The Olympics opening ceremony 2024 happened on July 27. It’s very French and shows the special ethnic flavor and history and culture of Paris, France and gives us a visual treat. There’s no lack of many cool moments for us to enjoy and remember. Now let’s take a look back at the great moments of this opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
Introduction
The opening ceremony was directed by Thomas Jolly who also directed the Olympic Closing Ceremony and the Paralympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The openning ceremony had the same celebration of diversity, freedom and LGBTQ+ visibility. It was available to watch on mobile, tablet and connected TV devices via the Peacock, NBC and NBC Olympics apps.
The Ceremony’s Highlights
Unlike other opening ceremonies, it was held in the heart of Paris along the Seine River so that Parisian landmarks and natural scenery would be used to the fullest and the whole city would be the stage for the celebrations.
To have true national participation, the Paris Olympics opening ceremony decided to have a parade on the Seine River so that all the teams would travel along the Seine on a big boat, pass by the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. The crowds could watch along the riverbanks and no longer just in front of a TV or live on the internet as before.
Besides, France as the host of the Games had an opening ceremony that showcased the rich history and cultural heritage of Paris and France. Artists and performers showed France’s multiculturalism and innovative spirit through music, dance, and visual arts, with Paris as the cultural capital of the world.
Also, the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics had sustainability and environmental concepts and innovative tech applications.
Protocol and Dignitaries
Heads of State and Government
The presence of dignitaries added to the ceremony’s pomp and circumstance and the importance of the Olympic Games. French President Emmanuel Macron opened the Games, the 130th anniversary of the International Olympic Committee and the 235th anniversary of the French Revolution. His presence reinforced the bond between the French nation and the Olympic movement.
IOC Officials
IOC President Thomas Bach and other IOC members were present. Their presence emphasized the global nature of the Games and the role of the IOC in staging the event. Past Olympic champions and Olympic influencers were also in attendance.
Olympic Sponsors
Sponsors and partners were also present such as Airbnb, Alibaba, LVMH, Visa and so on. They play a big role in the Games and their presence at the opening ceremony is a sign of their investment and involvement in the event.
Sports personalities
- Rafael Nadal was thrilled and proud to be part of the Paris Olympics and held the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony.
- USWNT forward Trinity Rodman scored her first Olympic goal in the team’s first match against Zambia and was over the moon.
- Beyoncé appeared in a pre-recorded video to support Team USA at the Paris Olympics, wearing a special Team USA bodysuit and introducing the athletes.
Celebrity
- Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga was the first performer at the opening ceremony and sang the classic song “Mon truc en plumes” (“My Feather Thing”) by the famous French actress Zizi Jeanmaire from the 1950s. Her performance was cabaret style and took the audience back to the Parisian nightclubs of decades past. This form of entertainment originated in France and later spread worldwide, combining singing, dancing, comedy, theater, and political satire, performed in small theaters or nightclubs.
- Celine Dion
The Canadian singer who is known around the world for her Titanic theme song “My Heart Will Go On” made her singing comeback in 2022 after announcing she had “stiff person syndrome”, a neurological condition that causes muscle spasms and then was out of public life for 1 and a half years. The song Celine Dion sang was written by Edith Piaf for the love of her life, boxer Marcel Cerdan, who died in a plane crash less than a month after the song was released.
- Axelle Saint-Cirel
Axelle Saint-Cirel is a French mezzo-soprano. She was dressed in a custom made French flag dress by Dior and sang the Marseillaise on the roof of the Grand Palais. 10 statues were raised, one after the other, of Olympe de Gouges, Alice Milliat, a top athlete and others.
Performances and Highlights
- “Notre Dame de Paris Rebuilt Before the Eyes of the World”
In April 2019, the historic Gothic cathedral suffered a devastating fire that started in the church attic and spread rapidly, causing the spire to collapse and the roof to be destroyed but the main structure survived. This scene is a tribute to the behind the scenes heroes of the Paris Olympics: the artisans, the construction workers and the Parisians. Notre Dame de Paris is said to be finished by the end of the year.
- Queen of the Severed Heads Makes Surprise Appearance at Opening Ceremony
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony had a guillotine queen and some may have been surprised by the beauty and creepiness of it. But it was a significant scene. This is the famous “Guillotine Queen” Marie-Antoinette, the last queen before the French Revolution who was guillotined in 1793. Her prison, now called the “Ancient Prison”, is on the same island as Notre Dame.
- Singing Carmen in Front of the Supreme Court
Metallica composed the music for The Queen of the Severed Heads and the opening sequence turned out to be a Love is a Free Bird opera from the 19th century. The cruise ship with the singers is now in front of the Supreme Court entrance.
The scene is from the French opera Carmen, about Carmen, a free-spirited, unbridled gypsy woman with a unique view of life and love. Carmen gives her life to keep her freedom. Here “freedom” means personal freedom not family freedom and is linked to the narrative point “love” that follows.
Controversies and Incidents
- The ceremony was met with mixed reviews, some loved the artistic parts and the music, others hated the length and the production.
- The drag queens segment was heavily criticized by social conservatives and religious leaders who thought it was a parody of The Last Supper.
- The camp parts were received with varying opinions, some loved it, others hated it.
- On the same day of the opening ceremony, a series of fires damaged the French train network, causing chaos and panic.
Conclusion
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony showed us the beauty of Paris, the fire and passion also conveyed a kind of feminine power that left us speechless and moved. We sailed with the athletes to see some of the most iconic Parisian landmarks from afar. Now that the ceremony is over, let’s focus on the athletes who are here to achieve their goals.
