Olympics
Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony highlight the forgotten heroes
According to the organisers, the aim of the sequence was to highlight these women, some of whom are not well-known, and to ensure that their statues become an integral part of the French landscape. French mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel, dressed in the colours of the French flag, sang La Marseillaise to accompany this surprise.
The emblematic figure of French rap appears as King for the ‘Sportivité’ painting. One of the most prominent opera stars of his generation, Jakub Józef Orliński, countertenor and breakdancer, performed an aria from Jean-Philippe Rameau’s opera ‘Les Indes Galantes’ at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
With her angelic voice, she sang the aria ‘Viens Hymen’, which celebrated love and togetherness in an artistic tableau entitled ‘Sportiness’, featuring urban sports such as breakdancing, skateboarding and BMX. Major figures from French history (Kings Dagobert, Henri IV, Louis XIV, Napoleon and even the hero of the Second World War, General De Gaulle) performing unexpected tricks.
To celebrate in Parisian style, DJ Barbara Butch played a selection of the most famous French songs. There also was a fashion show featuring the creations of Kevin Germanie
One of the most moving moments was when singer Juliette Armanet performed John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’, which became a hymn to peace. Set up on a barge on the Seine and accompanied by pianist Sofiane Pamart, the artist was far from her usual register.
From the Austerlitz Bridge, a horse carrying the Olympic flag and ridden by an all-metal rider glided down the river. Archival images of the Olympic and Paralympic Games were projected on the screens, as if to link the present to the past, but also to its future, with this futuristic metallic silhouette that defies the law of gravity.
The Olympic rings installed on the Eiffel Tower since June to celebrate the upcoming Olympic Games were removed from the Parisian monument early on Friday morning, as confirmed by an AFP photographer. But the Paris City Hall intends to replace them with a more permanent structure until 2028.
The five-coloured rings, measuring 29 metres in length and 15 metres in height, were placed between the first and second levels of the iconic iron structure on 7 June.
According to Inside the Games publication, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wants the Olympic symbol to continue decorating the monument until the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
But the descendants of the tower’s creator, Gustave Eiffel are opposing the move. They are insisting that the Olympic rings are aesthetically in conflict with the concept and design of the Tower.
The 30-tonne rings initially installed on the Eiffel Tower were also not designed to withstand winter weather conditions.
Olympics
Despite Egypt winning 3 medals at Paris Olympics, President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul
Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered a comprehensive evaluation of sports federations that participatedat the Paris Olympic Games, following a mission report submitted by the country’s sports minister.
The mandate includes a thorough expenditure check and a performance review to better highlight areas of improvement and fund allocation in future Games.
Additionally, the president plans to take necessary measures against federations —such as limiting funds— that had negative results in the Paris Games.
Egypt’s participation in sports where it lacks a competitive advantage will also be limited, as the president aims to direct resources to promising athletes to ensure optimal results. The president also aims to reduce administrative and technical staff within Olympic delegations and task relevant ministries with preparing future Olympic athletes.
Al-Sisi’s Olympic overhaul is to be presented to the cabinet for approval and urged the government to prioritise amending the sports law for the House of Representatives for review.
Egypt took home a total of three medals in the Summer Games. Ahmed El-Gendy triumphed in modern pentathlon, Sara Samir claimed the silver in weightlifting, and 21-year-old fencer Mohamed El-Sayed earned the bronze.
-Insidethegames
Paris 2024 sold a record 12 million tickets for the Olympics and Paralympics, beating the Games record previously set by London 2012, organisers said on Sunday.
Some 9.5 million tickets were sold for the Olympics and 2.5 million for the Paralympics, which end on Sunday.
In 2012, London organisers set the record for the Paralympics with 2.7 million tickets sold but only 8.2 million were sold for the Olympics.
-Reuters
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