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===''Liberté''===
===''Liberté''===
The third sequence, ''{{lang|fr|[[Liberty|Liberté]]}}'', began on the façade of the [[Conciergerie]] with a tribute to the [[French Revolution]] (titled "{{lang|fr|[[Ça_Ira|Ah! ça ira]]}}"), referencing [[Marie Antoinette]]'s execution and the musical ''{{lang|fr|[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]}}'', as the original French version of "[[Do You Hear the People Sing?]]" played to introduce the segment. Performers included death metal band [[Gojira (band)|Gojira]] and soprano Marina Viotti performing ''[[Habanera (aria)|Habanera]]'' from the French opera ''[[Carmen]]''. Dancers at the {{lang|fr|[[Bibliothèque nationale de France]]}} performed to classic and contemporary French literary pieces. The tableau also addressed diverse forms of love (including LGBT themes and polyamory), expressed by acrobats from the XY company and circus artists from the Gratte-Ciel company. Tightrope walker Nathan Paulin performed outdoors.
Marina ViottiThe third sequence, ''{{lang|fr|[[Liberty|Liberté]]}}'', began on the façade of the [[Conciergerie]] with a tribute to the [[French Revolution]] (titled "{{lang|fr|[[Ça_Ira|Ah! ça ira]]}}"), referencing [[Marie Antoinette]]'s execution and the musical ''{{lang|fr|[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]}}'', as the original French version of "[[Do You Hear the People Sing?]]" played to introduce the segment. Performers included death metal band [[Gojira (band)|Gojira]] and soprano {{Ill|Marina Viotti|fr}} performing ''[[Habanera (aria)|Habanera]]'' from the French opera ''[[Carmen]]''. Dancers at the {{lang|fr|[[Bibliothèque nationale de France]]}} performed to classic and contemporary French literary pieces. The tableau also addressed diverse forms of love (including LGBT themes and polyamory), expressed by acrobats from the XY company and circus artists from the Gratte-Ciel company. Tightrope walker Nathan Paulin performed outdoors.


===''Egalité''===
===''Egalité''===
Line 151: Line 151:
The fifth sequence, ''{{lang|fr|[[Fraternity (philosophy)|Fraternité]]}}'', began with [[Camille Saint-Saëns]]' "[[Danse macabre (Saint-Saëns)|Danse macabre]]" and referenced the 1911 theft of the [[Mona Lisa]] from the [[Louvre]]. The parade resumed with the Cypriot through Gabonese delegations, as pianist [[Alexandre Kantorow]] performed [[Maurice Ravel]]'s "''{{lang|fr|[[Jeux d'eau (Ravel)|Jeux d'eau]]}}''" under heavy rain. The parade boats continued with the [[Gambia at the 2024 Summer Olympics|Gambian]] through [[Jamaica at the 2024 Summer Olympics|Jamaican]] delegations.
The fifth sequence, ''{{lang|fr|[[Fraternity (philosophy)|Fraternité]]}}'', began with [[Camille Saint-Saëns]]' "[[Danse macabre (Saint-Saëns)|Danse macabre]]" and referenced the 1911 theft of the [[Mona Lisa]] from the [[Louvre]]. The parade resumed with the Cypriot through Gabonese delegations, as pianist [[Alexandre Kantorow]] performed [[Maurice Ravel]]'s "''{{lang|fr|[[Jeux d'eau (Ravel)|Jeux d'eau]]}}''" under heavy rain. The parade boats continued with the [[Gambia at the 2024 Summer Olympics|Gambian]] through [[Jamaica at the 2024 Summer Olympics|Jamaican]] delegations.


The ceremony moved to the [[Musée d'Orsay]] and paid homage to the science of imagery, particularly French filmmakers the [[Auguste and Louis Lumière|Lumière brothers]] and [[Georges Méliès]] alongside French children's literature such as ''[[The Little Prince]]'', as the [[Paul Dukas]] tone poem "[[The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Dukas)|The Sorcerer's Apprentice]]" played. After that, the [[International Space Station]] appears, revealing a yellow telescope which pans down to an animated underwater sequence featuring the [[Minions (Despicable Me)|Minions]] holding various sports events in a submarine, with the Mona Lisa emerging from the Seine after it explodes. Mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel sang the [[La Marsellaise|French national anthem]] in a French flag-themed [[Dior]] dress atop the [[Grand Palais]].
The ceremony moved to the [[Musée d'Orsay]] and paid homage to the science of imagery, particularly French filmmakers the [[Auguste and Louis Lumière|Lumière brothers]] and [[Georges Méliès]] alongside French children's literature such as ''[[The Little Prince]]'', as the [[Paul Dukas]] tone poem "[[The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Dukas)|The Sorcerer's Apprentice]]" played. After that, the [[International Space Station]] appears, revealing a yellow telescope which pans down to an animated underwater sequence featuring the [[Minions (Despicable Me)|Minions]] holding various sports events in a submarine, with the Mona Lisa emerging from the Seine after it explodes. Mezzo-soprano {{Ill|Axelle Saint-Cirel|fr}} sang the [[La Marsellaise|French national anthem]] in a French flag-themed [[Dior]] dress atop the [[Grand Palais]].


