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Historic river parade, Dion show-stopper ignite Paris Olympics
A historic boat parade down the River Seine launched the Paris Olympics with spectacular French flair Friday, as the City of Light welcomed the world's greatest athletes for a sporting extravaganza.- 'Gender equality' - Sporting royalty mingled with celebrities and world leaders on and off the Seine, which will host triathlon and the swimming marathon after a historic clean-up to make it swimmable.
5-min read - NewsAFP News
Rainy Paris Olympic parade dampens many spectators' spirits
Wrapped in a poncho under torrential rain, Brazilian Lucas Amadeu said he regretted forking out 2,700 euros ($2,930) for a top seat at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday. When they promised a spectacular open-air ceremony at the heart of one of the world's most beautiful cities, the organisers of the Paris Games were praying for fine weather.
3-min read - NewsAFP News
Lady Gaga adds sparkle to star-studded Olympic show
Lady Gaga and French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura joined dancers, an opera diva and even a heavy metal band in an opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics that sought to proudly showcase French culture with a modern twist.Franco-Malian R&B superstar Aya Nakamura, the most listened-to French-speaking singer in the world, performed a medley with two of her hits "Pookie" and "Djadja" and a classic by Charles Aznavour, "For me Formidable", one hundred years since his birth.
3-min read - NewsAFP News
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
Thousands of spectators faced long queues and ticketing problems as they arrived for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics along the River Seine on Friday.Other long queues were visible close to the Louvre in central Paris.
2-min read - NewsAFP News
'Sabotage' hits French trains hours before Olympics
Arson attacks scrambled France's high-speed rail network for tens of thousands of passengers on Friday, after what officials called premeditated acts of "sabotage" just hours before the Paris Olympics opened.- Olympics under heavy security - France's intelligence services were scrambling to determine the perpetrators of the sabotage, a security source told AFP. The source added that the arson method used resembled past attacks by extreme-left actors.
4-min read - SportAFP News
Smooth apparatus: Guide to gymnastics at Paris Olympics
Don't know your pommel horse from your uneven bars? The men compete on six apparatus: floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal/high bar.
4-min read - SportAFP News
Convicted rapist puts beach volleyball under spotlight at Olympics
Beach volleyball begins at the Paris Olympics on Saturday in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and with the sport under the spotlight because of the inclusion of a Dutch player convicted of rape.- 'Wow factor' - Beach volleyball has grown to become one of the most popular events at the Olympics since its inclusion for the first time in 1996.
3-min read
