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PARIS (AP) — Paris opened its first Summer Olympics in more than a century on Friday with a ceremony that was grand and unprecedented, billing itself as the cradle of a revolution in its own-high-speed rail network.
But the party started at 7:30pm to much jubilation.
France decided to hold a daring ceremony, the first of its kind outside a stadium. Dozens of rulers and dignitaries made an appearance, while the rest of the world watched as Paris performed an open-air theater.
More than 6,000 athletes began a parade along the waters of the Seine, visiting the city’s most emblematic places in an effort to boost French self-awareness.
On the banks of the Seine and on the balconies, spectators were fascinated by the passage of the boats.
Nothing seems to be left to chance, except for two asterisks: safety and climate.
A series of acts of vandalism on France’s high-speed rail network in the early hours of Friday morning affected connections for 250,000 passengers and put French authorities on high alert as they sought to determine whether the attacks were linked to the Olympics.
Official reports showed multiple fires and incendiary devices were found near the Atlantique, Nord and Est high-speed rail lines that connect Paris to the rest of France and neighboring countries.
Paris, which has suffered the bloodiest attack of the century, faces greater security challenges due to international tensions caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The political atmosphere has become anxious after the legislative elections in early July, and people are also wary of possible protests.
Some 45,000 police officers and 10,000 soldiers were deployed to secure the massive gathering along the Seine and surrounding areas – with around 300,000 spectators expected in addition to invited foreign leaders.
Fighter jets, surveillance drones and helicopters equipped with snipers are the only aircraft allowed to fly over the French capital during the day.
In terms of weather, the local meteorological department warned that there would be rain during the opening of the Olympics. If so, the party will not be cancelled.
“Of course, when you organize an outdoor event you prefer ideal weather,” Olympic organizing committee president Tony Estanguet told France Inter radio. But the ceremony “was designed to be able to take place in the rain.”
Daniela Rodríguez, 27, a Mexican, smiled as she posed for a photo with her parents, Elías Rodríguez and Alicia Luna, with the Seine River in the background, a few meters from the Pont Alexandre III.
Seven years ago, the young woman came to Paris to perfect her French and met French President Emmanuel Macron during a campaign for Paris’s Olympic bid. When he won the nomination, he promised to return to his parents to enjoy the sporting experience.
“I touched (Macron’s) hand. A few weeks later, they qualified for the Olympics. That day I said, ‘This is a sign,'” Rodriguez said.
The family, who live in New Jersey, will attend horseback riding events, tennis semifinals and swimming competitions.
Aside from a drizzle that forced them to take shelter at a riverbank food store and enjoy some appetizers before the ceremony, the family was happy with the weather for the Olympics and, while they were mindful of safety warnings, they preferred to enjoy themselves.
“You feel a little scared, but unfortunately you get used to it,” Luna said.
France’s diversity and its national motto, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” will be the theme of the inaugural gala, designed by award-winning French theater director Thomas Jolly and featuring 3,500 artists on stage.
In contrast to previous inaugurations, some 6,000 athletes will parade on nearly 100 boats on the Seine, with the parade set to start at 7:30 p.m. local time, rather than the end time that has been tradition.
The starting point will be the Austerlitz Bridge next to the Botanical Garden and continue along the Seine from east to west of the city, passing several Olympic venues such as La Concordia City Park (3X3 basketball, cross-country, BMX freestyle, skating), Les Invalides (archery, marathon finish line, road cycling and time trial start) and the Grand Palais (fencing and taekwondo).
Another difference from previous Olympics is that rather than building an Olympic Park in a remote area, Paris made every symbol of the city available to the sporting event.
The parade continues to the Iène Bridge, which connects the Eiffel Tower (beach volleyball) on the left bank of the Seine to the Trocadero neighborhood on the right bank. The final part of the parade will take place at the Trocadero Square, where the Champions Park will be set up, another new feature of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Starting on Monday, the medal winners will parade there the day after they are decorated.
Who will light the cauldron? It is speculated with 1998 world champion and legendary footballer Zinedine Zidane, as well as other heroes of French sports. There is also a suggestion that the survivors of the attack by the Islamic State group on November 13, 2015, which killed 130 people, could also receive the honor.
Macron will be accompanied at the ceremony by several foreign leaders including Israel’s Isaac Herzog, Italy’s Sergio Mattarella and Germany’s head of government Olaf Scholz. While US first lady Jill Biden will represent her husband Joe Biden.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his counterpart in conflict-ridden Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, did not travel to Paris, nor did China’s leader Xi Jinping.
From Latin America, Argentine President Javier Milley and Colombian President Gustavo Prieto have confirmed their attendance.
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