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
Alistair Bruce-Ball
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live
I want to be in the Marshall Islands boat - the black speedboat. That looked like something out of The Spy Who Loved Me or Moonraker - a James Bond chase.
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport by the River Seine
Image source, BBC SportWherever you are in central Paris, however soaked you are, this is a must-watch event.
The Drench Olympics? Pah.
Virtually every terrace bar in Les Halles - up the road from Notre-Dame - is packed with punters huddling under cover and around television screens.
At the security cordon a few hundred yards from the Seine is a ten-deep audience trying to get a glimpse of the typically-French theatrics.
Incredible commitment. Everybody around here - French, Brazilian, American, Irish, Colombian can be spotted - wants to watch the show.
Image source, BBC SportAlistair Bruce-Ball
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live
This is an incredible mix because this chap is a break-dancer and an opera singer. You can hear him singing beautifully, his voice drifting across the Seine in the Paris evening.
James FitzGerald
BBC News reporter at the Trocadéro
Emmanuel Macron has his eyes fixed to the French flag as it's hoisted here in the Trocadéro.
He and a cohort of others prominent officials - including Olympics chief Thomas Bach - are shielded from the pouring rain by a smallish roof.
Other dignitaries who've taken their seats in the Trocadéro aren't so lucky, as the tell-tale line of ponchos indicates.
We get a glimpse of Madagascan table tennis player Fabio Rakotoarimanana - good luck with that one commentators - and then it's back to the madness of this ceremony.
A breakdancer, or so we were led to believe, becomes a classical singer with a bit of a Baroque theme taking the lead.
There is some incredible talent out there this evening and it's all in the pouring rain.
Mark Chapman
Presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live
I do feel for them because it is miserable on the Seine. It's raining and it's murky but they are all enjoying it.
We're back to focusing on the boats for a while but, as promised, this opening ceremony has really been unlike anything we've seen before.
There are still some people dressed like jesters on BMXs... on the River Seine!
From boats to Lady Gaga this has been something else and we've still got some way to go.
James FitzGerald
BBC News reporter at the Trocadéro
Chancel Gatsoni, a former athlete himself, says he was inspired in his younger years by Allyson Felix and Usain Bolt
For Chancel Gatsoni, it's the sheer "universality" of the Olympics that makes it special. He speaks of the sheer range of people you meet from all around the world.
This is his fourth Games, after Beijing, London and Rio - he's attending from the Republic of Congo as a volunteer.
The opportunity "was a gift for me," says the former taekwondo competitor, recalling how he was inspired by sprinters Allyson Felix and Usain Bolt when he was younger.
Others who I meet at the Trocadéro say it's the opening ceremony specifically that's so special. Kate and Victor have travelled from the US state of Florida for tonight solely.
It's hard to move without someone asking for a picture. A large group of fans from the Philippines ask me to do just that. How many medals do they want their team to win, I ask?
"All of them," they tell me.
Eleanor Oldroyd
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live
An unbelievable setting on the roof of the Grand Palais, which is where the fencing will be held.
One of the great exhibition centres of Paris.
Next up is act seven - sportsmanship.
We're told it's focusing on the modern sports involved in the Games.
There are people breakdancing with other skipping and some on BMXs.
Jess Anderson
BBC Sport in Paris
Image source, Getty ImagesA rousing edition of La Marseillaise is followed by huge cheers on the river banks.
It is a cracker to be fair.
Alistair Bruce-Ball
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live
The Mona Lisa is carefully being carried across the floor. The two minions are making sure the arrows miss her and they've managed to do that.
We are moving into act six of 11 - sisterhood.
The French national anthem is sung for those already at the Trocadero where French president Emmanuel Macron is alongside other dignitaries.
It is top tier as far as national anthems go.
Image source, BBC SportWe're being treated to some Minions chaos.
If we're being honest I just had to check what film they were in...
Any Despicable Me fans out there?
Harry Poole
BBC Sport in Paris
It is absolutely hammering it down here in Paris.
While many have chosen to make an early exit in search of shelter, the vast majority are staying put to celebrate with the athletes, who likewise are doing their best to enjoy this moment.
Myself and Jess are drenched, but what’s a bit of rain when you’ve got an Olympic opening ceremony to enjoy?
Tom Brown
BBC Sport on the Team GB boat
Image source, BBC SportThe heavens have opened and Team GB have come alive.
Despite the rain, there’s an amazing atmosphere on the boat as we sail past Notre Dame and the Louvre.
And the cheering is coming right back at them from the thousands lining the river and bridges.
So, we have 205 teams making their way down the River Seine and we are just approaching the 100 mark.
We saw Greece get things going - that comes down their role as the originators of the Games - and then it was Team Refugee.
From that point, we have seen teams coming out in alphabetical order but determined by the French spelling of their country names.
The host country traditionally walks last in the Parade of Nations, so France is the last nation we will see.
Future host countries also traditionally go at the end, just before the host country. That's why the United States, which is hosting the 2028 Olympics, is going second-to-last in the parade this year.
If you missed it earlier, Lady Gaga emerged from behind a pink feathery wall to get the show up and running on the banks of the River Seine.
You can see how that performance unfolded here.
Image source, ReutersIreland are represented by their biggest team ever at Paris 2024.
Golfer Shane Lowry is one of their flagbearers and will be targeting a medal.
They've just passed by on their boat.
Alistair Bruce-Ball
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live
Tom Daley's hair is plastered to his forehead. It's pouring with rain out there.
They've got the ponchos on. The kit people have certainly done their job there.