Paris is in the final hours of preparation for the most ambitious Olympic opening ceremony in history, set to take place on the river Seine this evening.
The event will feature up to 7,500 competitors sailing down a six-kilometer stretch of the Seine on 85 boats, accompanied by a performance that blends French culture and Olympic values.
The ceremony is expected to be a spectacular display, with 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs and celebrities from around the world.
Although the line-up of performers is a closely guarded secret, rumors suggest that US pop star Lady Gaga and French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura, the most listened-to French-speaking singer globally, might be among those taking the stage.
Security measures for the event are unprecedented. Central Paris has been transformed into a fortress, with metal barriers along both banks of the Seine, and only residents and people with hotel bookings allowed access to the high-security area.
Police snipers will be positioned on every high point along the route, a precautionary measure intensified following an assassination attempt on US presidential candidate Donald Trump on July 13.
