Paris 2024 Ceremonies

[JMarkSnow2012]

2 hours ago, Palette86 said:

Just uploaded!! full version.

 

Their commentators definitely weren't hunched under a plastic sheet during the rainstorm!

[mr.bernham]

1 hour ago, sebastien1214 said:

Oh that's funny, it's available in France while France Télévisions still also offers the ceremony in replay on their website. NBC must certainly have... ahem... some advantages.

I think this is likely. US is still the IOC’s most profitable audience, despite the great effort and expense put towards building China up.

Being an Olympics fan in the US is truly not easy. NBC/IOC make it impossible to share moments with their endless copyright claims and regional content blocks.

[mr.bernham]

1 hour ago, sebastien1214 said:

Oh that's funny, it's available in France while France Télévisions still also offers the ceremony in replay on their website. NBC must certainly have... ahem... some advantages.

I think this is likely. US is still the IOC’s most profitable audience, despite the great effort and expense put towards building China up.

Being an Olympics fan in the US is truly not easy. NBC/IOC make it impossible to share moments with their endless copyright claims and regional content blocks.

[mr.bernham]

Sorry, didn’t mean to double post. Forum seems to be glitching w all the activity.

[Bear]

Olympic closing ceremony media guide is now up: https://press.paris2024.org/assets/paris2024-press-kit-closing-ceremony-of-the-olympic-games-08-2024-pdf-c8a17-7578a.html

[sebastien1214]

In the list of messages that have aged very badly, I just remembered this one:

On 7/16/2024 at 2:44 PM, sebastien1214 said:

An update on the weather: for July 26, a temperature of 26°C is currently forecast, with sunshine and a few clouds, but no risk of rain. Knowing that the confidence index has just increased to 3/5 (i.e. 60% reliability compared to 40% until yesterday), things look good.

More seriously, for those who want to know a little more about the opening ceremony, there is a journalist from French public radio who started a thread on Twitter on all the winks, references, cameos etc of the opening ceremony. He is not yet halfway through the ceremony but the thread is already very long (in French of course... but you can translate the tweets on Twitter)... which makes you realize how rich the ceremony is in references.

(and the amount of historical references for each scene of the opening ceremony is mind-blowing)

[Brekkie Boy]

They can throw in all the references they want - ultimately if it's crap it's crap.

[sebastien1214]

I was already thrilled to have 80% of my late night playlist for the Opening Ceremony, but the list of artists expected for the Paras Closing Ceremony is shaping up to be even better. I couldn't have dreamed of anything better.

https://www.leparisien.fr/jo-paralympiques-paris-2024/jeux-paralympiques-jean-michel-jarre-kavinsky-lelectro-francaise-en-force-a-la-ceremonie-de-cloture-23-08-2024-C2FE3EVGQNDHLNPBFXQBBWQJVQ.php

There are still 45€ tickets left for the closing ceremony. I'm seriously going to consider getting one with this lineup...

[BigVic]

https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/news/olympic-games-paris-2024/articles/317470-paris-2024-olympics-zeus-the-metal-horse-for-the-opening-ceremony-on-display-at-hotel-de-ville-in-paris

The mechanical horse "Zeus" from the Opening Ceremony is on display at Hotel de Ville in Paris for the duration of the Paralympics. 

[Cyriln]

[baron-pierreIV]

1 hour ago, Cyriln said:

 

Lawd, is that FUGLY or what??  

[Red Centaur]

6 hours ago, Cyriln said:

STUNNING. love the combination of art and technology. The nod to past and future is brilliant. Well done Paris. 

[Cyriln]

The placard bearer for Iceland is a French streamer focused on sports. He did a stream yesterday to debrief his participation. It's obviously in French but you can see it here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2236900731

 

Some details:

-It looks like the Théâtre du Rond Point was the meeting point, he had to go back there after his parade, with athletes and members of delegation that did not stay at La Concorde

-he had rehearsals for 3 days

-heavy NDA

-he was selected by Coca-Cola

-he had a metronome in his pocket to keep up the pace, but the parade was late anyway

[yoshi]

That horse is surprisingly beautiful up close - for some reason I was expecting it to look a bit more clunky/industrial in daylight. There surely must be somewhere prominent in Paris that's crying out for something to fill it for her to go on permanent display, as a normal public artwork? 

