Olympic opening ceremonies are the subject of inevitable excitement and speculation every time they come around but this year was to be an unprecedented occasion like none that had come before it.

With it being the first-ever Opening Ceremony to take place outside of a controlled stadium and so many details kept under wraps, the stage was set to be a historic spectacle watched by billions around the globe. 

Here are five takeaways from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

Don't let cynics get in the way of a good party

Most of the talk has of course been about the designated location of the ceremony which differentiated it from all others before it had even begun. 

Taking place along the River Seine, the heart of Paris was transformed into its own enormous open-air auditorium. The ceremony consequently required a scrupulous security operation involving the deployment of 45,000 police officers, 10,000 soldiers and 20,000 private security guards as well as an extensive river clean-up which culminated in the 65-year-old Mayor of Paris swimming in the river.

Given its open and vulnerable setting, earlier this year French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that a contingency plan had been put in place in the event of any insurmountable obstacles on the day but luckily, there was no need for plan B.

Ceremonies can be successfully pulled off outside of stadiums 

There are good reasons every single opening ceremony in the history of the Olympics has taken place within an enclosed arena and Friday's opening ceremony was the most ambitious to date parading thousands of athletes on boats down a 4-mile stretch of the Seine River. 

Though it was scaled back when up to a million spectators along the river's banks was deemed too hazardous, over 300,000 people watched on from beside the Seine as an utterly unique spectacle successfully unfolded.

Barring the sabotage of some French rail lines and early ticketing issues for spectators, the sprawling and elaborate 2024 Opening Ceremony went to plan in the most spectacular urban setting proving that opening ceremonies can be managed outside of the traditional stadium setup, even if significant rainfall tried to dampen spirits.

The rain caused some disruption in its attempt to dampen spirits

Despite every detail of the opening ceremony being meticulously planned by Artistic Director Thomas Jolly, significant rainfall was beyond control, bringing an unexpected downpour to Paris for much of the event. 

While a contingency plan catered to any threats or unforeseen upheavals, the weather could not be preempted and soaked just about everybody involved including performers such as famed French classical pianist Alexandre Kantorow who played on an uncovered bridge during a particularly unrelenting period of downpour. 

Technical equipment was also hampered by the weather as cameras became blurred causing issues for viewers around the world. 

Regardless, the relentless rain couldn’t drown out the cheers from all involved in the ecstatic night in the City of Light.

The most outstanding Olympic outfits to date?

Many eyes would inevitably be drawn to the outfits adorning each nation's athletes, from 22-year-old French male athlete Sasha Zhoya's decision to wear a Berluti skirt to the stunning uniforms sported by the likes of Team Mongolia, Team Nigeria, Team Philipinnes, Team Czech Republic and Team Haiti, amongst others.

Team Mongolia's ensemble, created by the modest design house Michel & Amazonka, won over the internet last week with its eye-catching tunic featuring intricate gold embroidery inspired by Mongolia’s native deel.

Team Haiti and Team Czech Republic donned uniforms that caught the eye for their striking craftsmanship also gaining far more plaudits than some of the outfits designed by global fashion heavyweights like Italy's Emporio Armani uniform and Team United States' Ralph Lauren ensemble.

Amazonka Choigaalaa of Michel & Amazonka encouraged more countries to take inspiration from their traditional garments going forwards using the biggest catwalk in the world to flaunt unique elements.

Secret celebrity stars revealed 

Many names of the celebrities involved in the opening ceremony were kept secret but when the likes of Lady Gaga and Céline Dion were spotted around Paris speculation was rife regarding a potential opening ceremony duet.

Rather than the anticipated duet Lady Gaga opened the show as the first musical act and Céline Dion closed Friday's ceremony after the lighting of the Olympic cauldron by singing a stirring rendition of Edith Piaf’s 'L’Hymne à l’amour.'

Numerous other celebrities and artists took centre stage between the two acts including a memorable appearance from the most listened-to French-speaking artist in the world, French-Malian R&B star Aya Nakamura.