Western Standard reporter Jen Hodgson will be following the ceremony live. Follow along for up-to-the-minute updates on the athletes, performers, and dignitaries spotted at the event, including who will be carrying the Olympic flag and lighting the flame.

That's the end of the show, folks — onto the Games! What a spectacular ceremony. The ceremony has come a long way since the Games in Calgary when we had square dancers.

Celine Dion belting it out from the heart of the Eiffel Tower!!!!

LIVE BLOG: Celine Dion hits the stage from the heart of the Eiffel TowerCBC

A giant, hydrogen-filled balloon is the cauldron!

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climaxCBC

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climax

The Olympic torch passed to the oldest living French Olympian.

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climaxCBC

The group of athletes, led by Zidane, pass through the iconic landmark, Arc de Triomphe.

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climaxCBC

The torch is getting closer and closer to the cauldron!

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climaxCBC

Please CBC, please stop making jokes, our ribs hurt from laughing so much. "No, you can't use an Olympic torch to light a BBQ...." Perhaps maybe introducing all of the torch bearers.

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climaxCBC

A dance show ensues, as crowds eagerly anticipate the Canadian superstar Celine Dion.

Serena WilliamsCBC

Olympic rings light up the Eiffel Tower.

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climaxCBC

Nadal then heads out to the Seine on a boat, accompanied by fellow tennis star Serene Williams.

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climaxCBC

Zidane hands off the torch to Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal.

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climaxCBC

The 2024 Olympic Games has officially begun! The torch is passed to French footballer Zinedine Zidane.

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climaxCBC

A long-winded speech from Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee.

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climax

As it was raised, the flag lay limp — then started to unfurl as man-made wind blows through holes in the flagstaff blowing out of it.

LIVE BLOG: Spectacular Olympic ceremony nearing climaxCBC

With the ceremony about to climax, the flag is raised by members of the French presidential guard.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

The flag ceremony is about to start, undeterred by the earlier arson attacks on France's main railway in attempts to sabotage the Games.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

The focus has shifted from the rover to the venue where the main ceremony is held, just outside the Eiffel Tower.

This ceremony must have taken years to put together. Organizers have clearly attended to even the most minute detail.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

What looks like a translucent image of a horse and rider with an Olympic flag strewn across the person's back gallops across the river Seine.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

And a John Lennon cover song performed as a duet by a female singer sweetly singing Imagine accompanied by a piano that is literally on fire on a floating barge that looks like a small, rocky island.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

More drag queens while we wait though....

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

The Olympic Cauldron must be close to being lit as The Final Countdown from Rocky rings out across the city.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

With the proud père looking on.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

Ah, such joie de vie!

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

And finally France slow-rolls in on a humongous, well-populated barge.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

The US team would have been more spectacular if it came in on aircraft carriers...

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

A whole lot of Yanks! Some of the boats are harder to see as night falls in Paris.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

The Ukraine team has lots to smile about.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

Singing in the rain... Canadians athletes hamming it up in the streets.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

Canadian athletes making most of the rain — they've seen worse!

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

More men in dresses, as part of another "tableau" — this time entitled "festivities."

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

Remember when James Bond collected the queen at Buckingham Palace and they leapt from a helicopter during the Opening Ceremony of the London Gamers?

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

The opening ceremony is going great — though lots to live up to, like this iconic moment.

The Olympics draws all kinds of fascinating characters...

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

Slick French hip hop star captures the hearts of fans.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremony

Performances on land and sea alike (or river, rather).

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremony

The opening ceremony contains striking displays of athleticism — and they're not even competing!

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremony

Despite the constant spattering of rain, the boats continue to float by and athletes even perform BMX tricks. The Games are shaping up to be one of the best in Olympic history. And the ceremony with most commercials in history.

LIVE BLOG: Not even rain can damper this spectacular Olympic ceremonyCBC

The first of several "tableaus" — this one based on sportsmanship. Soccer Canada officials unlikely to participate.

EXCLUSIVE: Laural Kurta of the Torrington Gopher Hole museum

Related Stories