On the same day, the 33rd Summer Olympic Games opened in Paris, France.
On 26 July, the cauldron was lit and lifted into the air. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fei
On July 26, the audience watched the opening ceremony in person. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Huhu
On 26 July, the cauldron was lit and lifted into the air. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhu Zheng
On 26 July, a cauldron in the shape of a hot air balloon was lit in the Tuileries Gardens. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xue Yuge
The Eiffel Tower photographed at the opening ceremony on July 26. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Xu
On July 26, Ma Long, the flag bearer of the Chinese sports delegation and a table tennis player, waved the national flag before the opening ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cao Can
On July 26, the sports delegations at the opening ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Zongzhi
On July 26, the boat of the Chinese sports delegation sailed on the Seine, with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li An
On July 26, the sports delegations at the opening ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ren Pengfei
Heart-shaped smoke over Notre Dame Cathedral photographed at the opening ceremony on July 26. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xia Fangfang
Sports delegations from Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Cape Verde at the opening ceremony on July 26. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Yuwei
On July 26, the actors performed at the opening ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Dongzhen
This is the fireworks set off at the opening ceremony filmed on July 26. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Bin