Unprecedented Security, Rain & Wet Chilly Weather Together With High Octane Presentability Heralds The Opening Of The 33rd Summer Olympic Games Paris 2024 in France IOC 33rd Summer Olympic Games Paris 2024 France Day 01

The live coverage of the much anticipated spectacular opening ceremony on one of the most famous landmarks in the capital city of the host nation is publicised / marketed to be the greatest television production ever, by the Games Organising Committee.

The iconic river Seine is a 777 kms long waterway in Northern France. It rises at Source – Seine in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre. It is navigable by ocean going vessels as far as Rouen, 120 kms inland from the sea. Over 60% of it’s length upto Burgundy is negotiable by large barges & most tour boats, & nearly it’s whole length is available for recreational boating.

There are 37 bridges across the mighty river Seine in Paris alone & dozens more outside the city. A notable bridge, which is also the last along the course of the river, is the Pont de Normandie – the 09th longest cable-stayed bridge in the world, linking Le Havre & Honfleur. It is artificially divided into five parts : Small Seine, Upper Seine, The Paris Waterway, Lower Seine & Maritime Seine. A phenomenal US$ 1.55 Billion clean up programme enacted since 2018 has rendered the water safe for Open Water Swimming events. The ambitious / arduous Swimming Plan though is still to be confidently accepted & appreciated by the competitors.

The other world renowned landmark in the French Capital is the Eiffel Tower, the wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars. It is named after the French Civil Engineer, Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed & built the monument from 1887 to 1889. Locally nicknamed as the Iron Lady, it was constructed as the centerpiece of the 1889 World’s Fair & to crown the centennial anniversary of the French Revolution.

Despite being criticised initially, the 330 mtr high global cultural icon is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, declared so in 1991. Before that in 1964, it had been designated as a historical monument. The tallest structure in Paris has become the world’s most visited monument with an entrance fee. The design of the Eiffel Tower is attributed to Maurice Koechlin & Emile Nouguier, two senior engineers working for the company established to construct this enormous structure.

The traditional lighting of the Cauldron was preceded by some legends joining the last leg of the torch relay. President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach – the German national & former Foil Fencer Olympic Gold Medalist joined a few elite athletes at the Athlete’s Games Village. Then some legends in the form of Zinedine Zidane ( France – Football ),Rafael Nadal ( Spain – Tennis ), Serena Williams ( United States of America – Tennis ), Nadia Comaneci ( Romania – Gymnastics ), Carl Lewis ( United States of America –
Athletics ) & Amelia Mauresmo ( France – Tennis ). The last two selected to do the honours in front of the global audience were female sprinter & Track Athlete, Marie – Jose Perec together with male Judo Legend, Teddy Riner. The oaths on behalf of the competing Athletes were taken by female thrower – Field Athlete, Melina Robert – Michon & male short distance speed Swimmer, Florent Manaudou. Christophe Massini, from Judo did the task on behalf of Technical Officials ( Coaches ) while Melanie Tran from Wrestling did so on behalf of the other Technical Officials ( Referees ). Tony Estranguet – Head of the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, three time Olympic champion in Slalom Canoeing did the Welcome Address in French while doing the same in English was Thomas Bach – President of the International Olympic Committee, German Foil Fencer Olympic Champion. The Games were declared open by Emmanuel Macron – President of France.

The Executive Director – Christopher Dubi, Artistic Director – Thomas Jolly, Music Director – Victor Le Masne, Costume Director – Daphne Burki, Stage & Choreography Director – Alexander Ekman, Historian & Co Author – Patrick Boucheron, President, Paris 2024 Organising Committee – Tony Estanguet, Mayoress of Paris – Ana Maria Hidalgo Aleu ( Spanish / French & 10 years on the job ) together with Interior Minister – Gerald Darmanin are some of the main responsible personnel who have been tasked with bringing this gigantic spectacle to the global audience.

Over 45,000 security officers ( Police ) in addition to 15,000 military officers specialising in counter terrorism & VIP protection supported by 22,000 private security personnel were inducted for security during the ceremony. Despite all these precautions, the top topic of a wet day was the sabotage effected at 03 sites of high speed rail lines in the outstations of the French capital.

Around 7500 athletes, over 3000 performers / artistes ( local & foreign ) in 85 vessels ( large & small ) were paraded for a distance of around 06 kms on the river, in front of approximately 300,000 spectators ( downsized from the originally planned 600,000 ) to create the razzmatazz of a rendezvous that was long in planning, arduous in executing & satisfying & articulate in accomplishment.

Team Sri Lanka were included with Sweden & Sudan.

Report by Haritha Perera, Photos courtesy Wichithra Weerasinghe & Dharshana Samarawickrama together with NOCSL Media in Paris, France – facilitated by National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.