Paris games open with dazzling show despite rain and controversy
Emmanuel Macron was thrilled after the opening ceremony of the games in Paris. "People will still be talking about it in 100 years," he wrote on X. The ceremony was indeed an event the world had never seen before. However, there were some hiccups.
10:34 AM EDT, July 27, 2024
The French took the games' opening ceremony to a completely different dimension. For the first time, the event took place outside the stadium, in an open space.
Games in Paris opened. A remarkable show in the rain
They managed to organize an event that seemed safe and free of visible safety measures despite the threats posed by the modern world. The area was undoubtedly filled with secret service agents and armed guards, but that layer was completely invisible to the audience.
There was no shortage of touching and moving moments. Comments summarizing these sensations could be found online just after the ceremony ended.
"Thank you to Thomas Jolly and his creative genius for this wonderful ceremony. Thank you to the artists for this unique and magical moment. Thank you to the police, emergency services, agents, and volunteers. Thank you to everyone who believed in this. In 100 years, people will still be talking about it!
"We did it!" - Emmanuel Macron wrote after the opening ceremony concluded. The President of France gave a very brief speech on Friday evening, announcing the games' opening.
The broadcast was also closely watched by Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada. The politician referred to the performance by Celine Dion, his compatriot, who sang for the audience gathered in Paris and watching on TV.
According to media speculation, Celine Dion appeared in Paris for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games. Few believed that the singer, after a long break from singing, would manage to perform at such an event.
"A performance we’ll never forget. Thank you, Céline," wrote Trudeau. Fans who feared they would never see her on stage again reacted similarly.
The artist also spoke on social media. "Let the games begin! Sending love and luck to all competitors," the singer wrote on the platform X.
During the show on the Seine, there was an incident. French journalists reported that part of the gathered audience booed the passing Israeli delegation. Meanwhile, an eight-person team from Palestine wrote in the media: "Out of the ashes, we always rise."
