The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26, 2024, will take part on the River Seine, organisers have announced. "It was an obvious choice," explains Organising Committee president Tony Estanguet, adding, "it's an unprecedented format, we're going to show the best of our country." Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, meanwhile, assures the Paris 2024 team is "working hard" to guarantee the safety and security of the "600,000 or more" people expected at the opening ceremony. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES