Paris Olympics off to a sodden start with a rain-drenched opening ceremony

Athletes from 205 delegations on 85 boats took part in a parade down the River Seine before a finale at the Trocadero.

A dazzling laser show that lit up the Eiffel Tower did its best to pierce the leaden skies over Paris but two hours of unrelenting rain ensured a sodden start for an Olympic opening ceremony like no other at the Trocadero on Friday night.