Paris 2024’s novel opening ceremony was well-intentioned but London 2012 it was not… sometimes you cannot beat a stadium, writes IAN HERBERT

There had been an early warning to France, back when it first took hold of the Olympic flame, that creating Olympic greatness cannot be simply conjured.

For the Tokyo closing ceremony, there were plans to project a live feed of the Tricolor being raised at the Eiffel Tower, which was ultimately scrapped due to the adverse weather in Paris.

Once again, the gloomy skies put a damper on the evening as the host city’s innovative attempt to showcase the athletes along the River Seine, with a flotilla of 85 boats and interpretive dance along the banks, proved that a stadium setting is hard to replace for such grand events.

The night had its highlights, including Zinedine Zidane appearing in a Bond-like style, capturing the torch as the Marseillaise played in the background, and a dynamic performance by Lady Gaga singing an Edith Piaf classic near the Pont d’Austerlitz. A whimsical can-can by performers in pink poppy costumes also added flair. However, as a rather eerie torchbearer without a visible face continued the relay, rain poured down upon the Eiffel Tower stages where athletes eventually emerged from their boats. Spectators in temporary stands watched their procession on four monitors, one of which malfunctioned under the rain.

While the intentions were noble—bringing the Games to a city needing a revival of Olympic spirit after years marked by tragedy, including terrorist attacks that claimed 129 lives, the fire at Notre Dame, and the pandemic—there was an underlying reality. ‘Paris is back on its feet, jubilant, flamboyant, creative and open,’ stated the ceremony’s organizer, Thomas Jolly.

The Paris Olympics officially opened with an historic ceremony on Friday night

The night had its moments – including a stunning finale – but this was not London 2012.

Athletes were brought up the River Seine in a flotilla of 85 boats as interpretive dance took place on the banks

Yet, even during the Tokyo Games, where the poignant last ceremony took place in front of empty stands, the image of Naomi Osaka ascending the steps to light the Olympic flame was incredibly moving. Carrying the flag cannot compare to the acclaim received while walking around a stadium, even though Britain’s Tom Daley and Helen Glover made the best of the situation. None of it quite matched the experiences in Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, or London 2012.

The weather mirrored the tumultuous events of the week—it was a day for France’s long-awaited celebration overshadowed by sabotage attacks disrupting the high-speed rail network. Armed police meticulously covered every corner of the city’s central areas, but such coordinated actions reveal inherent vulnerabilities.

The armed police and their blue vans seemed to take center stage, contrasting with the timeless image of Nadia Comaneci’s performance at the 1976 Montreal Games, one of the many ‘Instants des Jeux Olympiques’ displayed throughout the Tuileries. As Le Monde reported earlier this week, Paris is viewed as ‘the Olympic capital of a tense, fragmented world.’

Ukraine seeks the exclusion of Russia, while Palestine demands the ban on Israel. The Israeli team is expected to be among the most protected during the entirety of these Olympics, with the haunting memories of the 1972 Munich Games, where Israeli athletes were taken hostage and murdered by Black September, still deeply ingrained.

The purpose of the ceremony was to embody peace and reconciliation. They introduced Sequana, the goddess of the Seine, as a representation of the feminine strength resistant to violence and a symbol of emancipation and freedom. Despite the rainfall dampening the festivities, optimism remains; the forecast is bright, and the Games—with their stunning venues, beautiful historical backdrops, and awaiting stars—are set to take the stage. For a fleeting and unscripted moment, the clouds are expected to part.