Pont Neuf over the Seine, Paris, France

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Let the Games begin!. Summer Olympics begin in Paris

Today marks the start of the Summer Olympics in Paris. The City of Light becomes the second city, after London, to host the Summer Olympics for a third time. What makes these Games truly unique is the opening ceremony: rather than in a stadium, participants will parade along the Seine on a flotilla of boats, passing under the Pont Neuf, pictured here, and cheered by spectators lining both banks. Paris is no stranger to historic firsts; the 1900 Games in the city was where women competed for the first time, although only 22 out of 997 athletes were women.

These Games are set to be rather special: break-dancing will make its Summer Olympic debut in Paris. Competitors will be scored by a panel of nine judges who will look out for creativity and personality, along with other criteria. This could be a one-off, as break dancing hasn't been included in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The surfing event at Paris 2024 is also rather unique: the competition will take place in Tahiti, part of French Polynesia. Almost 10,000 miles away from the host city, Tahiti was chosen because the island's huge waves make it perfect for surfing.