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PARIS: Thousands of Olympians, including those from Oman, streamed down the Seine on Friday for a spectacular opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics that delighted spectators with a celebration of French history and culture despite persistent rain.
For the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony took place outside the main stadium, with up to 7,000 athletes parading along the Seine and through the French capital’s historic monuments.
The ambitious and risky move, unlike previous opening ceremonies, saw competitors ride in 85 boats rather than the traditional walk around a track.
Around 300,000 people watched the match in person from specially constructed stands on the riverbank, while another 200,000 watched from balconies and apartments.
According to tradition, as the cradle of the modern Olympic movement, the Greek delegation has the honor of leading the fleet.
The show was a fusion of French culture and history, while a pre-recorded song and dance segment by American pop star Lady Gaga dominated the early stages of the parade.
Aya Nakamura, the world’s most-listened French-speaking singer and French-Malian R&B superstar, also took part in the concert, ignoring criticism from far-right activists.
Critics accused the 29-year-old singer, best known for her hit song “Djadja,” of using lyrics that were “vulgar” and disrespectful to the French language.
Dozens of cancan dancers in pink dresses provided another eye-catching moment as they offered a splash of colour along the banks of the Seine.
The City of Lights’ landmarks and architecture will not only serve as the backdrop for Friday’s show, but will also play the same role for most sporting events going forward.
The vision for Paris is to host an Olympics that will be more cost-effective and less polluting than previous ones, with the games to be held at historic sites around the capital.
Despite heavy rain and repeated attacks that paralyzed France’s high-speed rail network on Friday morning, Olympic chief organizer Tony Estanguet said before the opening ceremony that he was confident of a “great celebration.”
Some spectators were unfazed by the drizzle. “I feel the adrenaline rush. It’s so exciting,” said Selena Martinez, who traveled from Mexico to attend the ceremony.
Hours before the parade began, long queues formed at the entrances and exits along the Seine.
After passing through scanners and checkpoints, the first arriving tourists found that several floating stages had been installed in the river and the bridges were decorated with flags and pink and purple hues representing the Olympics.
“The atmosphere is really friendly,” said Jean-Yves Elf, 75, a Frenchman who attended the show with his granddaughter.
“There are a lot of foreigners and we are very happy. This is a good thing for France.” France deployed large-scale security measures for the commemoration ceremony, and security cordons were set up on both sides of the Seine.
The ceremony will be guarded by 45,000 police and paramilitary personnel, while another 10,000 soldiers and 22,000 private security personnel will complete the security operation. — AFO
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