===''Sororité''===
===''Sororité''===
Line 166: Line 166:
A tribute to the [[European Union]] was introduced by "[[The Final Countdown (song)|The Final Countdown]]" and a drone show around the Eiffel Tower forming the 12 stars of the [[Flag of Europe|EU flag]], and featured drag queens including [[Nicky Doll]] and dancers including Germain Louvet, Electro Street, and the Mazelfreten collective, continuing on the waterlogged red carpet of the Debilly footbridge, as well as a barge with an LED dancefloor, to [[Eurodance]] tracks such as "[[Freed from Desire]]," "[[Stereo Love]]," and "[[Sandstorm (instrumental)|Sandstorm]]." [[Philippe Katerine]], nearly nude and painted as a blue [[Dionysus]], performed "Nu," lying at the center of a long table with the drag queens posed in a manner resembling a bacchanalian feast.
A tribute to the [[European Union]] was introduced by "[[The Final Countdown (song)|The Final Countdown]]" and a drone show around the Eiffel Tower forming the 12 stars of the [[Flag of Europe|EU flag]], and featured drag queens including [[Nicky Doll]] and dancers including Germain Louvet, Electro Street, and the Mazelfreten collective, continuing on the waterlogged red carpet of the Debilly footbridge, as well as a barge with an LED dancefloor, to [[Eurodance]] tracks such as "[[Freed from Desire]]," "[[Stereo Love]]," and "[[Sandstorm (instrumental)|Sandstorm]]." [[Philippe Katerine]], nearly nude and painted as a blue [[Dionysus]], performed "Nu," lying at the center of a long table with the drag queens posed in a manner resembling a bacchanalian feast.


The soundtrack of the first eight chapters included rearranged classics of [[Chanson|French chanson]] and pop culture mixed by DJ [[Barbara Butch]]<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1816920935531688059 |user=Olympics |title=The world is a stage, and Paris is a catwalk. 💅 The #OpeningCeremony is France's largest nightclub. Celebrities are showcasing young French designer talent, while DJ Barbara Butch provides the tunes. The perfect moment for the last delegations to arrive. ✨ #Paris2024 |date=July 27, 2024 |access-date=July 27, 2024}}</ref>, such as "[[Initials B.B. (song)|Initials B.B.]]" by [[Serge Gainsbourg]], "{{lang|fr|Chacun fait (c'qui lui plaît)}}," "{{lang|fr|Laissez-moi danser}} (Monday, Tuesday)," "[[Marcia Baila]]" and "[[Andy (song)|Andy]]" by [[Les Rita Mitsouko]], the French [[can-can]] by [[Moulin Rouge]] dancers, "[[Gymnopédies|Gymnopédie no 1]]" by [[Erik Satie]], "Ça balance pas mal à Paris" by [[Michel Berger]], "DJ" by [[Diam's]], "Spacer" by [[Sheila (French singer)|Sheila]], "{{lang|fr|[[L'Aziza]]}}" by [[Daniel Balavoine]], "[[Lady (Hear Me Tonight)]]" by [[Modjo]], "[[Love Don't Let Me Go]]" by [[David Guetta]], "{{lang|fr|Chanson sur ma drôle de vie}}" by [[Véronique Sanson]], "{{lang|fr|[[Lettre à France]]}}" by [[Michel Polnareff]], "[[Music Sounds Better with You]]" by Stardust, "Kass Limon" by Jupiter and [[Kassav']], "Alexandrie Alexandra" by [[Claude François]], "[[D.A.N.C.E.]]" by [[Justice (band)|Justice]], "{{lang|fr|[[Désenchantée]]}}" by [[Mylène Farmer]], {{lang|fr|"Louxor, j'adore"}} by [[Philippe Katerine]], and "[[D.I.S.C.O.]]" by [[Ottawan]].
The soundtrack of the first eight chapters included rearranged classics of [[Chanson|French chanson]] and pop culture mixed by DJ [[Barbara Butch]]<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1816920935531688059 |user=Olympics |title=The world is a stage, and Paris is a catwalk. 💅 The #OpeningCeremony is France's largest nightclub. Celebrities are showcasing young French designer talent, while DJ Barbara Butch provides the tunes. The perfect moment for the last delegations to arrive. ✨ #Paris2024 |date=July 27, 2024 |access-date=July 27, 2024}}</ref>, such as "[[Initials B.B. (song)|Initials B.B.]]" by [[Serge Gainsbourg]], "{{lang|fr|Chacun fait (c'qui lui plaît)}}," "{{lang|fr|Laissez-moi danser}} (Monday, Tuesday)," "[[Marcia Baila]]" and "[[Andy (song)|Andy]]" by [[Les Rita Mitsouko]], the French [[can-can]] by [[Moulin Rouge]] dancers, "[[Gymnopédies|Gymnopédie no 1]]" by [[Erik Satie]], "{{Ill|Ça balance pas mal à Paris|fr}}" by [[Michel Berger]], "DJ" by [[Diam's]], "{{Ill|Spacer (Shelia song)|lt=Spacer|fr|Spacer}}" by [[Sheila (French singer)|Sheila]], "{{lang|fr|[[L'Aziza]]}}" by [[Daniel Balavoine]], "[[Lady (Hear Me Tonight)]]" by [[Modjo]], "[[Love Don't Let Me Go]]" by [[David Guetta]], "{{lang|fr|Chanson sur ma drôle de vie}}" by [[Véronique Sanson]], "{{lang|fr|[[Lettre à France]]}}" by [[Michel Polnareff]], "[[Music Sounds Better with You]]" by Stardust, "Kass Limon" by {{Ill|Jupiter (French band)|lt=Jupiter|fr|Jupiter (groupe de musique)}} and [[Kassav']], "{{Ill|Alexandrie Alexandra|fr}}" by [[Claude François]], "[[D.A.N.C.E.]]" by [[Justice (band)|Justice]], "{{lang|fr|[[Désenchantée]]}}" by [[Mylène Farmer]], {{lang|fr|"Louxor, j'adore"}} by [[Philippe Katerine]], and "[[D.I.S.C.O.]]" by [[Ottawan]].


