The French capital Paris celebrated its reputation as a cradle of revolution, as its first Summer Olympics in a century kicked off today, Friday, with an opening ceremony that defied the rules, studded with stars and imagination, showcasing the city's resilience as authorities dealt with suspected vandalism targeting France's high-speed rail network.

Widespread travel disruptions caused by what French officials described as coordinated arson attacks on high-speed rail lines and rain in Paris dampened the mood ahead of the ceremony.

But with global crowds watching, Paris put its best foot forward – quite literally, with jubilant French cancan dancers appearing early on. The launch of the spectacular show at 7:30 PM lifted spirits. A comedic short film featuring football icon Zinedine Zidane was shown. This was followed by columns of blue, white, and red smoke, the colors of the French flag. Lady Gaga sang in French, with dancers swaying pink feathered balls, adding a sense of joy to the start of what is expected to be a show lasting over three hours.

Throngs gathered along the Seine River and watched from the balconies as Olympic teams paraded in boats along the waterway.

The stakes were high for France. Dozens of heads of state and government attended the city, and the world was watching how Paris would transform into a giant outdoor stage.

The Paris ceremony stretched along the Seine, with the city's famous landmarks turning into stages for dancers, singers, and other performers.

The sprawling ceremony gave organizers larger crowds to transport, organize, and protect than would have been the case had they followed the example of previous Olympic host cities that opened with shows in stadiums.

However, as the show began, optimism rose that Paris – living up to its motto about not sinking – might see its bets pay off.

The rain could make the ceremony a more exhausting experience for thousands of Olympic athletes and hundreds of thousands of spectators who packed the banks and bridges of the Seine – far more than could have been accommodated in the French national stadium.

Paris organizers said that 6,800 of the 10,500 athletes would be attending before embarking on the next sixteen days of competition.

The boats carrying the Olympic teams began the show by breaking through the curtains of water falling from the Austerlitz Bridge, marking the start of the 6-kilometer (about 4 miles) parade route. The flowing waters served as a glimpse of the stunning fountains at the Palace of Versailles, which has now become a venue for Olympic equestrian competitions.

According to Olympic protocol, the first boat carried athletes from Greece, the cradle of the ancient games. This was followed by the Olympic team of refugee athletes, then other nations in alphabetical order according to French.

Athletes are typically showcased during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games during a brief pause amidst the city's hustle and bustle. But Paris broke this tradition by staging the parade and the show simultaneously, melting together sport with artistic expression.

Some spectators who followed the organizers' advice to arrive long before the ceremony route expressed their frustration at the long wait to reach their seats.

Tony Gown, a 54-year-old man from Texas who arrived six hours early with his wife, said, "Paris has been wonderful, but everything to do with the Olympics and the information dissemination has been terrible."

"When you spend $6,000 on two tickets, well, that's a bit frustrating."

But Paris had plenty of trump cards up its sleeve. The Eiffel Tower, still visible above the clouds, Notre-Dame Cathedral – which has been restored from the ashes of its 2019 fire – the Louvre Museum, and other landmarks would be featured in the opening ceremony. Award-winning theater director Thomas Jolie, the creative mind behind the show, would use the iconic Paris skyline from its zinc-roofed buildings as a playground for his imagination.

His mission: to tell the story of France and its people, history, and essence in a way that leaves an indelible mark on the Olympic audience. Reviving the image of the French capital and its self-confidence that has been repeatedly battered by deadly extremist attacks in 2015. Capturing how Paris also aims to reboot the Olympic Games, through the Summer Games that it worked on to make more attractive and sustainable.

It’s a tall order. So Paris will go much further. This applies to security as well. Large fenced-off areas in central Paris were closed to those without permits, and during the ceremony, the sky was a no-fly zone for 150 kilometers (93 miles) around.

Many of the details of the spectacle that would extend from sunset to the night of Paris remained closely guarded secrets to maintain the wow factor.

Zidane, who led France to World Cup glory in 1998, was among the guesses about who might light the Olympic cauldron. Another suggestion is that organizers may grant this honor to survivors of the 2015 attacks carried out by armed gunmen and suicide bombers from ISIS, which killed 130 people in Paris and its surroundings.

The identities of the final torchbearers remained the country’s biggest secret. Chief organizer of the Paris Games, Tony Estanguet, said Friday morning that he alone knows the "athlete's identity," and he has not yet informed that person.

He said, "I plan to tell the last torchbearer today. He or she does not know."

The outlines of the celebration were announced in advance and are striking in their ambitions. French President Emmanuel Macron said he initially felt it was "a completely crazy and unserious idea."

During the athletes' adventure in the waters, the splendor of Paris unfolded before them. They passed by historical landmarks that had temporarily transformed into venues for Olympic sports.

Place de la Concorde, where French revolutionaries executed King Louis XVI and other royalty by guillotine, which now hosts skateboarding and other sports, the Grand Palais made of iron, stone, and glass, where fencing and taekwondo take place.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s resting place with its golden dome, the backdrop for Olympic shooting, and the Eiffel Tower, which donated pieces of iron embedded in the gold, silver, and bronze Olympic medals. These will be won in 32 sports across 329 medal events.

Up to 45,000 police and gendarmerie, along with 10,000 soldiers, secured the ceremony and its VIP guests, led by the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, and Macron.

Estanguet said that Paris's goal is to "show the whole world and all the French people that we are capable of extraordinary things in this country."