Opening: Long-winded. Wet. And then epic!

Waterproof like the Alexandrians, durable like a marathon runner Julia Meyer: These qualities were reflected in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games Paris Asked.

Those who demonstrate this, who don’t flee from the rain or hit the off button on their remote, will eventually be rewarded.

The presentation of this grand event lasted for more than four hours. Is this the “best opening scene ever”? >>>

At least not for long.

Length is not important

At first it seemed like a good idea for all the countries to cross the Seine by boat rather than go around it. Stade de France Send, drink a little. The culprit wasn’t just the damp conditions, which the organizers certainly wish were completely different.

This makes the presentation drag too long. The large number of performances and music does not necessarily help, but should be mentioned positively: there is something for everyone.

From pop superstar Lady Gaga, who showed off her French side. From French metal superstar Godzilla, who once again slayed Marie Antoinette with his riffs. And Celine Dion, who performed her final show at the Eiffel Tower.

France has (too much?) a lot to offer

but Paris It’s a bit too much to try to fit in. Higher, faster, further – the highest aspirations of the Olympics should also apply to the opening ceremony.

France France is a country of history, France is a country of culture, France is an open country. There should be room for all aspects, but the balance and direction are a bit lost.

Or did everyone really get the point that the weird blue figure was supposed to be the Greek god Dionysus? A reference to the absurdity of interpersonal violence? No?

That’s a little warning for a game that wants to do a lot of new things and a lot of different things. Like, bring sports facilities to a big square in a city. Not every idea is necessarily feasible.

But many can. That was revealed in the final hour of the spectacle.

Zizou! Rafa! Wink!

Then when it appears again Olympia Go. Athletes. Fire. Ceremony.

Not only because the rain slowly stopped the moment the nations arrived at the Trocadero. The greatest effect was achieved with the backdrop in front of the Eiffel Tower.

First, a metal knight crossed the Seine and handed over the Olympic flag with great sadness.

Then, among them, Zinedine Zidane and the king of Paris (clay court), Rafael NadalThe reunion with the torch restored the correct (sports) mood for the hundreds of thousands of people in attendance and the millions in front of their televisions.

As the flame made its way through the city and across the Seine River back to its final destination, the Eiffel Tower put on a laser show the likes of which the world has likely never seen.

epic.

They won’t be perfect, but they will be memorable games

Ultimately, this long journey to the climax was forgotten. Perhaps this is an appropriate metaphor Olympiathis moment is what the athletes have been working towards for four years.

Ultimately, the opening achieved its purpose: to spark interest in what would be presented two weeks later on a completely different stage.

Not everything will be smooth – like the opening. Not everything will be in order – like the entrance. Almost everything will be sealed – like the three (!) people who go there and the baggage check.

But in the end, hopefully the positive aspects will still be the most memorable.

Now: Let the games begin!

The best photos from the opening ceremony can be found here:

Spectacular images! Opening ceremony of the Olympics on the Seine