The parade boats culminated with the [[France at the 2024 Summer Olympics|French delegation]] riding a boat on the Seine to "{{lang|fr|[[Que je t'aime]]}}" and "[[Midnight City]]."
The parade boats culminated with the [[France at the 2024 Summer Olympics|French delegation]] riding a boat on the Seine to "{{lang|fr|[[Que je t'aime]]}}" and "[[Midnight City]]."

Revision as of 19:32, 27 July 2024

2024 Summer Olympics
opening ceremony
The Seine, where the athletes paraded by boat.
Date26 July 2024 (2024-07-26)
Time19:30 – 23:30 CEST (UTC+2)[1]
VenueJardins du Trocadéro
Seine River
LocationParis, France
Coordinates48°51′24″N 2°21′8″E / 48.85667°N 2.35222°E / 48.85667; 2.35222
Filmed byOlympic Broadcasting Services (OBS)
Olympic rings
Part of a series on
2024 Summer Olympics

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics took place on 26 July 2024 across Paris, beginning at 19:30 CEST (17:30 UTC). As mandated by the Olympic Charter, the proceedings included an artistic program showcasing the culture of the host country and city, the parade of athletes and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. The Games were formally opened by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.

For the first time in modern Olympic history, the opening ceremony was held outside of a stadium, with most of the procedures and performances taking place in several Paris landmarks and across the Seine River and most of the official protocols taking place at a temporary stadium in the Jardins du Trocadéro. The programme consisted of twelve chapters and featured a mix of live performances with filmed segments and animated sequences.

The ceremony received a mixed reception, with many praising the performances of Gojira, Aya Nakamura and Celine Dion, while criticism was directed at the length, poor weather conditions, technical issues, and some elements of the production itself.[2][3][4][5][6] Most French newspapers praised it, but right-wing and far-right commentators rejected it as ‘woke propaganda’.[7]

On 26 July 2024, the day of the opening ceremony, a series of arson attacks damaged the lines of the French railway system.[8] International and domestic rail services were widely disrupted,[9] with around 800,000 passengers affected.[10] There was also an attempted attack on LGV Sud-Est line, though it was interrupted by TGV maintenance workers who happened to be on site.[11]

Preparations

Planning was expected to finalise by the end of 2023, with certain rehearsals occurring in other venues without the public before the event, while in specific situations, some were carried out on-site, which were considered as "teasers" by Thierry Reboul, the Brand, Creativity and Engagement Executive Director for the Games. The first camera test shots were done in September 2023 and coverage of the event was expected to be provided by 130 cameras.[12] The event was broadcast to 80 giant screens along the route of the Seine.[13] Organized by theater actor and director Thomas Jolly, it was the first opening ceremony held outside of an Olympic stadium since the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires.[13][14] The choreography was created by Maud Le Pladec [fr].[15]

Attendees were originally expected to be upwards of 500,000 people,[12] non-paying and an additional 100,000 paying spectators on the lower quays of the river,[16] for an expected total of 600,000.[17] However, after a suggestion in May 2023 by Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the French Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, that this be limited to between 300,000 and 400,000 free of charge, and after additional concerns of security and transportation, the figure was reduced to a maximum of 300,000 in late November 2023.[16] In late December 2023, a further reduction was posited, as security services would have preferred the ceremony in a stadium to facilitate implementing security measures.[18] The bleachers stretched from the François Mitterrand Library to the Eiffel Tower.[16]

The public lined the banks of the Seine, sitting on a 6-kilometre (3.7 mi) stretch on the upper and lower quays as well of rivers that cross each side of the river.[12][13] The organizing team counted between 6,000 and 8,000 personnel. The ceremony itself had originally projected 2,000 dancers,[12] but this was lowered to 400 dancers out of 3,000 performers total.[19] All personnel involved in water, air and land performances in total numbered 45,000, with an average of per 3,750 people per square kilometre (9,700/sq mi).[18] This figure does not include the roughly 2,000 security agents required to monitor the entry tents of paid ticketholders and law enforcement located on the elevated docks throughout the course.[18] The cast and athletes started their travel on the river from the Pont d'Austerlitz to the Pont d'Iena, in front of the Eiffel Tower and the Jardins du Trocadéro, where the main protocol was held.[17]

In May 2023, tickets for the event went on sale via ballot for the first time, with prices ranging from €90 to €2,700,[20] with the latter being the most expensive tickets overall for the Games.[21]

In 2023 plans were made to remove the riverside book stalls during the Opening Ceremony and as a practice in November 2023 a number of book stalls were being dismantled.[22] However, in February 2024 president Macron shelved the plan to remove the booksellers.[23]

