The 2024 Paris Olympic opening ceremony kicked off at 7:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. ET) on Friday after suspected acts of sabotage targeting France’s flagship high-speed rail network.
![Canadian singer Celine Dion performs on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Xu Chang-Pool/Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F27%2Fid5694613-Paris-Olympics-GettyImages-2162986166-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Canadian singer Celine Dion performs on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Xu Chang-Pool/Getty Images)
![Singer Celine Dion performs on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Screengrab by IOC via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F27%2Fid5694577-GettyImages-2162966980-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Singer Celine Dion performs on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Screengrab by IOC via Getty Images)
![The Olympic Flame rises on a balloon after being lit in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, on July 26, 2024. (Francisco Seco/AP Photo)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F27%2Fid5694617-Paris-Olympics-AP24208791612279-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The Olympic Flame rises on a balloon after being lit in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, on July 26, 2024. (Francisco Seco/AP Photo)
![A balloon carrying the lit Olympic cauldron lifts off with the Eiffel Tower in the background during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Xia Yifang - Pool/Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F27%2Fid5694611-Paris-Olympics-GettyImages-2162985770-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
A balloon carrying the lit Olympic cauldron lifts off with the Eiffel Tower in the background during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Xia Yifang - Pool/Getty Images)
![The Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Xia Yifang-Pool/Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F27%2Fid5694610-Paris-Olympics-GettyImages-2162986151-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Xia Yifang-Pool/Getty Images)
![Torchbearers Teddy Riner (R) and Marie-Jose Perec light up the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Xia Yifang-Pool/Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F27%2Fid5694609-Paris-Olympics-GettyImages-2162986145-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Torchbearers Teddy Riner (R) and Marie-Jose Perec light up the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Xia Yifang-Pool/Getty Images)
![Lights illuminate the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (Loic Venance/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694487-GettyImages-2162952221-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Lights illuminate the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (Loic Venance/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
![Torchbearer Zinedine Zidane passes the Olympic torch to Rafael Nadal of Spain during the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Stephanie Lecocq /Pool/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694471-GettyImages-2162952084-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Torchbearer Zinedine Zidane passes the Olympic torch to Rafael Nadal of Spain during the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Stephanie Lecocq /Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
![Former French football player Zinedine Zidane holds the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Xu Chang-Pool/Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F27%2Fid5694612-Paris-Olympics-GettyImages-2162985809-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Former French football player Zinedine Zidane holds the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Xu Chang-Pool/Getty Images)
![French army officials stand at attention after raising the French flag during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (Loic Venance/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694462-GettyImages-2162925278-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
French army officials stand at attention after raising the French flag during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (Loic Venance/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
![The Trocadero venue while the delegations arrive, during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (François-Xavier Marit/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694445-GettyImages-2162939450-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The Trocadero venue while the delegations arrive, during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (François-Xavier Marit/AFP via Getty Images)
![Lebron James, flagbearer of Team United States, holds the U.S. flag on a boat with team mates along the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (Steph Chambers/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694440-GettyImages-2162939270-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Lebron James, flagbearer of Team United States, holds the U.S. flag on a boat with team mates along the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (Steph Chambers/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
![Spectators watch a light and water show from the banks of the river Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (John Macdougall/Pool/AFP)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694439-GettyImages-2162939522-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Spectators watch a light and water show from the banks of the river Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on July 26, 2024. (John Macdougall/Pool/AFP)
![Athletes of Team United States wave flags on the athletes' parade team boat along the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694418-Paris-Olympics-GettyImages-2163831159-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Athletes of Team United States wave flags on the athletes' parade team boat along the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
![Florent Manaudou and Melina Robert-Michon, Flagbearers of Team France, wave their flag on a boat with team mates along the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694417-Paris-Olympics-GettyImages-2163831189-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Florent Manaudou and Melina Robert-Michon, Flagbearers of Team France, wave their flag on a boat with team mates along the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
![An aerial view of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral as delegations boats navigates on the Seine past the Ile de la Cite Island (front R), Saint-Louis Island (rear R) and Centre Pompidou museum (L) during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Lionel Bonaventure/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694394-GettyImages-2162917293-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
An aerial view of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral as delegations boats navigates on the Seine past the Ile de la Cite Island (front R), Saint-Louis Island (rear R) and Centre Pompidou museum (L) during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Lionel Bonaventure/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
![Team Greece on the boat during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on the Seine river in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Jasper Belga Mag/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694411-GettyImages-2162921757-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Team Greece on the boat during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on the Seine river in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. (Jasper Belga Mag/AFP via Getty Images)
![Athletes from the Refugee Olympic Team's delegation sail in a boat along the river Seine, past the Pont des Arts footbridge and the Institut de France during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694315-GettyImages-2162913519-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Athletes from the Refugee Olympic Team's delegation sail in a boat along the river Seine, past the Pont des Arts footbridge and the Institut de France during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)
![Spectators on a bridge over the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Paris on July 26, 2024. (Zhang Yuwei-Pool/Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694314-GettyImages-2162911826-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Spectators on a bridge over the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Paris on July 26, 2024. (Zhang Yuwei-Pool/Getty Images)
![The delegations from Cameroon, Canada, the Central African Republic, Chile, and China sail on a boat during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694313-GettyImages-2162913370-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The delegations from Cameroon, Canada, the Central African Republic, Chile, and China sail on a boat during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images)
![French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and his wife, Brigitte Macron (L), stand at Elysee presidential palace court before a reception given for heads of state and governments ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Valentine Chapuis/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694311-GettyImages-2162913654-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and his wife, Brigitte Macron (L), stand at Elysee presidential palace court before a reception given for heads of state and governments ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Valentine Chapuis/AFP via Getty Images)
![Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (C) and Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) attend the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694310-GettyImages-2162913634-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (C) and Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) attend the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
![French ski championEdgar Grospiron and Nathalie Grospiron attend the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694309-GettyImages-2163817705-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
French ski championEdgar Grospiron and Nathalie Grospiron attend the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
![British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo (center L) and US singer Ariana Grande (center R) arrive ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fid5694316-GettyImages-2162901839-1080x720.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo (center L) and US singer Ariana Grande (center R) arrive ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)