5 Facts about the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games took place last Friday, July 26, 2024. The event was held with unique performances with different themes and breaking unprecedented boundaries and genres.

During the ceremony, there were unforgettable moments, from the sudden rain that poured the city of Paris, the fusion of classic and modern, to the return of the diva Celine Dion.

Here are five unforgettable moments from the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, as reported by AFP on Saturday, July 27, 2024:

1. Opening Ceremony Drenched by Rain

The man behind the scenes of the opening ceremony, Thomas Jolly, a renowned French theater director meticulously choreographed the show that was performed along the banks of the Seine River.

However, there was one factor that could not be controlled: the weather. The opening ceremony was drenched in heavy summer rain in Paris despite the weather forecast calling for a sunny, sunny weather.

As national teams from different countries paraded on the Seine River in boats, they tried to make the best of the situation, hoping that the humidity would not have an impact on their health before the event.

Classical pianist Alexandre Kantorow was drenched as he performed on a Paris bridge without any cover, while social media users expressed concern over his instrument also being unprotected.

Ironically, the piece he played was Maurice Ravel's “Jeux d'eau” (“Water Games”).

2. The Diva's Comeback

Canadian singer Celine Dion who is battling a rare disease made a spectacular comeback by singing from the Eiffel Tower at the climax of the Olympic opening ceremony with a rendition of Edith Piaf's “Hymn to Love”.

Displaying impeccable intonation and hitting the notes with ease, Celine Dion sang the charming Parisian song as the Olympic cauldron lit by France's most decorated track athlete Marie-Jose Perec and three-time Olympic gold medalist judoka Teddy Riner soared into the Parisian sky on a balloon.

Last month Celine Dion vowed to fight to recover from a rare neurological condition that has left her unable to perform on stage.

Celine Dion first revealed her illness in December 2022 that she was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, an incurable autoimmune disorder.

3. A French Classic

Approximately 80 artists of the famous cabaret Moulin Rouge perform the iconic cancan dance dating back to the 1820s, with pink costumes specially designed for the occasion.

But the famous music was given a new electronic twist in an effort to give a new twist to French classical culture.

As the national team began their parade down the Seine River, they were accompanied by an accordion player - dressed in a typical French outfit of beret and blue-striped T-shirt - on the bridge.

4. Against Discrimination

There was racist backlash on social media and criticism from extreme right-wing groups when Malian French singer Aya Nakamura was due to perform at the opening ceremony.

But with President Emmanuel Macron supporting her involvement, she and her dance group performed a medley of her hits and a song by Charles Aznavour.

She was supported by French musicians and performed against the backdrop of the Academie Francaise building, an academy founded in 1635.

In Jolly's work for the opening ceremony, 10 statues of French female emancipation fighters emerged from the waters of the Seine River in an effort to commemorate their struggle.

5. Exciting Musical Treats

No one could call the event rigid in the music selection as the opening ceremony featured all styles from classical, opera, pop, to electro.

The opening ceremony did not rely on star power with Lady Gaga performing to showcase the French classical music hall and French star rapper Rim'K performing.

However, the biggest cheer came from the French metal band Gojira who appeared at the Conciergerie, an iconic building in the French Revolution, the first time a metal band appeared at the Olympic opening ceremony.

NURDIN SALEH | ANTARA

Editor's Choice: Flotilla on Seine, Rain and Celine Dion Mark Start of Paris Olympics

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