The total number of boats and barges was near 160,[24] with around 58 taking part in a reduced rehearsal carried out in July 2023, carrying athlete delegations, television crews and emergency services.[14] 7,000[25] of the 10,500 athletes were expected to take part.[26] In April 2023, 116 vessels from 42 river companies had been committed, with an expected 98% of all boats to be used being based in Paris and the rest from regional boat companies, including local sponsor Highfield Boats.[20]

In February 2024, it was announced the number of spectators to attend the opening ceremony would be reduced from the proposed 600,000 spectators to around 300,000. There were 100,000 paid tickets for the ceremony, with around 200,000 free tickets.[27][28] The next month an exact amount of 326,000 tickets was stated, with 104,000 paid tickets for the lowest bank and 222,000 free tickets for the higher banks.[29] The free tickets were distributed in three rounds and aimed at families with low incomes living in underprivileged areas, sports movements, young people, and people helping to organise the Olympics, including traders and city workers.[30] As originally proposed, no free tickets were given to tourists.[31]

The rehearsal of the ceremony, which was scheduled for 24 June 2024, was postponed due to a strong flow in the Seine River.[32] It was rescheduled for 16 July 2024.[33]

Thierry Reboul, also the Director of Ceremonies, claimed that the inspiration came in 2019 when he was walking along the river,[34] however, the route had previously been decided by the COJOP2024 in its bid,[35] since Estanguet wished to 'throw "away the rule book."'[34] Parisian mayor Anne Hidalgo assembled a committee to develop the creative aspects of the ceremony before COJOP2024 hired a creative director. The committee's chair, Patrick Boucheron, would eventually be one of the four individuals hired by Jolly to develop the script. Even before being chosen to plan the ceremony, Jolly had "dreamed of delegations arriving by hot air balloon, a French invention, and of the heads of dead kings rising from the Seine to watch the ceremony", yet this idea was not implemented.[35] Thomas Jolly and four scriptwriters planned the ceremony. They wore puffer jackets while going out on boats along the river from the Austerlitz Bridge to the Eiffel Tower. After these excursions, they spent nine months writing the ceremony.[25] They took inspiration from the history of Paris,[25] and its main themes consisted of love and "shared humanity."[35]

After determining 12 scenes of French history to represent, Jolly hired four subdirectors to develop the music, costumes and choreography of the event.[35] Daphné Bürki and Olivier Bériot were in charge of costumes while Maud Le Pladec [fr] was entrusted the choreography and dance,[36] with Victor Le Masne [fr], who developed the Olympic theme for the opening and closing ceremonies in three seconds, as the musical director.[37] Certain elements were not able to be implemented such as having performers lean out of the Hôtel-Dieu, Paris decommissioned hospital building due to asbestos. Other plans that did not go through included a performance that would take place near fish hatchery by the Béthune Quay on the bank of the Seine which was not to be disturbed, and mass dancers on a bridge that would have caused its collapse, with an undisclosed scene being reworked 73 times by May 2024.[35] In total, 3,000 performers took part, with at least 400 of these being dancers.[19]

Since the water level would rise or fall depending on the weather, the organizer's developed "software to cast the route in 3-D so he could visualize high and low water levels, rain, even storms".[35]

Safety measures

In October 2023, following security concerns caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 2023 Israel–Hamas war and the Arras school stabbing, both the French government and the Paris Organising Committee for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games (COJOP2024) stated there were no official plans to relocate, stating that "Plan A takes into account all of the threats." Oudéa-Castréa stated on BFM TV that they were paying attention to context and the government had been working on "adjustment variables," wishing to maintain the original format.[16] In December 2023, President Macron stated that there were multiple scenarios for the ceremony, in case of a major security event which would force it to move from the Seine. On this, COJOP2024 stated they had "contingency plans for all identified risk scenarios: heatwaves, cyberattacks, and the ceremony is no exception."[17] In April 2024 President Macron announced that in case of a terrorism threat, there was a plan B, and even plan C; in that case the Opening Ceremony would be moved to the Trocadero square or to the Stade de France stadium.[38] Nevertheless, Christophe Dubi, the IOC Olympic Games executive director, stated the previous month of March that a change to the Stade de France would be unlikely due to the event being "too big, too sophisticated, too complex artistically to look at a Plan B in another location."[26]

In April 2024 it was announced all buildings with a view of the Seine would have extra anti-terrorism protection.[39] Several areas near the Seine river, metro stations and adjacent museums including the Louvre, Orsay and the Museum of Decorative Arts will be closed.[39]

Being the largest ever security operation in France,[34] after the closure of bridges from 8 July 2024, 18 days ahead of the Opening Ceremony, a security perimeter was placed around the ceremony site from 18 July, 8 days ahead of the Ceremony.[38][40] The perimeter included among others prohibition of motorized access, controlled access for pedestrians with people within the perimeter subjected to a personal "Games pass".[40] All airports and airspace in a 90 miles (140 km) radius would be closed during the ceremony, and 45,000 security officers, including over 2,000 foreign police, will be stationed in Paris during the ceremony.[26]

On the day of the event, spectators faced long queues as well as ticketing obstacles. Many of the gates opened over an hour later than previously scheduled due to a lack of sufficient scanners to process all tickets.[41]

Ceremony key team

Thomas Jolly, artistic director of the opening ceremony.

