Olympics 2024 opening ceremony LIVE: Emmanuel Macron declares Games open as heavy rain hits Paris

The Olympic Games have been officially opened after a day of travel chaos in Paris that saw thousands of visitors delayed.

The country’s rail operator said that arson attacks on key rail lines into the French capital had “sabotaged” the network, leading to disruption across the country.

Jean-Pierre Farandou, chief executive of SNCF , said the plans of thousands who had hoped to go to Paris had been ruined.

The “coordinated” disruption is likely to cause delays over the weekend for 800,000 passengers, with up to 250,000 affected as the Games officially starts.

It has not dampened sprits in the city, though, with a new-look opening ceremony set to be held along the River Seine. Organisers have abandoned the traditional stadium format to instead showcase the sights and sounds of the city, with athletes set to be paraded along the waterway in an impressive display.

Heavy rain earlier forced officials to issue a flood warning, with a number of special musical guests performing on the banks even with the precipitation coming down.

Crowds have gathered on the banks alongside thousands of security personnel to ensure a safe and spectacular opening to the Olympics .

Follow the live blog below for the latest updates and news ahead of Paris 2024