“The 2024 Olympics in Paris have officially started.” announced French President Emmanuel Macron at the opening ceremony. It was truly unique – this has never happened before. A huge number of international stars, beautiful backdrops, all this foreshadowed an exciting start to the games. Thomas Jolly, French theater director, led the opening ceremony.
The beginning of the 2024 Olympics
It took place along the Seine River and featured a variety of top-notch performers. The ceremony itself began with a bang. An explosion of blue, white and red over the Austerlitz Bridge. While the athletes were sailing on the water, the organizers showed the history and culture of France. The so-called “Zorro” carried the Olympic torch to the stadium, flying on a rope across the river and galloping across the water on an iron horse.
The opening ceremony drew on all forms of performing arts. It combined musical phrases from The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and Georges Bizet’s Carmen
And then there were 12 parts of the ceremony. Each was named after symbols of humanity and sport: charm, synchronicity, freedom, equality, brotherhood, sisterhood, sportsmanship, celebration, darkness, solemnity, solidarity and eternity.
Faces of France at the 2024 Olympics
The organizers managed to show the main milestones in the history and culture of France at the ceremony. One of the most powerful moments was the composition Imagine by John Lennon. In complete darkness, pianist Sofiane Pamart played it on a burning piano on a barge, and Juliette Armanet sang it.
French pianist Alexandre Kantorow gave a superb performance of one of Ravel’s most famous piano works while it was raining in Paris.
The Olympic flag was raised (upside down). And then French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Olympics open. The Olympic flame lighting ceremony became a real event. It was a highlight of the evening. Legendary athletes took part in it, like Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, American track and field athlete Carl Lewis, American tennis player Serena Williams and Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci.
Lighting of the torch
While the athletes were passing the torch to each other, the Olympic rings opened in an amazing light show on the Eiffel Tower. Multiple Olympic champions judoka Teddy Riner and track and field athlete Marie-Josée Perec lit the Olympic flame. 1948 Olympic champion Charles Costes passed the torch. He is already 100 years old. But no one expected what happened next.
There was no usual bowl. This time the fire was lit inside a hot air balloon. This is a brilliant invention of the Montgolfier brothers. The balloon rose above Paris to the great song of Edith Piaf, performed by Celine Dion.
What was the ceremony like?
Unusual. Surely, it will leave mixed feelings in those who watched it. Some will like it, some will say that watching this for four hours is madness. But the ceremony is already became a history.
The competition will begin on July 27.
Source: https://www.vogue.com/article/best-moments-from-the-opening-ceremony-of-the-2024-paris-olympics