Commentators and hosts

Protocolar elements and torch relay

The Parade of Nations, during which the expected number of 10,500 participating athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees participate categorized by their respective delegation,[13] took place on the Seine, with other ceremonial events being held at the Jardins du Trocadéro.[1][50]

The Parade had as its main inspiration Jean-Paul Goude's 200th anniversary parade of the French Revolution on Bastille Day in 1989 which was described in comparison as "an anti-national festival that rolled all of us into a “worldwide melting pot, with an optimism that we’ve lost today.”"[51] Taking inspiration from the homonym of the French for "stage" (scène) and the river Seine, the artistic portion of the event depicted 12 scenes from French history.[35] It was expected to be the grandest event on the Seine in 285 years since the celebrations organized by Louis XV for his daughter's wedding with Philip, Duke of Parma in 1739.[35] President Macron stated that the ceremony would include a "great story of emancipation and freedom," marking events from the French Revolution to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the latter signed at the exact same place the ceremony ends, the Palais de Chaillot.[25]

Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, had estimated that 25,000 security agents would be required and that around 35,000 police officers would be deployed for the opening ceremony.[20][1]

The 80-day Olympic torch relay for the Olympic flame was organized by COJOP2024 president Tony Estanguet. It was lit in Olympia, Greece on 16 April 2024,[52] travelling through Greece for the following 10 days before being handed to COJOP2024 on 26 April at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. It left Piraeus aboard the sailing ship Belem and arrived at Marseille on 8 May 2024 under the escort of 1000 boats.[53][54]

Proceedings

Main article: 2024 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations

Entry to the venues opened at 17:30 CEST with the ceremony starting two hours later at 19:30 CEST.[41]

Prologue

After everyone was seated and the Olympic torch relay ended its metropolitan leg around the area surrounding the Stade de France, the event began with a pre-recorded video (with footage of past opening ceremonies of the Games) of comedian Jamel Debbouze carrying the flame into an empty Stade de France, having not realised that the ceremony would be held outside the stadium. Interspersed were clips of newscasters reporting that the ceremony would be along the Seine after he arrives inside the stadium. He is approached by footballer Zinedine Zidane, who takes the torch through the city streets, attracting the attention of a trio of children, then into the Paris Métro. Before the train can leave the station, it breaks down, prompting Zidane to pass the torch to the children through the train window.

After traversing the Catacombs of Paris and the underground lake beneath the Palais Garnier, the children are approached by a hooded and masked torchbearer who is rowing a boat. The masked torchbearer represented several masked French heroes, such as Arsène Lupin and The Phantom of the Opera among others. The trio climb aboard and as they begin their journey to the outside world, the camera pans up to the Trocadéro stage to reveal Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee and Emmanuel Macron, president of the French Republic, already seated as they stand up to welcome the crowd. After that, the boat rows through a tunnel, revealing a light that shines to reveal the phrase "Ça Ira" as the boat arrives, traversing the Seine. The masked torchbearer would then appear between scenes, on the Seine and the rooftops of Paris, serving as a connecting thread throughout the ceremony.

At 19:30, pyrotechnics over the Pont d'Austerlitz (decorated in Olympic theming) bridge in the tricolors of the flag of France with jets of water from the Seine began the Parade of Nations, beginning with the Greek delegation & the Refugee Olympic Team through the Bahraini delegation.[19] For the first time in Olympic history, the athletes sailed on multiple Paris boats such as ferries or yachts and the parade was integrated into the artistic programme for the first time.

Enchanté

The first sequence, Enchanté, included the ceremony's first musical act which featured Lady Gaga and eight dancers waving large pink feather hand fans, all in custom Dior costumes, in a pre-recorded segment alluding to "a cabaret feel" by performing "Mon truc en plume," made famous by vedette Zizi Jeanmaire, on a golden staircase and black grand piano on the bank of the Seine.[55] The singer wore a black satin bustier under a black feather jacket.[56]

The parade resumed with the Bangladeshi through Chinese delegations, as dancers and acrobats performed on French garden-style barges on the Seine.

Synchronicité

The second tableau, Synchronicité, started with a dance tribute by 420 people to the reconstruction teams of Notre-Dame de Paris and crafts and artisans in general, held on Île de la Cité. This sequence featured dancer Guillaume Diop and Olympic champions Martin Fourcade and Michael Phelps. Aside from the Notre-Dame's reconstruction, the sequence also highlighted the making of the Olympic medals in its three metals at the Monnaie de Paris and the Louis Vuitton bags that carry them.

Liberté

Marina ViottiThe third sequence, Liberté, began on the façade of the Conciergerie with a tribute to the French Revolution (titled "Ah! ça ira"), referencing Marie Antoinette's execution and the musical Les Misérables, as the original French version of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" played to introduce the segment. Performers included death metal band Gojira and soprano Marina Viotti [fr] performing Habanera from the French opera Carmen. Dancers at the Bibliothèque nationale de France performed to classic and contemporary French literary pieces. The tableau also addressed diverse forms of love (including LGBT themes and polyamory), expressed by acrobats from the XY company and circus artists from the Gratte-Ciel company. Tightrope walker Nathan Paulin performed outdoors.

