Paris has witnessed numerous memorable moments in history – some of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 venues are a testament to that – but the sight of 85 boats carrying 6,800 athletes along the Seine towards the sparkling Eiffel Tower and the ascent of the Olympic flame into the sky on a cauldron attached to a hot air balloon is not one the French capital is likely to forget. The constant rain did not make things easy for anyone.
Everyone was soaking wet . The inclement weather made it tough for everyone, from the organizers, performers, athletes, officials, dignitaries, Volunteers and also for us the accredited media. Only the VVIP area had a retractable tent which covered about 150/200 people max including French President Macron, IOC President Thomas Bach, some Head of States and their respective close aides. Media colleagues saw several Head of States being handed umbrellas and disposable raincoats to minimize the embarrassment.
Nonetheless, the the City of Lights became a sports stadium on the night of the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony on Friday (26 July), the River Seine – its track, the quays – spectator stands, and the historic landmarks along the way – silent witnesses to the vibrant celebration full of flags, feathers and raindrops.
By taking the ceremony outside its traditional stadium setting for the first time in Olympic Games history, Paris 2024 invited everyone to take part in the four-hour extravaganza, created by artistic director Thomas Jolly.
Athletes jumped on boat decks in pouring rain, spectators lined the quays and bridges, ballet dancers performed pirouettes on rooftops and Parisians stepped out onto their balconies to cheer on delegations from 205 National Olympic Committees (NOC).
The river parade and artistic performances weaved through the heart of Paris towards the Trocadero where the world came together to hear the magic words from French President Emmanuel Macron: “I declare the Paris Olympic Games open”.
“Some may say, we in the Olympic world, we are dreamers. But we are not the only ones,” said International Olympic Commitee President Thomas Bach. “And our dream is coming true tonight: a reality for everyone to see. Olympians from all around the globe, showing us what greatness we humans are capable of. So I invite everybody: dream with us. Like the Olympic athletes, be inspired with the joy that only sport can give us. Let us celebrate this Olympic spirit of living life in peace, as the one and only humankind, united in all our diversity.”
Emerging from behind a row of pink feathered fans and dressed fit for a cabaret, Lady Gaga set the tone for the evening to come.
“Bonsoir! Bienvenue à Paris,” the singer-songwriter shouted after her performance of the iconic French revue song, “Mon truc en plume”, to start off an unfrorgettable celebration. And the athletes were ready to heed the call.
Starting at Pont d’Austerlitz, the Parade of Nations flotilla began its six-kilometres journey west along the Seine, dipping under bridges and passing world-renown landmarks, such as the Esplanade des Invalides, the Place de la Concorde, the Notre-Dame and the Grand Palais, before arriving at the Trocadero opposite the Eiffel Tower.
Mixed in among these landmarks were the venues that will host the athletes for competition over the next 16 days and, for some, become the stage of their biggest triumphs.
But for the moment, competition was not forefront of their minds. Unity was the mood of the night as athletes from different countries celebrated on shared boats – Canada and the People’s Republic of China blending into a sea of red on the same deck, athletes from Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique and Myanmar bridging the distance of three continents to come together on one boat.
Even surfers joined in the festivities via video link from Tahiti, dressed in ceremony wear and holding traditional wooden surfboards.
“Dear athletes, we can’t wait to live it all with you. The joy, the tears, and the love you will put in each moment. Thank you for being here. You made it! Bravo!I know what it means. I know what it took. I know the path you have followed to be here. Paris will give back to you. It’s the City of Love… and for the next 16 days, it is your city,” said Tony Estanguet, triple Olympic champion and President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee. “Welcome home. Welcome to Paris. Welcome to your moment in history. Live it. Love it and carry us with you! The world is on your side.”
As the athletes travelled along the river through central Paris, history came alive around them.
Split into 12 artistic tableaux and featuring 2,000 artists, the amazing show invited spectators to the most iconic sites of Paris and brought them to life.
The past and present came together seamlessly, as in the Liberty chapter where an operatic scene from Les Miserables and a firing of cannons by the Conciergerie flowed smoothly into a celebration of Parisian lovers in all their diversity.
Beyond the Pont Royal Bridge, the Seine became an art museum as portrait masterpieces from the Louvre Museum half-rose out of the water to greet the athletes while a masked torchbearer travelled back in time through the real museum’s hallway to witness the theft of the iconic Mona Lisa.
A distinct French feel infused the whole ceremony. Some moments were a nod to touristic trinkets such as berets and croissants, while others saluted high-culture opera and ballet.
The performance of “La Marseillaise” was a particularly poignant moment. Mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel sang the French national anthem standing on the rooftop of the Grand Palais, draped in a Dior-made dress that resembled the host country’s flag while statues of 10 historical female figures rose up next to the National Assembly – a seat of power that was previously decorated only with statues of male changemakers.
Reflecting that change, Paris 2024 will see full gender parity on the field of play for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games.
