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PARIS (AP) — The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony is underway after a rough start to the summer games, with suspected acts of sabotage targeting France’s flagship high-speed rail network and rainy skies over the Seine river, where athletes are set to parade.
Jill Biden attends opening ceremony, snaps her own photos
U.S. first lady Jill Biden took photos from a viewpoint as the opening ceremony began. Earlier Friday, she met with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, at the Elysee palace. She also visited with some U.S. athletes after she got to Paris on Thursday.
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A moment for South Africa
Caitlin Rooskrantz is the first gymnast to be a flag bearer for South Africa, an honor that comes three years after she became one of the first two women of color to represent her country in that sport.
She said the nomination is “really, really massive” for her, for South African gymnastics and her country.
“It is such a statement about where gymnastics in South Africa is, the big strides we’ve made over the last couple of years and that this is only the beginning,” Rooskrantz said.
Greece’s boat is the first to emerge from beneath the Austerlitz Bridge
As a giant plume of blue, white and red smoke in the colors of the French flag rose over the top of Austerlitz Bridge, it drew a huge roar from the crowd gathered along the riverbanks. Giant jets of water spurted up from the river as the Greek delegation — as always — was the first boat under the bridge and along the 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) route.
Among the 101 Greek athletes: basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo, holding the country’s flag.
Helicopters hovering over opening ceremony route
At least three helicopters were flying near the route of the opening ceremony along the Seine River, going back and forth minutes before the parade was to begin. Some of the stands got filled just moments before the event got underway.