Egalité

The Republican Guard marching band played "For me formidable" by Charles Aznavour on the Pont des Arts, opening the fourth sequence, Égalité. Aya Nakamura performed "Pookie" and an arrangement of "For me formidable" and her hit "Djadja," accompanied by the Choir of the French Army and musicians of the Republican Guard.

Fraternité

Bleachers set up in front of the Musée d'Orsay.

The fifth sequence, Fraternité, began with Camille Saint-Saëns' "Danse macabre" and referenced the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. The parade resumed with the Cypriot through Gabonese delegations, as pianist Alexandre Kantorow performed Maurice Ravel's "Jeux d'eau" under heavy rain. The parade boats continued with the Gambian through Jamaican delegations.

The ceremony moved to the Musée d'Orsay and paid homage to the science of imagery, particularly French filmmakers the Lumière brothers and Georges Méliès alongside French children's literature such as The Little Prince, as the Paul Dukas tone poem "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" played. After that, the International Space Station appears, revealing a yellow telescope which pans down to an animated underwater sequence featuring the Minions holding various sports events in a submarine, with the Mona Lisa emerging from the Seine after it explodes. Mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel sang the French national anthem in a French flag-themed Dior dress atop the Grand Palais.

Sororité

The sixth sequence, Sororité, highlighted ten notable French women with golden statues along the Seine: Olympe de Gouges, Alice Milliat, Gisèle Halimi, Paulette Nardal, Jeanne Barret, Christine de Pizan, Louise Michel, Alice Guy, Simone Veil, and Simone de Beauvoir (the latter's statue did not rise during the ceremony). After that, Saint-Cirel sang the second verse of the French national anthem, accompanied by a choir.

Sportivité

The seventh sequence, Sportivité, resumed the parade boats with the Japanese through Norwegian delegations. Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński performed a baroque piece, followed by rapper Rim'K singing "King."

Festivité

The Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower.

The eighth sequence, Festivité, started with a tribute to French fashion on the Passerelle Debilly's red carpet. The parade ended with the delegations Australia (host of the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane) and the United States (host of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles). The masked torchbearer crossed the Passerelle Debilly, while a live video feed highlighted the welcoming committee in Tahiti, where the surfing events would be held.

A tribute to the European Union was introduced by "The Final Countdown" and a drone show around the Eiffel Tower forming the 12 stars of the EU flag, and featured drag queens including Nicky Doll and dancers including Germain Louvet, Electro Street, and the Mazelfreten collective, continuing on the waterlogged red carpet of the Debilly footbridge, as well as a barge with an LED dancefloor, to Eurodance tracks such as "Freed from Desire," "Stereo Love," and "Sandstorm." Philippe Katerine, nearly nude and painted as a blue Dionysus, performed "Nu," lying at the center of a long table with the drag queens posed in a manner resembling a bacchanalian feast.

The soundtrack of the first eight chapters included rearranged classics of French chanson and pop culture mixed by DJ Barbara Butch[57], such as "Initials B.B." by Serge Gainsbourg, "Chacun fait (c'qui lui plaît)," "Laissez-moi danser (Monday, Tuesday)," "Marcia Baila" and "Andy" by Les Rita Mitsouko, the French can-can by Moulin Rouge dancers, "Gymnopédie no 1" by Erik Satie, "Ça balance pas mal à Paris [fr]" by Michel Berger, "DJ" by Diam's, "Spacer [fr]" by Sheila, "L'Aziza" by Daniel Balavoine, "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" by Modjo, "Love Don't Let Me Go" by David Guetta, "Chanson sur ma drôle de vie" by Véronique Sanson, "Lettre à France" by Michel Polnareff, "Music Sounds Better with You" by Stardust, "Kass Limon" by Jupiter [fr] and Kassav', "Alexandrie Alexandra" by Claude François, "D.A.N.C.E." by Justice, "Désenchantée" by Mylène Farmer, "Louxor, j'adore" by Philippe Katerine, and "D.I.S.C.O." by Ottawan.

The parade boats culminated with the French delegation riding a boat on the Seine to "Que je t'aime" and "Midnight City."

Obscurité

The ninth tableau, Obscurité, continued on from Festivité, with the music turning darker in mood and the dancers aboard the barge becoming more frenetic. As its LED floor flashed a montage of various climate disasters, including droughts, floods, and forest fires, the dancers slowly collapsed, one by one. As the Seine darkened, Juliette Armanet appeared on a raft singing "Imagine" as part of a call for peace, accompanied by Sofiane Pamart on a burning piano.

Solidarité

The tenth tableau, Solidarité, showcased a masked rider (portrayed by Floriane Issert, a member of the Gendarmerie[58][59]) wearing an Olympic Flag as a cape along with silver and black armor, riding a metallic mechanical horse along the Seine to spread the spirit of the Games. This segment referenced Pierre de Coubertin and the history of the Olympics, with numerous archival images and highlights of past Games. Flagbearers from each country gathered under the Eiffel Tower. The rider appeared on a white horse, bringing another, folded Olympic Flag to a mast at the Trocadéro, surrounded by athletes. The Olympic Anthem was performed by the Radio France Choir featuring the Maîtrise de Radio France and the Orchestre National de France as members of the French Armed Forces raised the flag, which was accidentally raised upside down.[60]

Solennité

In the eleventh sequence, Solennité, the Olympic Laurels were awarded, with Italian diplomat Filippo Grandi receiving them in his capacity as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Tony Estanguet, head of the organizing committee, and IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed participants and spectators in French and English. President Emmanuel Macron then declared the Games open.

