Paris braces for 'most incredible' Olympics opening ceremony

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00:00World Leaguers have already arrived for the opening ceremony.

00:03City's residents have fled, or at least tried to flee, for summer vacation.

00:07We're just hours away from the long-awaited, or long-dreaded, opening ceremony.

00:11For the first time, it will take place not in a stadium, but on water.

00:15Some 100 boats will be carrying about 10,000 athletes along the River Seine,

00:20winding 6 kilometers through the heart of Paris.

00:23Along the banks, there will be 300,000 spectators.

00:27Artistic director Thomas Joly has signed up 3,000 performers,

00:30including musicians, dancers and singers.

00:33But he's remained tight-lipped about who the big names are.

00:37For more, let's speak to our reporter, Selina Sykes,

00:39standing by not far away from the River Seine.

00:41Hello to you, Selina.

00:43Tell us more about what went into the massive planning of this historic opening ceremony.

00:51Well, Will, as you said, this is going to be an opening ceremony like no other.

00:56For the first time in Olympics history,

00:58taking place in the heart of the French capital and not in a stadium.

01:03And of course, with such an ambitious plan comes a lot of logistical and security challenges.

01:09This is going to be an unprecedented security operation for the French security and police.

01:17This is the largest deployment in peacetime of French security.

01:24Today, 45 police and gendarmes are expected to patrol the streets of Paris today,

01:29along with 10,000 soldiers as well as private security and local police.

01:35There will be a no-fly zone coming into place around a 150-kilometre radius of the French capital

01:42an hour before the opening ceremony, which starts at half seven Paris time this evening.

01:47We've also had an elaborate QR code, of course,

01:50attesting the patience of locals in Paris to restrict the vicinity around the Seine in the run up to this big day.

01:58There are also logistical challenges.

02:00Of course, this will be all taking place along the River Seine.

02:04Artistic director Thomas Joly admitting that it's actually been impossible

02:08to rehearse the entirety of this opening ceremony in one go along the River Seine.

02:13Instead, there have been parts of it being rehearsed,

02:16especially with the dancers in hangers outside of Paris.

02:19So we've had rumours that both directors have been practising in sailing centres outside of Paris, too.

02:27So this is a massive logistical challenge.

02:29But if it all manages to be pulled off, it's really going to be a spectacular sight

02:34for those very lucky 300,000 people who will be here this evening in attendance,

02:38as well as around 100 heads of state will.

02:41Yeah, and Selena, any more idea about who some of the big names will be that will be performing in this opening ceremony?

02:50Well, it's all been a very highly guarded secret.

02:53Who will be performing here this evening?

02:55We have had a few clues this week because there have been some big stars spotted on the streets of Paris.

03:01Most notably, Celine Dion, the Canadian singer, who is very popular here in France.

03:06There's a lot of bets that she will be making an appearance this evening.

03:09Despite struggling with health issues in recent years.

03:12Another big American star that has been spotted in Paris is Lady Gaga.

03:16And there's been a lot of speculation on social media with a piano sighted along the River Seine,

03:22whether she will be featuring this evening at playing the piano.

03:26We also know, of course, Thomas Jolie has said that there will be 12 artistic scenes across the River Seine with dancers.

03:34It's really going to be quite a spectacle here this evening.

03:37Nearly a four hour ceremony for people to enjoy along the River Seine here this evening.

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