Paris Olympics set to begin with spectacular Opening Ceremony [Video]

PARIS, France — Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking Opening Ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.

On-and-off showers did not seem to hamper the enthusiasm of the Olympians, with some holding umbrellas as they rode on boats down the river in a showcase of the city’s resilience as authorities dealt with suspected acts of sabotage targeting France’s high-speed rail network.

Widespread travel disruptions triggered by what French officials called coordinated arson attacks on high-speed rail lines as well as the weather had dampened the mood ahead of the ceremony.

Crowds crammed along the Seine’s banks and bridges and watching from balconies “oohed” and “aahed” as Olympic teams paraded in boats down the waterway. Undeterred from …