Love’s in the air
Paris, July 25
Paris has long been a city of dreamers: Just look at the Eiffel Tower, for decades the world’s loftiest structure. Audacity also underpins the French capital’s plans for its first Olympic Games in a century, which open tomorrow with an opening ceremony for the ages.
The most sprawling and elaborate Olympics opening ever — a gala spectacular evening on the River Seine that even French President Emmanuel Macron says initially felt like “a crazy and not very serious idea” — kicks off 16 days of competition that promise to be ground-breaking, with nearly every corner of the city hosting some aspect of competition.
Grand opening
- For the first time, the Games’ opening ceremony will not take place in a stadium. Instead, around 85 boats will carry nearly 7,000 athletes on a 6km floating parade on the Seine, at the heart of Paris
- Boats carrying the athletes will be equipped with cameras to allow those watching on TV or their phone to get a close-up view. Some 80 giant screens along the way will broadcast the show
- Details including who will light the cauldron to mark the start of the Games, or which artists are taking part, have been kept secret. But Lady Gaga and Celine Dion are among singers who have been spotted in Paris, triggering rumours they could take part in the ceremony
Equality and Sustainability
- These are the first Games with nearly equal numbers of men and women. It was in Paris 124 years ago that 22 women first got accepted as Olympians
- In an effort to stage Games that are less polluting, more sustainable and more socially virtuous, many of the sports venues are temporary
After two toned-down, pandemic-hampered Olympics, expect a bold celebration. The heady marriage of sports and France’s world-renowned capital of fashion, gastronomy and culture could also help secure the Olympics’ longer-term future.
Olympics organisers were struggling to find suitable host cities for their flagship Summer Games when they settled on Paris in 2017, enticed by its promise of innovations and the potential for the city of romance to rekindle love for the Olympics, especially with younger audiences that have so many other entertainment options.
But Paris’ challenges are huge, too. The city that has been repeatedly struck by deadly extremist attacks has to safeguard 10,500 athletes and millions of visitors. The international context of wars in Ukraine and Gaza add layers of complication for the gargantuan security effort.
Still, if all goes well, Paris hopes to be remembered as a before-and-after Olympics watershed. — AP
