When Céline Dion sang “L’Hymne à l’amour” in a breathtaking performance on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the spectacular overture to the XXXIII Olympic Games had reached its climax. Not even the constant rain in Paris could dampen the ailing grande dame’s moving performance. Lady Gaga had already provided great elegance with a revue performance in the shadow of the world-famous Notre Dame Cathedral. The opening ceremony was a brightly colored show with fireworks, laser shows and spectacular images along the landmarks of Paris – and also sent a message of peace to the world.
Before that, the approximately 6,800 athletes had presented themselves to the world public in an impressive boat parade on the Seine; basketball star Dennis Schröder and judo world champion Anna-Maria Wagner proudly waved the flag on the German ship.
The German flag bearers Dennis Schröder (r.) and Anna-Maria Wagner
Quelle: Getty Images/Pool
At 10:54 p.m., French President Emmanuel Macron declared the games open. IOC President Thomas Bach had previously linked his speech with the hope for a better political situation in the world. “Now we are part of an event that unites the world in peace,” said the 70-year-old. “In a world torn apart by wars and conflicts, thanks to this solidarity we can all come together this evening and unite the athletes of 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC refugee team.”
The lighting of the Olympic flame was a big secret. First, football idol Zinédine Zidane took over the flame, then it was the turn of tennis record holder Rafael Nadal. They continued on the Seine by boat – together with sports legends Carl Lewis, Serena Williams and Nadia Comaneci. Finally, at 11:22 p.m., three-time Olympic athletics champion Marie-José Pérec and two-time judo champion Teddy Riner lit a ring with a diameter of seven meters in the Tuileries at the Louvre, which was hanging from a balloon floating 30 meters high.
The Olympic flame hovers over Paris
Source: REUTERS
It was a show with a lot of flair and a variety of show acts. From French chansons to French cancan, high-wire acts and a catwalk to the DJ set – France wanted to show itself to be entertaining and versatile in the enormously elaborate show.
Rain poncho an important utensil
Only the weather did not play along. Gray skies and heavy rain marred the colorful parade in front of around 320,000 spectators, including 120 heads of state and government such as Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Spain’s King Felipe VI. However, the VIP box was at least dry, while otherwise the rain poncho was one of the most important items.
Emmanuel Macron (l.) and Olaf Scholz on the dry VIP grandstand
Source: REUTERS
Paris is hosting the Summer Games for the third time after 1900 and 1924. A mega-event that poses a major challenge even for the event-experienced French capital and raises security concerns. This is all the more true after arson attacks were carried out on the French high-speed rail network just a few hours before the opening ceremony. Acting French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal spoke of a “coordinated act of sabotage”. 800,000 people are believed to have been affected by the attacks.
Large-scale deployment of security forces and closure of airspace
Paris resembled a high-security area on Friday. 45,000 security forces were deployed during the opening ceremony. 650 special forces and 800 soldiers were also recruited. The airspace within a 150-kilometer radius of Paris was closed for the evening. The banks of the Seine, where the parade took place, were largely closed to car traffic. France had declared the highest terror alert level in March.
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But that shouldn’t spoil the mood. For the first time in the history of the games, the ceremony was not held in a stadium, but on the water. The athletes sailed a six-kilometer route from the Pont d’Austerlitz past twelve stage sets with around 2,000 artists to the Trocadéro at the Eiffel Tower. It started with a fireworks display in the French national colors.
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Source: dpa/Sina Schuldt
The German team boarded the third boat, together with Afghanistan, South Africa, Albania and Algeria. Around 150 German athletes and 100 coaches, supervisors and officials were on board. “It is the greatest honour you can receive. I am delighted that I can now stand here with Anna-Maria and represent Germany,” said a cheerful flag bearer Schröder, wearing a pink fishing hat.
Musical highlights were the performances by Lady Gaga, who again sang in French, and especially by Céline Dion. There had been speculation for days about an appearance by the 56-year-old singer, who is much admired in France. In 2022, Dion announced that she had been diagnosed with the so-called stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disease. The disease can lead to muscle cramps anywhere in the body.
Lady Gaga sang on the banks of the Seine
Source: dpa/Sina Schuldt
A number of celebrities watched the spectacle from the stands along the Seine, including Olympic icon Carl Lewis, Boris Becker and pop stars Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande. The most expensive tickets cost 2,700 euros, but there were also free seats.
Over the next two weeks, around 10,500 athletes will compete for medals in 329 disciplines. The competitions at world-famous locations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Place de la Concorde, the gardens of the Palace of Versailles and even surfing in Tahiti are expected to provide magnificent images. The German team will be competing with around 430 athletes and wants to stop the downward trend of the past games. Three years ago in Tokyo, the German team recorded its weakest haul since reunification, with 37 medals.
Games in the spirit of political conflicts
The games are supposed to be atmospheric in politically difficult times. The best example was that participants from Russia and Belarus were excluded from the opening ceremony. Because of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, athletes from both countries are only allowed to take part under a neutral flag, and team athletes are completely excluded. So only 15 Russians and 17 Belarusians are taking part in Paris.
But the Middle East conflict also plays a significant role in the security measures. Israel’s delegation is under special protection at the games in France. Their teams and individual athletes will be accompanied by the French police around the clock – in the Olympic Village and also on the way to the respective competition venues.
The Israeli Olympic team on the Seine
Source: AP/Rebecca Blackwell
In this context, Bach also quoted the lyrics of John Lennon’s song “Imagine”: “Some may say that we in the Olympic world are dreamers. But we are not the only ones. And our dream is coming true tonight: A reality that everyone can see. Olympic athletes from all over the world are showing us the greatness we humans are capable of. So I invite everyone: Dream with us.” Appropriately, French pop star Juliette Armanet also sang the ex-Beatle’s peace anthem.
Incendiary devices at railway facilities fuel safety concerns
There is great concern in Paris, not least because of the terrorist attacks of November 13, 2015. Accordingly, the arson attack on the French railway network on Friday night caused shock waves, even though there are no terrorist investigations into this.
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Unknown persons had set fire to railway facilities in various places. According to media reports, signals were set on fire and cables were cut, among other things. This led to chaos and massive disruptions. Thousands of travellers were stranded in the stations and sometimes did not know what to do for hours.
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