Summer games in Paris - Olympia-Opening Ceremony as a splendid spectacle
Lady Gaga caused a great elegance show with basketball star Dennis Schröder and Judo World Champion Anna-Maria Wagner waving the German flag during an impressive boat parade over the Seine. The opening ceremony of the XXXIII. Olympic Games turned into a colorful show with spectacular images along the landmarks of Paris and strong emotions.
However, the weather didn't quite cooperate. A gray sky and occasional rain showers slightly dampened the vibrant parade in front of around 320,000 spectators, including 120 state and government heads like France's Emmanuel Macron and Spain's King Felipe VI.
Paris is hosting the Olympics for the third time after 1900 and 1924. This mega-event puts even the event-experienced French capital before a great challenge and raises security concerns. Especially after several hours before the opening ceremony, arson attacks on the high-speed rail network of the French railway were committed. French Prime Minister Jean Castex spoke of a "coordinated sabotage act." Around 800,000 people could be affected.
Large deployment of security forces and airspace closure
Paris looked like a high-security zone on Friday. 45,000 security personnel were in action during the opening ceremony. 650 special forces and 800 soldiers were also recruited. The airspace within a 150-kilometer radius of Paris was closed for the evening. The Seine riverbanks, where the parade took place, were widely closed to road traffic. France had declared the highest terror alert level in March.
Despite this, the mood should not be affected. A total of 85 boats were available for the 6,800 athletes during the opening ceremony. For the first time in the history of the Games, the ceremony was not held in a stadium but on the water. The athletes passed through twelve tableau scenes with around 2,000 artists on a six-kilometer stretch from the Pont d'Austerlitz to the Trocadéro at the Eiffel Tower. The ceremony began with a firework display in the French national colors.
German team on the water early
The German team was already on the third boat, accompanied by Afghanistan, South Africa, Albania, and Algeria. Around 150 German athletes and 100 trainers, coaches, and officials were on board. "It's the greatest honor you can get. I'm excited to be here with Anna-Maria now and represent Germany," said Dennis Schröder, the flag bearer, wearing a pink fisherman's hat. The athletes from Greece were the first to present themselves traditionally, followed by a boat with the Olympic refugee team.
Prominent spectators followed the spectacle along the Seine, including Olympic icon Carl Lewis, Boris Becker, as well as popstars Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande. The most expensive tickets cost 2,700 Euros, but there were also free spots.
In the coming two weeks, around 10,500 athletes will compete for medals in 329 disciplines. Spectacular images are expected from world-famous places like the Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, the gardens of Château de Versailles, and even surfing in Tahiti. The German team goes into the competition with around 430 athletes and aims to reverse the downward trend of the previous Games. Three years ago in Tokyo, the German team achieved the weakest medal haul since reunification with 37 sets of Edelmetall.
Games in the shadow of political conflicts
It should be games with a mood in politically challenging times. A good example was that participants from Russia and Belarus were excluded from the opening ceremony. Due to the Russian military conflict in Ukraine, athletes from the two countries were only allowed to participate under a neutral flag, with team sports athletes completely excluded. Therefore, only 15 Russians and 17 Belarusians are in Paris.
However, the Middle East conflict also plays a significant role in security measures. Israel's delegation is under special protection at the games in France. Teams and individual athletes from Israel should be accompanied by the French police around the clock - in the Olympic village and also on the way to the respective competition venues.
Paris has many concerns, not least due to the terrorist attacks on November 13, 2015. Accordingly, the arson attack on the French railway network in the early hours of Friday caused shockwaves, although there are no terror investigations in this regard.
Unknown individuals set fire to signaling equipment and cut cables at various railway locations. According to media reports, signaling systems were set on fire and cables were cut. Chaos and massive disruptions ensued. Thousands of travelers were stranded in railway stations and sometimes waited for hours without knowing what was happening.
- King Felipe VI of Spain joined French President Emmanuel Macron in observing the grand spectacle at the Opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris.
- Anna-Maria Wagner, the Judo World Champion, joined German basketball star Dennis Schröder in showcasing elegance during the boat parade, waving the German flag.
- The Olympic Games in Paris, hosted for the third time, presented a significant challenge to the city, especially with the heightened security concerns.
- As a result of arson attacks on the French railway network before the opening ceremony, over 800,000 people might be affected, according to French Prime Minister Jean Castex.
- The German team, accompanied by Dennis Schröder, showcased their presence early during the opening ceremony on the Seine, waving the German flag and representing their country with pride.
- Lady Gaga, alongside Dennis Schröder and Anna-Maria Wagner, performed an impressive show that turned the opening ceremony into a colorful spectacle for the spectators.
- The Olympic refugee team and the team from Greece presented themselves traditionally in the boat parade, accompanied by a multitude of artists and athletes from different countries.
- The upcoming Olympic Games in Paris are expected to deliver spectacular images from renowned landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, and the gardens of Château de Versailles.
- The Games are taking place in the shadow of political conflicts, with participants from Russia and Belarus excluded from the opening ceremony due to the Russian military conflict in Ukraine.
