your eyes isn’t bad at all, is it?

Well, that’s precisely what Nilan has to look forward to this evening on his ninth birthday.

The Bala family, from Manchester, are here to cheer on both Team GB and India in the French capital.

They are among the lucky 300,000 spectators to have tickets for tonight’s show on the Seine - and they can’t wait for it all to get under way.

Nilan, Meena, Suvikaa and Prathap have been exploring today before they head to their seats later this afternoon, and here they are outside one of the many fan parks dotted around the city.

This particular fan park is outside the spectacular city hall building, and a little peek through the fencing suggests there will be lots on offer for fans visiting throughout the Games.

However, with all eyes - and security efforts - focused on the activities on the river today, the fan areas will not be opening their doors until tomorrow.

Paris will be double-gold medallist Helen Glover's fourth Olympics and she is in the medal hunt again after missing out in Tokyo.

You can listen here to her Grassroots to Games story.

Anna Thompson
BBC Sport at the Paris Olympics

I have to walk past this wonderful patisserie-boulangerie every morning on the way to the BBC Sport's offices for the Games and I had resisted the temptation to buy - until today that is.

It's a perfect opportunity to have a little treat to celebrate the official start of the Paris Olympics - or that's what I told myself!

Very much looking forward to eating my tarte later.

Image source, BBC Sport

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI in Paris

A record number of 37 athletes from Northern Ireland are competing in the Olympics, with six representing Team GB and 31 for Team Ireland in what has the potential to be a golden Games.

There are high hopes for the three reigning world champions - Rhys McClenaghan, Hannah Scott and Daniel Wiffen - who will look to become the first gold medallist from Northern Ireland since 1988.

For tonight's ceremony, golfer Shane Lowry, winner of the 2019 Open Championship, and athletics star Sarah Lavin will be Ireland's flag bearers along the River Seine.

The current weather in France's capital today only adds to the feeling that Paris is a home away from home.

How do marathon runners prepare for the demands of a 26-mile race in the midst of a hot summer?

Britain's Phil Sesemann takes us through his preparations - which include the use of a heat chamber.

The marathons take place on the final weekend of the Games - the men go on Saturday, 10 August, and the women on Sunday, 11 August, both from 07:00 BST.

Calum Leslie
BBC Newsbeat presenter in Paris

There will be plenty of pedalling over the next two-and-a-bit weeks in Paris, but Elisabeth will have a different way of travelling.

She has the important job of driving the top bosses of the games around.

"This is an experience for life. I just want to do something for me," the 25-year-old tells Newsbeat.

"People say to me: 'You used your holiday for this?' But I feel like it's such an experience for me. It's so interesting, so I wanted to be a part of it."

Elisabeth is from Copenhagen and applied for the job a year-and-a-half ago. She is using her days off to embrace the culture in and around Paris.

"We have specific lanes that we’re allowed to drive in so we don't get stuck in traffic," she said.

"I feel like when I drive in the car, people like looking at me like: 'Oh, you're like an Olympic Village car.' They won't let you go first."

How do the athletes at Paris 2024 get their power naps in? With sleep pods, that's how. Our reporter Laura Scott tries one out.