Quiet, then crescendo at Trocadéropublished at 21:34 British Summer Time 26 July
James FitzGerald
BBC News reporter at the Trocadéro
A more hushed ambience here now as the Olympic flag is carried in - before the steady beat of drums.
Summary
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
Quiet, then crescendo at Trocadéropublished at 21:34 British Summer Time 26 July
Postpublished at 21:33 British Summer Time 26 July
The Olympic flag has just been delivered by the 'masked individual' (DJ) and we've got a choir taking us through a rendition of the Olympic Hymn.
This feels a world away from Euro dance central and flaming pianos.
Postpublished at 21:31 British Summer Time 26 July
Mark Chapman
Presenter on BBC Radio 5 LiveAll the flags formed a guard of honour for the horse and the horsewoman. As the horse goes past the flags then peel in behind to form a train and at the very front is the French flag leading all the other nations towards the final destination.
Watch Lady Gaga's performance at the Paris 2024 opening ceremonypublished at 21:30 British Summer Time 26 July
It it three hours since this opening ceremony began, if you've been with us from the start then you deserve some more Lady Gaga in your life as a treat for sticking by our side through for what felt for a while like an endless stream of boats.
Postpublished at 21:29 British Summer Time 26 July
Sorry DJ, I should have known that!
get involved Get involvedpublished at 21:28 British Summer Time 26 July
#bbcolympics, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
It's not a "masked individual". It's the lead character from Assassins Creed - a video game by French publisher Ubisoft. Get with it.
DJ
Postpublished at 21:28 British Summer Time 26 July
As if by magic the horse has emerged from underneath the Eiffel Tower and is now trotting very elegantly down the road.
Maybe it's actually a unicorn?
It feels like we are soon going to have the identity of the masked individual revealed to the world.
get involved Get involvedpublished at 21:27 British Summer Time 26 July
#bbcolympics, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
Jonathan: It would be amazing if Zidane was the person in the mask.
get involved Get involvedpublished at 21:26 British Summer Time 26 July
#bbcolympics via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
Chris: Assuming it’s a human on that horse thing, they’ve done well hanging on.
Postpublished at 21:25 British Summer Time 26 July
The horse is still 'galloping' down the River Seine but the music feels like its coming to a crescendo (my GCSE music teacher will be proud of that one) so we might have something else on the cards shortly.
'It is beautiful'published at 21:24 British Summer Time 26 July
Alistair Bruce-Ball
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 LiveThat light you're talking about it is glinting off every corner, shining off the metal of the horse.
It is beautiful the way that horse is moving.
Musicians assemblepublished at 21:22 British Summer Time 26 July
James FitzGerald
BBC News reporter at the Trocadéro
Let's hope the dresses and dinner jackets on those singers and orchestra members aren't dry-clean only.
get involved Get involvedpublished at 21:20 British Summer Time 26 July
#bbcolympics, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
Image source, ReutersEight-year-old daughter loving this. Outfits all being rated - Mongolia currently winning closely followed by Spain and Philippines. Ponchos making judging harder!
Imogen
Postpublished at 21:19 British Summer Time 26 July
Mark Chapman
Presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live
Image source, BBC SportThey've kept the majority of the city in darkness so this metal horse and this woman on horseback with the Olympic flag draped across her shoulders is the only thing that is lit on the Seine itself.
Postpublished at 21:17 British Summer Time 26 July
When I trained to be a sports journalist I didn't think I'd be writing sentences like this next one...
Our masked individual who has been around racing around Paris with the Olympic torch for the last few hours is now riding a mechanic horse down the River Seine.
I'm really glad we have images that are being added to these entries because I know you just wouldn't believe half the stuff I'm saying otherwise.
'Moving and thoughtful'published at 21:15 British Summer Time 26 July
Eleanor Oldroyd
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live
Image source, ReutersHowever many times you've heard that song, that felt like a very moving and thoughtful moment.
Postpublished at 21:14 British Summer Time 26 July
Despite it being another very out of the box idea, French singer Juliette Armanet has belted Imagine out incredibly well under the circumstances.
Postpublished at 21:13 British Summer Time 26 July
Introducing your next act...
"How about we set a piano on fire, float it down the River Seine and have someone singing Imagine by John Lennon?"
I wish I was a fly on the wall when the organisers were coming up with plans for this opening ceremony.
'Dancing in the streets'published at 21:09 British Summer Time 26 July
Harry Poole
BBC Sport in ParisWe have dancing in the streets to Freed from Desire, brollies bobbing up and down as endless dance classics are reeled off and, on the screens, breaking - making its Olympic debut in Paris - taking centre stage.
The party has started, and the Parisiens have shown they are very much up for it!
Postpublished at 21:09 British Summer Time 26 July
On to act 10 of 12 - obscurity.
From the high of Euro dance central and some really party classics we head into a more industrial trance/techno feeling.
Not a fan.
Watch & listen
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