It looks absolutely incredible. Gorgeous. Stunning. Every superlative.
So proud and excited and happy for all these athletes.
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I don’t normally watch the opening ceremonies, but here we are! The scripted parts the French put together were really fun. Love the metal (Gojira) and opera portion, and the Minions were hilarious. The whole torch bit is seriously weird and fun. (It still hasn’t arrived as I type.) Now it’s a metal horse riding on the Seine.
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Arrival of the Olympic flag!!!
Except that we will be hosting in 2028, so we are 2nd to last.
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Love the parade of boats!
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Yes, they explained the change that the next two countries hosting the Summer Olympics would be second and third from last, so United States and Australia.
Loved the horse down the Seine, then the visual of all the flags falling in behind the real horse as it crossed the bridge.
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Historically, Greece is first in the Parade of Nations and the host country last with everyone in between alphabetically based on the language of the host. Starting with Tokyo, future hosts march right before current host. So today, USA (2028) and Australia (2032) immediately preceded France
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Carl Lewis, Rafael Nadal, Nadia Komaneci, and Serena Williams! No idea where they are going!
My husband is wondering where Michael Phelps is… swimming behind that boat?! 
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Yay!!! Celine sings again!
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I am crying. She was magnificent x
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The cauldron!
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I have been watching off & on. I saw it lit, and I saw it ascend. Did it land? I’m confused.
Still in the air. The whole event was magnificent.
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Is it going to remain there through the Games?
That is my understanding. D and I were absolutely soaked, and around 10:30 we were getting a bit nervous as we needed to Metro back to our hotel and the crowd had thinned substantially after the boats had passed. There were large screens strategically placed so we could see all of the performances. We got back just in time to watch from our hotel room as this giant sphere that had been firmly anchored this morning rose into the sky.
I am curious if some portions of the entertainment were cut from US television. I suspect some aspects wouldn’t play well to some demographics.
It was great. We were in the top row of seats which meant we could stand on our seats and look towards the boats as the came from downriver without blocking anyone’s view. An absolute sea of umbrellas made it very difficult to see the boats once they had passed under the bridge.
Tomorrow is a free day, no Olympic events until Sunday. Feel terrible so many are stranded by the train issues.
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Hot take: I’m not loving these opening ceremonies.
I started it midway live and wasn’t feeling it so thought I’d start from the beginning tonight. I dont care for the athletes in the boats, and I really don’t like the way they keep jumping around and not showing the parade nonstop from beginning to end.
ETA: But a friend told me that one of my sports heroes is part of the torch lighting. I had no idea that I had a French sports hero. But I figured it out. GSG!
I liked some parts of the opening ceremony but honestly didn’t quite get the head decapitated part and the tin figure on the house felt a little hunger games
I actually liked the horse thing, but it went on way too long.
I saw that the live broadcast was ending at 5 my time, but I had to go to the store so I gambled that I would be back before the lighting. I was wrong. I’m looking forward to that. She really liked the cauldron so I hope I do, too.
And you said you don’t take great photos - that is magnificent!
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