BBC Radio 5 Live's Ian Pannell reports on the final build-up

Thousands of fans have packed the streets in a carnival atmosphere to see the elaborate "Festival of Football."

The 20 metre-high giants, representing Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas are converging on the Place de la Concorde.

The statues are able to 'walk'

Inside the colourful frames are hydraulic skeletons that can walk with the help of drivers positioned inside the feet.

Organisers say Pablo, the native American, is due for a fiery wake-up, meeting reptiles and microcosms.

Mousa, representing the people of Africa, will discover civilisation and its workings.

Ho is the Asian giant - representing dreams and poetry, including flying fish, and Romeo, from Europe, is going to dream of love and voluptuousness and will witness an urban wedding on his journey.

Designer Jean-Pascal Levy-Trumet says the giants will use the buildings of Paris as a natural backdrop to illustrate their representations.