Paris 2024 opening ceremony leaves English viewers cold... but French declare it ‘magnifique’
There were mixed reviews for the Paris 2024 opening ceremony in Britain, but hosts always experience a boost at their own Olympics. This meant mostly positive reactions here in France.
Neutral observers from overseas focused on the reliance on non-French stars, the punishing rain and the odd sight of singer Philippe Katerine’s turn as Dionysus in blue body paint. But Saturday’s front pages in France preferred to dwell on the spectacle.
“En Trombes” (with a bang) was splashed on Libération, above a picture of the Tricolore fireworks which lit up Austerlitz Bridge. Le Parisien highlighted the Eiffel Tower and the word “époustouflant” (breathtaking), while Le Figaro used a different image of the tower saluting “le ferveur et l’émotion” (fervour and emotion).
Le Monde’s review was positive, saying artistic director Thomas Jolly “succeeded in his challenge of presenting an immersive show in a capital transformed into a gigantic stage”.
“Under the flood, the capital and its river were the scene on Friday of a dreamlike spectacle taking on the story of a mixed, inclusive French history without fear of controversy…
“It was a parade like travelling theatre troupes’ centuries ago, when they crossed the city with sets and costumes, to get a crowd excited before the performance.
“All that remained to be seen was whether they would manage to take the 300,000 spectators somewhere, as well as the hundreds of millions of television viewers expected to follow the ceremony all over the planet. This bet seems to have been won, hands down.”
Le Figaro was more off-message, calling the show “great but some of it was just too much”. It expressed distaste for the recreation of the painting of The Last Supper via a fashion show saying viewers “could have been spared” it.
Opinions were divided among the political classes. President Emmanuel Macron posted a video of Aya Nakamura’s performance, the French-Malian singer whose rumoured presence at the ceremony had been criticised by some far-right politicians. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire was extremely enthusiastic, calling it “the most beautiful ceremony in history for the most beautiful sporting competition in the world in the most beautiful country in the world”.
Others objected to the depiction of the beheading of Marie Antoinette, while a press release from the bishops of France criticised “the excess and provocation of certain scenes”, saying the ceremony “unfortunately included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity”.
Before the event, Jolly had said he had hoped for a clear evening and could cope with a dramatic thunderstorm but feared a grey, rainy backdrop. Unfortunately, that was the dealt hand but organisers put on a brave face.
“We are so proud of this show, I’m so proud that sport and culture were celebrated in such a fantastic manner tonight,” said Paris 2024 organising president Tony Estanguet. “It was a first and the result was fantastic despite the rain.”