"I declare open the Games of Paris, celebrating the Games of the XXXVIII Olympiad of modern times."

The Olympic oath was sworn by French flag bearers Mélina Robert-Michon and Florent Manaudou, coach Christophe Massina, and a wrestling referee. Zinedine Zidane took the Olympic flame from the masked bearer and handed it to Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, who, along with other multiple Olympic champions, carried the flame up the Seine by boat, while on the Trocadéro stage, a deaf dancer performed "Supernature" by Cerrone in French Sign Language, backdropped by an elaborate light show on the Eiffel Tower, focusing on the Olympic Rings. The flame was passed among Carl Lewis, Serena Williams, and Nadia Comăneci. The boat docked near the Louvre, where tennis champion Amélie Mauresmo continued the relay with basketball player Tony Parker. They were joined by Paralympic champions Nantenin Keïta, Alexis Hanquinquant, and Marie-Amélie Le Fur, officially opening the twelfth and final chapter, Éternité.


Éternité

Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec lit the Olympic cauldron.

The flame was relayed through the Tuileries Garden after entering the Carrousel du Louvre, where the flame would be situated. A number of French Olympic champions carried the torch such as, Jean-François Lamour, Félicia Ballanger, Florian Rousseau, Émilie Le Pennec, David Douillet, Clarisse Agbegnenou, Alain Bernard, Laure Manaudou, Renaud Lavillenie, Laura Flessel and Charles Coste, the oldest French Olympic champion at 100 years old. The final leg culminated with Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec lighting the Olympic cauldron, a ring of computerized LEDs and water aerosol spray dispensers which was topped by a 30-meter-tall helium sphere resembling a hot air balloon, rising in the air, reminiscent of the Montgolfier brothers' experiments leading to the first hot air balloon flight in 1783. The cauldron had to be attached to a wire to avoid flying off and was landed back during competitions.

Celine Dion concluded the ceremony by singing Édith Piaf's Hymne à l'amour from the Eiffel Tower, followed by a few notes of La Marseillaise, bringing the ceremony to a close.

Anthems

Performances

Céline Dion (pictured in 2012) made her first live performance since 2020 at the end of the opening ceremony.

French singer Slimane performed his song "Mon Amour" at a pre-opening ceremony event in Saint-Denis which was broadcast on France 2.[62] As Slimane had cancelled a concert the day prior, some media outlets were unsure whether he would perform.[63]

American singer Lady Gaga was the first performer of the ceremony, performing a rendition of the song "Mon truc en plumes".[64] Even though her appearance had not been in the embargoed media guide distributed previous to the event, her participation had been heavily speculated due to her multiple appearances in Paris in the days before the ceremony.[19] Progressive metal act Gojira soon followed, becoming the first metal band to perform at an Olympic opening ceremony. The band, who were joined by opera singer Marina Viotti, performed the French revolution-era song "Ça Ira" at the Conciergerie, a former prison where Marie Antoinette spent her final days.[64] A performer portraying a beheaded Antoinette began the performance.[65] Aya Nakamura soon followed with a performance of her songs "Pookie" and "Djadja" on the Pont des Arts.[66][67]

Later in the night, as part of a fashion runway portion of the ceremony, various drag queens, including Nicky Doll and several past contestants from Drag Race France, recreated the famous painting The Last Supper.[68][69] Doll also performed "I Had a Dream" on the runway.[68] Shortly after, musician Philippe Katerine performed while covered in blue body paint and surrounded by fruit and flowers. While Katerine was depicting the Greek god Dionysus, some viewed him as similar to Belgian comic character Papa Smurf.[70] Juliette Armanet sang John Lennon's 1971 song "Imagine" while accompanied by Sofiane Pamart on piano, which was ablaze during the performance.[71]

Closing the opening ceremony after the Olympic flame was lighted, Céline Dion sang the Édith Piaf song "Hymne à l'amour" on the first level of the Eiffel Tower. The performance was her first since December 2022, after revealing her diagnosis with stiff person syndrome.[72]

Dignitaries in attendance

Host nation

 International Olympic Committee

Foreign leaders and representatives

The local organizing committee had expected around 120 world leaders will attend the Opening Ceremony, next to around 160 ministers.[75] In another report, the French government said that at least 100 heads of state and government had accepted the invitation to the Games, but did not disclose any other details.[76]

According to a list from the Elysee, a total of 110 foreign leaders confirmed their trip to Paris for the ceremony.[77] President Macron and IOC president Bach hosted a reception and a Sports for Sustainable Development Summit with visiting dignitaries.[77] The following international politicians confirmed their plans to attend:

International organizations

The following dignitaries from international organizations were in attendance:

Reception

The ceremony has received a mixed reception, with many praising the performances of Gojira, Nakamura and Dion, with main criticisms being directed at the length, poor weather conditions and technical issues.[3][4][5][6] The inclusion of the Minions was criticized as being considered more of an "extended ad" and as "off-putting".[127][128][129] Nick Hilton from The Independent described the ceremony as "Too much filler, too little killer."[130] Kelly Lawler from USA Today wrote "There was nothing so very outrageous..., but nothing so very special, either."[131][132] Arifa Akbar from The Guardian was critical, and described the games as ''Soaring ambition deflated by patchy delivery''. The review stated the production lacked class.[133] The BBC called it "brilliantly frenetic and occasionally emotional."[134]

