Aya

Thousands of athletes are set to sail through central Paris on Friday during an unprecedented and high-risk Olympics opening ceremony that will showcase the country's hugely ambitious vision for the Games.

The parade on Friday evening will see up to 7,500 competitors travel down a six-kilometre (four-mile) stretch of the river Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats.

Works have been initiated by Istanbul University in the ancient field of Aya Tekla, one of the oldest centers of Christianity. 

The university will carry out surface survey in the ancient city, located in the southern province of Mersin's Silifke district.