Some 300,000 spectators are expected to attend the historic Olympic opening ceremony in Paris on Friday, which will take place along the River Seine. Expected to unfold under a rainy sky, the ambitious event will see thousands of competitors travel downstream on a procession of boats as pop stars like Céline Dion and Aya Nakamura perform.
Thousands of athletes are set to sail through central Paris on Friday during an unprecedented and high-risk Olympics opening ceremony that will showcase the country's hugely ambitious vision for the Games.
