With great pomp to mark the commencement of the Olympic Games in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a dinner on Thursday for heads of state, government officials, and dignitaries attending the Games.

The dinner took place at the Louvre and its glass pyramid, an initiative that began in Moscow in 2014 under the current IOC President Thomas Bach.

Watch video from the leaders’ reception:

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE DINNER | MACRON and IOC President Bach attend dinner | OLYMPIC GAMES

There were many notable absences, as well as significant presences.

US President Joe Biden did not attend but was represented by his wife, Jill Biden. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not invited, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, though invited, did not attend and sent his vice president, Han Zheng, instead. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend, but Israel was represented by President Herzog. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also absent.

Kyriakos and Mareva Mitsotakis with IOC President Thomas Bach and His Wife

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife Mareva Grabowski attended the dinner hosted by the French President.

Among the numerous leaders present were Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife Mareva.

See photos from the dinner: