Paris Olympics Dispatch: An Opening Ceremony with a mix of awe, thrill and fear

Paris: Paris tried something new. They also showed they were ready. The carpers will talk about things ‘missing’ or ‘going wrong’. With the hindsight of more than four decades of covering multi-discipline Games — the Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth — I can assure you there have ‘never’ been a perfect Games.

The jury on Paris 2024 will be out only on 12 August after the Games are done and dusted.

Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more

First things first. The Opening Ceremony, the most watched event at any Olympics, produced a show that evoked mixed feelings, as Paris decided to make a departure from the past. They brought things out into the ‘Open’. Literally.

Olympic Opening Ceremonies by tradition are held inside a stadium and are watched by audiences of 50,000 to 100,000 or thereabouts. But Paris wanted more – they had thought of a million in-person spectators, but with some much happening on the security front – and safety being a big issue – it was cut down to about 300,000. That was still three to five times more than previous Games.

Much of the details were kept under wraps but we did know that Paris chose the 4-mile stretch on the River Seine as its stage. That transformed the stretch along the river into a gigantic open-air auditorium.

Indeed an audacious attempt, and they almost pulled it off.

Why only almost, one may ask? The reason, no one got to see the ‘full’ spectacle except on the screens all over. That also was only for the ‘ticketed’ fans along the river. For those outside, it was an odd glimpse or two or more depending on your luck.

Those seated along the river, got to see parts as the Boats that from places seemed far away. But on the giant screen they were simply fantastic.

Paris Olympics 2024: Complete medal tally

The security at times seemed ‘too much’ but in these times, there is no such thing as ‘too much security’. The inescapable fact is – we need it. Visitors to Paris ahead of the Opening faced problems; Eurostar trains were disrupted, trains were halted and there was a lot of fear on account of multiple threats.

This reporter managed one of the last ‘smooth’ trains into Paris from London a day ahead. Then chaos followed. Thankfully there was no ‘damage’ to life or property (hopefully).

For all that, Paris deployed 45,000 police officers, 10,000 soldiers and 20,000 private security guards. The river was cleaned over the past few months at enormous costs. But it was worth it for the city as such. Considering the times and how vulnerable we all are, it was understandable and probably worth it.

Then came the rain – the weather Gods had indicated so earlier in the day – and they duly returned in the evening to give us quite drenching.

Thanks to torrential rain, majority of the attendees at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony were seen either wearing rain ponchos or carrying an umbrella. Reuters

Lady Gaga opened the show and Céline Dion closed it after the lighting of the Olympic cauldron by singing a stirring rendition of Edith Piaf’s L’Hymne à l’amour.

In between Zinedine Zidane (Zou Zou) thrilled us all then passed he torch to legends Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Carl Lewis and Nadia Comaneci before the flame was finally lit by two French sporting legends, the 200-400m runner, Jose Marie Perec, and judoka Teddy Riner, winner of 11 World Championship and three Olympic gold medals.

Simply put, It was a great sight.

The verdict

Despite a rain jacket and an umbrella, I was drenched by the time I left (can live with it); long security lines (expected these days); had to walk long distances to get the media bus (par for the course at such Games); was stopped by security for almost an hour (can live with it); all transport blocked off near the Main Press Centre, where most world media works from (never before); and finally walked a few kilometres to get a taxi (never before).

But what scared me most was not the possibility of muggers on the streets of Paris when it was nearing midnight, but that this insistent rain could irreparably damage my ‘trustworthy’ laptop. That kept me walking till I found a taxi.

When I reached home – lo and behold my small little backpack from the 150th Open at St. Andrews, had kept the laptop and wires dry – so good was its waterproofing.

Finally, I would have enjoyed this spectacular Opening better in the confines of my living room on a large screen. Yet, for a third of a million people being able to watch ‘even a little’ live was an achievement.

Yet, I was happy to be part of an ‘Open’ experiment, but please don’t try it again.

Indian hopes and ambitions

India has sent 117 athletes and it includes some medallists from Tokyo led by javelin stalwart, Neeraj Chopra, badminton star PV Sindhu, lifter Mirabai Chanu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and the hockey team. They are all hopefuls yet again and to them add Nikhat Zareen in boxing.

The Indian contingent led by Achanta Sharath Kamal and PV Sindhu makes its way through River Seine. AP

Shooting which drew a blank in Tokyo has a big hope in Manu Bhaker, but it is a sport where the margins are small and it all depends on the form of the day. Finally, the archers, who have disappointed each time, could finally break that jinx. Nothing could be sweeter if they choose Paris to do so.

India at Paris 2024 | Full schedule and results, event-wise medal tally

All in all, there is a fair chance that the tally of seven could be exceeded in the French capital, Paris, It could even be double digits.

V Krishnaswamy is one of the most widely travelled sports journalists in India. This is his ninth Olympic Games, besides 10 Asian Games and nine Commonwealth Games. Also, a specialist in golf, he has covered more than 30 Majors and hundreds of internationals events on various pro Tours. A former Sports Editor of the Pioneer and the Indian Express, he has also authored books on Sachin Tendulkar and PV Sindhu, both published by Harper Collins.