Ignore the critics: Paris Olympics are a hit

PARIS — Just a few weeks ago, Parisians were bracing for the worst.

The city’s famously skeptical residents expected overcrowded metros, endless security checks, and a series of mishaps during the Olympics.

Yet after a week of competition, the nightmare scenario has not materialized. Instead, Paris is buzzing with Olympic spirit, with crowds flocking to outdoor events and gathering nightly to see the Olympic cauldron rise in a hot-air balloon above the city.

Not everything has gone without a hitch. A coordinated arson attack halted the French rail network over the first weekend, athletes have complained about the quality and quantity of food in the Olympic village, and triathlon events were postponed due to elevated levels of E. Coli in the water (which, according to certain athletes, still felt a little dirty during the event).

But despite these issues, the French public has been captivated by the Games, with fans anxiously watching their favorite athletes perform in venues throughout the capital.

“It’s very moving … everyone has been working to coordinate, and it’s extraordinary to see what it produces,” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said Tuesday.

Even the French love it

The French athletes’ overperformance, including the stratospheric performances from 22-year-old swimmer Léon Marchand, has undoubtedly helped bolster enthusiasm.

Fan zones have been set up across Paris to enjoy the competition on big screens and collectively cheer on the athletes. The operation has been a success thus far, with 150,000 visitors over the first weekend alone, according to the city of Paris.

These zones were packed to their maximum capacity on Wednesday to celebrate Marchand’s exploits, despite the intense heat bearing down on the French capital.

Incroyable la réaction des supporters français après le sacre de Léon Marchand dans la fan zone au Club France ! pic.twitter.com/kVBnJ0bLAz

— Arthur Robert (@ArthurRobert21) July 31, 2024

The opening ceremony certainly wasn’t dull …

The Games began with a spectacular, nearly four-hour-long opening ceremony, held outdoors for the first time in Olympic history despite, ahem, pouring rain. Directed by French artistic director Thomas Jolly, the ceremony fused France’s history with its modern image.

Highlights included a performance by the metal band Gojira, introduced by a representation of a headless Marie-Antoinette, and a medley by pop star Aya Nakamura mixing in her own works with ’80s icon Charles Aznavour’s songs, accompanied by the Republican Guard.

Early reports of Nakamura’s presence had led to outrage from far-right politicians in France, including Marine Le Pen, who described her presence as “an attempt to humiliate the French people.” Nakamura, one of the most streamed francophone artists in the world, is of Malian descent and her music relies heavily on modern-day slang.

an aerial view of the Eiffel Tower and the Olympics Rings lightened up during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. | POOL photo by Lionel Bonaventure

Perhaps the most iconic moment was Céline Dion’s rendition of Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à l’Amour” atop the Eiffel Tower, marking the French-Canadian singer’s first public appearance since her stiff-person syndrome was made public.

… although perhaps not to everyone’s taste

The most controversial segment, however, remains a scene which critics perceived as a parody of Leonardo’s Da Vinci “The Last Supper” — which organizers have denied — angering religious and political officials worldwide. Such angry critics included former U.S. President Donald Trump who called the ceremony a “disgrace.”

Unlike Trump, the French audience was enthused: in a rare show of unity, 86 percent of those who had seen or heard about the opening ceremony called it a success, a Harris Interactive poll showed.

“In France, we are allowed to love, how we want and who we want, we are allowed to believe or not to believe … We have a lot of rights, and the idea was to showcase these values,” the ceremony’s artistic director said.

Nothing beats Paris scenery

In addition to Paris’ traditional sporting venues, the Games are making use of the city’s iconic landmarks for various events. A beach volleyball field has been set up beneath the Eiffel Tower, and a BMX park has been constructed near Place de la Concorde. The marathon will span from central Paris to the Château de Versailles, and fencing competitions are being held under the impressive glass roof of the Grand Palais.

The sun rises on the Place de la Concorde, where the first Paris 2024 gold medal of skateboarding will be won!
A magnificent view from the Hôtel de la Marine 🌇
–
Un nouveau jour se lève sur la Place de la Concorde, où sera décrochée la première médaille d'or de ces Jeux en skate… pic.twitter.com/N4PmDC5NWM

— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) July 28, 2024

Playing beach volleyball with the Eiffel Tower in the background is SURREAL 🤯 😱

2024 Paris Olympics are different.

(📸: Aytac Unal/Anadolu) pic.twitter.com/FUa2DfUNPc

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 29, 2024

Logistics are actually quite smooth

In the lead-up to the opening ceremony, Parisians were dismayed by the 44,000 metal barriers which had been setup as part of a massive security apparatus to secure the event and feared a large scale commuting nightmare.

However, most restrictions have since been lifted, and public transportation is operating near normal, with only a few stops near Olympic venues closed. Affluence levels have so far been manageable, with very few overcrowded trains, and traffic interruptions have remained limited.

As was the case before the Games, security will likely remain the main focus for French authorities until the end of the event. There have so far been “no major or noteworthy incidents to report,” French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said Wednesday, stressing that tens of thousands of security agents would remain mobilized until the Aug. 11 closing ceremony.