The Paris 2024 Olympic Games begin.

The French capital transformed into a stadium and an outdoor theater this Friday to inaugurate the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The opening ceremony, which has been described as ambitious, historic, and spectacular, will mark a milestone as it is the first time it is held outside a stadium.

The inauguration ceremony began with the presentation of Emmanuel Macron, president of France, and Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This was followed by fireworks and smoke in the colors of the French flag.

Instead of the traditional parade in a sports venue, the athletes will be on 85 boats along the Seine River, passing by the most emblematic places in Paris, the event's website specified. This innovative approach is not only an impressive visual spectacle but also a reflection of the rich history and culture of the city.

In one of the boats, the Cuban canoeist Fernando Dayán Jorge could be seen, who will compete with the refugee team in the Paris Olympics, despite the demands from the Cuban regime for his immediate expulsion.

A total of 21 Cuban athletes will represent other delegations in the sporting event, a figure that reflects the unstoppable exodus of athletes in recent years.

The boxer Julio César La Cruz was chosen to carry the national flag of Cuba during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

La Cruz took the place of the wrestler Mijaín López, who has been the flag bearer in previous occasions, the official newspaper Adelante specified.

More than 10,500 athletes from 206 countries are expected to participate in the sporting event, which will feature over 300 events in 32 sports, according to Infobae.

Among the main innovations introduced by the IOC for this event, the incorporation of a new sport and the elimination of two disciplines stand out.

The new addition is breaking, commonly known as breakdance. This urban dance style, associated with hip-hop culture, will make its debut at the Olympic Games, aiming to capture the attention of a new generation of viewers and participants.

The absent sports in this edition will be karate, which debuted in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and baseball and softball, which also returned in Tokyo 2020 after their last appearance in Beijing 2008.