French judoka Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-José Pérec, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, light Olympic flame
Celine Dion then performs partway up the Eiffel Tower
Lady Gaga, Zinedine Zidane and the Minions among those involved in breathtaking performance
Diver Tom Daley and rower Helen Glover Great Britain's flagbearers
Watch: Rapper Snoop Dogg carries Olympic torch through Paris
The opening ceremony tonight expected to last just under four hours, with the final stages taking place as the sun sets across the French capital.
Thankfully, the Paris weather forecast for Friday evening is good - so these early showers will hopefully not last.
Anna Thompson
BBC Sport in Paris
The weather isn't playing ball in Paris this morning.
It's a very damp start to the day and the forecast suggests there will be rain showers during tonight's opening ceremony.
Thomas Jolly, the opening ceremony artistic director, said he wanted "the beauty of the sun to bathe Paris at the ceremony".
Not sure he's going to get his wish but the ceremony is set to be unique and spectacular whatever the weather.
Image source, BBC SportA rather damp looking Paris ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony
The opening ceremony to signal the official start of the Paris 2024 Olympics will be held on Friday, 26 July - tonight!
But the sporting action actually began two days ago with pool matches in football, rugby sevens, handball and archery.
The ambitious opening ceremony will take place along the River Seine instead of in a stadium.
The first medals will be awarded tomorrow and competition will conclude on 11 August, with the closing ceremony later that evening.
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What are your favourite moments from Olympic opening ceremonies? Perhaps you remember the Olympic torch being lit by an archer in 1992, or Muhammed Ali doing the honours in 1996. Was it the fireworks of 2008, or Mr Bean and the skydiving queen in 2012?
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Three years since the last Olympics. Eight years since the last Olympics with fans. 12 years since the last Olympics on European time.
These Games have been a long time coming - but at long last, Paris 2024 is finally here.
This evening, the opening ceremony will take place at 18.30 BST. Before that, let's build some anticipation. Who has Olympics fever? I know I do...