In Italy, Corriere della Sera emphasized the "revolutionary" aspect of the ceremony. La Repubblica criticized the "self-celebratory parade," which left the athletes in the shade. La Stampa went so far as to describe it as "a flop, a hole in the water," with the exception of a "moving finale."[134]

Time was more positive, claiming the opening ceremony was a weird, wonderful, extremely French love letter to Paris.[135] Some French newspapers praised it, but right-wing and far-right French commentators rejected it as ‘woke propaganda’.[136] The Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post stated that the opening ceremony of the Paris Games was "the worst of all time", showing global social media reaction and backlash.[137] News.com.au were highly critical and stated ''The rumours about the Opening Ceremony all suggested the $1.5 billion spectacle was going to blow the world away. The rumours were very wrong.'' They showed global reactions, one stating ‘I’m embarrassed for France’.[138]

Controversies during the opening ceremony

Drag queen recreation of the Last Supper

The group of performers including drag queens recreating the Last Supper, was criticised by some as blasphemy or as making a mockery of Christianity.[139][140][141] Many Catholic leaders criticized the performance, including Bishops' Conference of France, Archbishop Fernando Chomalí Garib, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, and Bishop Robert Barron;[142] Barron called the performance "gross mockery".[143] Several Catholic public figures also criticized the segment, including American footballer Harrison Butker and political commentator Matt Walsh.[140]

Jewish commentator Dr. Eli David called it an "outrageous insult to Jesus and Christianity" and Tesla CEO Elon Musk called it "extremely disrespectful to Christians."[144] Javier Tebas, president of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional, labeled the performance "disrespectful".[142] Several politicians also attacked the performance as Anti-Christian, including Australian politician Michael McCormack,[145] French politician Marion Maréchal,[140] Hungarian diplomat Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen,[146] and American politicians including Marco Rubio[144] and Mike Johnson.[147]

Presence of Aya Nakamura

Far-right French politicians, including Marion Maréchal and National Rally spokesperson Julien Odoul, decried the presence of singer Aya Nakamura at the ceremony. Nakamura had faced racial abuse in the leadup to the event, such as the far-right group Les Natifs displaying a banner "There's no way Aya. This is Paris, not the Bamako market."[148] According to an Odoxa [fr] poll, 63% of French people disapproved of Nakamura performing at the Olympics.[149]

Introduction of South Korea

At the opening ceremony, South Korea were introduced as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (République populaire démocratique de Corée) rather than the "Republic of Korea" (République de Corée).[150][151] International Olympic Committee posted an apology on the Korean-language X account.[152] However, no apology was posted on the official English-language social media account.

Jang Mi-ran, Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, asked the IOC to arrange a meeting with President Bach regarding this incident.[153]

"We also asked the foreign ministry to lodge a strong complaint with France on a government level. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee immediately asked the Paris organizing committee to prevent a recurrence of similar cases and will submit an official protest under our chef de mission. The committee will also meet with the IOC."

— Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (South Korea)

LVMH-sponsorship and customs

Even though Olympic Games have both local and IOC sponsors, advertising is frequently absent in the stadia.[154] However, the French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, who had paid an alleged €150 million ($163 million) to be the "premium sponsor" of the Paris Olympics, was seen during the ceremony, various segments included garments and goods developed by the company.[155][154] Singers Lady Gaga and Aya Nakamura wearing LVMH subsidiary Dior haute couture, while the Synchronicité segment featured clearly large Louis Vuitton Damier canvas branded trunks and suitcases.[155] Other such product placement that highlighted the Louis Vuitton pattern during the Games included the trunks for the torches, outfits for medal bearers, and the medal presentation trays, which could eventually become a problem for the IOC with its long-term sponsors.[154]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d as member of the IOC

See also

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  145. ^ McCormack, Michael (27 July 2024). "The Olympics Opening Ceremony "artistic" director who felt the need to mock The Last Supper & thereby Christianity should be reminded of the great sacrifice of Christian soldiers, including tens upon tens of 1000s of Australians, buried in 🇫🇷 soil who died to save that country!". Facebook.
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  150. ^ "(2nd LD) (Olympics) 'Games Wide Open': 33rd Summer Olympic Games kick off in Paris". Yonhap News Agency. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024. As the boat carrying the delegation came into view, the French-speaking announcer said, "Republique populaire democratique de Coree," and the English-speaking announcer followed with "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," the official designation of North Korea.
  151. ^ ""대한민국이 북조선인민공화국(DPRK)이라고?" 초황당 파리올림픽 개회식→문체부X체육회 적극 대응［파리live］". Sports Chosun (in Korean). 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024. 대한민국을 DPRK로 소개한 장내 아나운서의 치명적인 실수에 새벽 TV로 개회식을 지켜보던 국민들이 경악했다. 남성 아나운서가 한국을 프랑스어로 'Republique populaire democratique de coree'로 소개한 후 여성 아나운서가 영어로 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea'라고 반복해 소개했다.
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  155. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :193 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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