The ceremony featured vibrant performances against the backdrop of the Obélisque de Louxor (Luxor Obelisk), capturing the essence of the Paralympic spirit and the historic significance of the location

Adding to the challenges, a sudden and unseasonable downpour drenched the ceremony's participants and audience alike. Performers, athletes, and spectators, clad in plastic ponchos, braved the adverse weather as the show continued unabated

Recent heavy rainfall across the Paris region has caused the Seine to swell significantly, reaching over 500 cubic meters per second at the Paris-Austerlitz flowmeter station. This rate, four to five times the normal summer flow, has sparked concerns among officials responsible for the Games' opening ceremony

More than 3,000 dancers, spanning a spectrum from classical to breakdance, are poised to captivate global audiences with 10 distinct routines during the ceremony. Choreographer Maud Le Pladec, leading the charge, emphasized the complexity of organizing such a large-scale performance

Recent data collected by water charity Surfrider in mid-May revealed E. coli levels surpassing four times the authorized limit, raising alarms about the presence of untreated human waste in the waterway

Originally slated for July 26, the opening ceremony was envisioned as a grand spectacle welcoming up to 600,000 spectators, with most expected to view the extravaganza gratis from the picturesque riverbanks of the Seine