Exclusive: Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo optimistic about Olympic Opening Ceremony but acknowledges weather could pose a problem
“I think the rain will be a problem if we have rain tomorrow because many moments in this show need to be very safe for the dancer and without rain and without water,” she told CNN’s Melissa Bell.
“I think maybe, maybe we will be lucky tomorrow,” she added.
Hidalgo would not confirm rumors that superstars Celine Dion and Lady Gaga may perform at the ceremony.
“It’s a surprise,” she said, hoping that the Olympic Opening Ceremony will boost the public’s enthusiasm about the Games.
Hidalgo last week swam in the River Seine in an effort to demonstrate the cleanliness of the river for the Olympics amid E. coli bacteria concerns.
The triathlon and open water swimming Olympic events are due to take place in the Seine. She called swimming in the river “a dream” because “this river is magical like Paris.”
“Cleaning the Seine is cleaning our life ... and cleaning the Seine is for our generation and the next generation.”
The weather should be ideal for the triathlon and open water swimming events, as Hidalgo mentioned that the rain is unlikely during the Olympic Games. She expressed her excitement, stating, "Even if I'm not participating in the sport events, just watching them in such a beautiful location like the Seine is equally thrilling."
