‘Dream with us’: Bach delivers message of hope as rain fails to ruin Paris parade

• Paris Games launched with audacious opening ceremony
• Nadal carries Olympic torch on speedboat in grand finale

Towards the end of a night where the Parisian skies opened like sluice gates and did their damnedest to drown the ambitions of the most audacious opening ceremony in history, the head of the Paris Olympics had the confidence to crack a joke.

“When you love the Games, first of all you don’t let a few drops of rain bother you,” said Tony Estanguet. “Thank you to all those lovers of the Games who are with us – a little soggy – tonight!”