Paris: The XXXIII Olympic Games, dominated by the French passion for music, dance, colour, fashion, and literature and regulated by water from the sky in the form of rain and the Seine River—the city’s lifeline—began on Friday evening with a groundbreaking opening ceremony that featured all the glitter associated with a fantastic occasion.
Elements from the nation’s scientific achievements found a home in the opening ceremony’s mash-up of arts, culture, literature, fashion, and film. These elements were divided into eight segments that represented the pillars of France’s motto: equality, synchronicity, liberty, nationalism, sisterhood, solidarity, and fraternity.
The Greek delegates led the Parade of Nations, a symbol of global unity. It was a breathtaking sight as athletes from almost 200 nations rode boats down the river, showcasing the diversity and harmony of the Olympic spirit.
The Indian contingent passed through the centre of Paris on a boat led by two-time Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu and seasoned paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal, and that was the magical moment for everyone watching the event on television at home or in makeshift stands.
As the Indian delegation cruised past the main stands and monuments on the riverbank, they were greeted with hearty waves and thunderous applause. It was a moment of immense pride for the Indian athletes and a testament to the global appeal of the Olympics.
With a captivating performance that set the stage for more electrifying acts to come, American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga got hearts racing. The crowd, eagerly anticipating the next three hours of celebration, erupted in cheers as the international celebrity performed the French classic “Mon truce en plume” by Zizi Jeanmaire.
About 80 performers from the Moulin Rouge danced the “can-can,” a well-known French cabaret dance, as the boats floated down the Seine.
No one wanted to leave the venue and miss the once-in-a-lifetime ceremony despite strong rains pounding Paris just before it began.
For the first time in Olympic Games history, the opening ceremony was held along a river and outside the main stadium. Due to the removal of the sitting limitations, around 300,000 people could watch in person from specially constructed stands on the riverfront, and an additional 200,000 people watched from balconies and apartments.
Over a hundred international dignitaries, including heads of state and government and their delegates, attended the ceremony, which was led by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. Both men were introduced at the Trocadero.
International stars like tennis legend Rafael Nadal and swimming legend Michel Phelps were also among the spectators, and they led one section of the Olympic Ceremony.
Renowned French paintings from the Louvre, painstakingly re-created, lined the banks of the Seine to guard the athletes as they passed the Pont Royal bridge. Five pieces of art were included: the 1803 painting Portrait of Madeleine by Marie-Guillemine Benoist; the 1594 original Gabrielle d’Estrees and One of Her Sisters; the relief of Seti I and Hathor; the 1803 painting Portrait of Shah Abbas I and His Page; and the 1803 painting The Card Sharp with the Ace of Diamonds by Georges de la Tour.
Australia, which will host the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane, and the United States of America, the host of the 1928 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, finished last in the Parade of Nations, followed by their hosts, France.
Viewers saw images of the Olympic flame carried by athletes, celebrities, craftspeople, and parkour performers across roofs and over a river in a balloon, respectively, on their journey to the Opening Ceremony.
–IANS
