According to organizers, they anticipate that 6,800 out of the total 10,500 athletes will be present before they begin the next 16 days of competition.

The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics commenced on Friday with an ambitious and unprecedented show. Up to 7,000 competitors paraded down the River Seine, passing historic monuments of the French capital. It marked the first time in Olympic history that the ceremony was held outside the main stadium. About 300,000 spectators watched from specially built stands along the river banks, while another 200,000 viewed from balconies and apartments.

During this unique waterborne procession, athletes experienced Paris' splendors, passing through historic landmarks temporarily transformed into arenas for Olympic sports. Organizers anticipated the attendance of 6,800 athletes out of the total 10,500 before they embarked on 16 days of competition.

Speaking on France Inter radio, Tony Estanguet, chief organizer of the Paris Games, acknowledged the preference for good weather for such an outdoor spectacle, though preparations were made to accommodate rain. Despite some spectators facing long waits to reach their seats along the ceremony route, extensive security measures involving up to 45,000 police, gendarmes, and 10,000 soldiers were in place to ensure the safety of the event and its VIP guests, including IOC President Thomas Bach and President Emmanuel Macron.

Estanguet emphasized that Paris aimed to showcase exceptional capabilities to the world and its citizens, highlighting the country's capacity for extraordinary achievements.