Paris has always been a city that inspires dreams, symbolized by the Eiffel Tower, once the tallest structure in the world. This spirit of boldness is reflected in the French capital’s preparations for its first Olympic Games in a century, set to begin on Friday with a groundbreaking opening ceremony.
The ceremony, which will take place on the River Seine, is described as the most elaborate Olympic opening ever. Even French President Emmanuel Macron initially thought it was “a crazy and not very serious idea.” This event marks the start of 16 days of innovative competition, with nearly every part of the city involved.
Spectator seats line the Seine in front of the Musee d’Orsay ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Children play at a splash fountain area in Nice, which will host six soccer matches during the games. The excitement is palpable as Paris readies itself for this monumental event.
After two pandemic-affected Olympics, Paris is ready to celebrate in style. The unique combination of sports and the city’s renowned culture, fashion, and gastronomy aims to secure the Olympics’ future appeal, especially among younger generations with many entertainment choices.
In 2017, Olympic organizers selected Paris, impressed by its innovative ideas and potential to rekindle global interest in the Olympics. However, the city faces significant challenges, including ensuring the safety of 10,500 athletes and millions of visitors amidst global tensions and past terrorist attacks.
Despite these challenges, Paris aims to set a new standard with nearly equal numbers of male and female athletes, continuing a journey that began 124 years ago in Paris with the inclusion of 22 female Olympians. The city also strives to host environmentally friendly and sustainable Games, avoiding the pitfalls of previous host cities by using temporary sports venues.
With iconic Paris landmarks serving as backdrops, such as beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower and the introduction of breakdancing, the Games are expected to generate numerous viral moments on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
The city is returning to full capacity with spectators for the first time since the pandemic, offering a stark contrast to the empty venues in Tokyo and Beijing. French theater director Thomas Jolly will transform central Paris into an open-air stage for the opening ceremony, showcasing the nation’s history and culture, with the Eiffel Tower playing a prominent role.
The ceremony will feature a parade of athletes along the Seine, with hundreds of thousands of people, including 320,000 ticket-holders, lining the riverbanks. A comprehensive security plan will be in place, including a no-fly zone and various surveillance measures.
Paris hopes the Games will help the city move beyond the sorrow of the 2015 terrorist attacks, with speculation about who will light the Olympic cauldron including French sports heroes and survivors of the attacks.
The decision to host the opening ceremony on the Seine, instead of the Stade de France, and to use temporary venues for sports like skateboarding and archery, has added complexity to the security efforts. Rights campaigners express concerns over the extensive use of AI-equipped surveillance technology.
Paris’ reach for these Games extends as far as Tahiti, where surfers will compete on massive waves. The city and its suburbs, hosting most of the 32 sports, will be secured by 45,000 police officers and gendarmes, plus 10,000 soldiers. The medals will feature iron inlays from the Eiffel Tower.
The extensive preparations, including a costly and complex cleanup of the Seine, are expected to leave a lasting positive impact on the city. Paris aims to halve the Games’ carbon footprint compared to previous Olympics and provide long-term benefits like an Olympic aquatics center in Seine-Saint-Denis.
With an estimated cost of around 9 billion euros, mostly funded by sponsors and ticket sales, Paris’ expenses are lower than those of Tokyo, Rio, and London. As the opening ceremony fireworks fade, the city will become a playground for Olympians.
American gymnastics star Simon Biles and French basketball sensation Victor Wembanyama will be among the athletes competing. Ukrainian and Palestinian athletes will also aim to make powerful statements about resilience and sacrifice.
While only a few will win medals, all participants will share unforgettable experiences in Paris, the City of Light.
