Assassin's Creed twist: Unmasking the mysterious torchbearers of Paris 2024 opening ceremony

The Paris Olympics opening ceremony featured two masked figures: a mysterious torchbearer who dashed across rooftops and a caped rider who galloped down the Seine on a metal horse to present the Olympic flag.

Floriane Issert, a non-commissioned officer in the Gendarmerie Nationale clad in silver armor, concluded her ride at the Trocadero, delivering the Olympic flag with a majestic flourish before it was hoisted—albeit upside down.

The opening ceremony directed by Thomas Jolly featured Lady Gaga, Zinedine Zidane, and even The Minions. 

The ceremony, a historic first for the Olympics held outside a main stadium, saw 85 boats transporting nearly 7,000 athletes from 205 countries down the River Seine. This stunning display followed a day of travel chaos caused by sabotage attacks on France's high-speed rail network.

The event kicked off with Zidane running through Paris to ignite the Olympic flame. The torch was then carried by children on a small boat, handed off to the masked torchbearer who leaped across rooftops and landmarks, before being returned to Zidane at the ceremony's close.

Floriane Issert, in silver armour, concluded the event with a dramatic ride down the Seine on a metal horse, bearing the Olympic flag. Lady Gaga performed a French cabaret song near Notre-Dame Cathedral, while a plume of tricolour smoke rose above the Seine. A fleet of barges paraded athletes past Paris’s iconic landmarks, with Moulin Rouge dancers adding to the city's postcard charm. (With inputs from Agencies)