[Bear]

Paralympic Opening Ceremony media guide: https://library.olympics.com/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/3416528/paradox-from-discord-to-concord-opening-ceremony-of-the-paris-2024-paralympic-games-media-guide-28-a

[sebastien1214]

I just discovered some very interesting technical details about the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, and in particular how it was all coordinated.

There is indeed an FM radio band that was temporarily allocated for the opening ceremony to the organizers for the needs of this ceremony. And it is in particular on this ceremony that the instructions were given :

https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/jeux-olympiques/jo-2024-une-frequence-radio-exceptionnelle-autorisee-sur-le-107-9-fm-a-paris_AN-202407240346.html

And anyone in Paris could hear the technical instructions live! And so here is what it sounded like:

https://videos.adhocmusic.com/w/8g8eGXDjsMieGFv8u4m1tQ

In order: instructions given to the accordionist, then examples of instructions given to different camera operators in TV production

It's quite funny to see that such a "simple" (but especially public) technology was used to coordinate all this. And all the artists & torchbearers also received instructions via this temporary radio. Moreover, according to those who were listening to this radio at the same time, we learned for example that Nadal passed the flame too late to Serena Williams

[sebastien1214]

1 minute ago, sebastien1214 said:

I just discovered some very interesting technical details about the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, and in particular how it was all coordinated.

There is indeed an FM radio band that was temporarily allocated for the opening ceremony to the organizers for the needs of this ceremony. And it is in particular on this ceremony that the instructions were given :

https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/jeux-olympiques/jo-2024-une-frequence-radio-exceptionnelle-autorisee-sur-le-107-9-fm-a-paris_AN-202407240346.html

And anyone in Paris could hear the technical instructions live! And so here is what it sounded like:

https://videos.adhocmusic.com/w/8g8eGXDjsMieGFv8u4m1tQ

In order: instructions given to the accordionist, then examples of instructions given to different camera operators in TV production

It's quite funny to see that such a "simple" (but especially public) technology was used to coordinate all this. And all the artists & torchbearers also received instructions via this temporary radio. Moreover, according to those who were listening to this radio at the same time, we learned for example that Nadal passed the flame too late to Serena Williams

And for those who have time to waste: the 5 hours of temporary radio broadcasting with all the technical instructions.

https://videos.adhocmusic.com/w/tbuhbuDMyBNN9nhPM2kMwd

And for the passage with Nadal who wants to keep the torch a little longer than expected:

Spoiler

4:02:25 : "Let's go for the exchange, go for first exchange, first passing of the torch"

"Come on, go for the first pass, first pass go"

"Come on, Nadal has to pass the torch!"

"Come on, he has to give it !" (other voice)

"Come on, Nadal has to pass the torch!"

"Nadal, pass the torch!"

 

[guilherme b]

Flame Segment 

1. Beijing (2008) - 14 min
2. London (2012) - 6 min
3. Rio de Janeiro (2016) - 5 min
4. Tokyo (2020) - 13 min
5. Paris (2024) - 28 min (including supernatural elements and travel)

In my opinion, the shortest ones were the most exciting. In Paris, it was a huge mistake to extend the time and culminate in the solitary lighting of the flame

 

[Olympian2004]

14 hours ago, sebastien1214 said:

I just discovered some very interesting technical details about the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, and in particular how it was all coordinated.

There is indeed an FM radio band that was temporarily allocated for the opening ceremony to the organizers for the needs of this ceremony. And it is in particular on this ceremony that the instructions were given :

https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/jeux-olympiques/jo-2024-une-frequence-radio-exceptionnelle-autorisee-sur-le-107-9-fm-a-paris_AN-202407240346.html

And anyone in Paris could hear the technical instructions live! And so here is what it sounded like:

https://videos.adhocmusic.com/w/8g8eGXDjsMieGFv8u4m1tQ

In order: instructions given to the accordionist, then examples of instructions given to different camera operators in TV production

It's quite funny to see that such a "simple" (but especially public) technology was used to coordinate all this. And all the artists & torchbearers also received instructions via this temporary radio. Moreover, according to those who were listening to this radio at the same time, we learned for example that Nadal passed the flame too late to Serena Williams

Thank you for these very interesting information and links! It is indeed surprising to see and hear the instructions being given on a public radio frequency. They didn't give out all the instructions via that frequency, though, did they? Because I am just listening to the final part of the torch relay (around the 4:15:00 mark) and one hears only the background music and no instructions being given, which would be surprising since there are probably always instructions for the performers/torch bearers at that stage in time. 

And it is also funny to hear how precisely the start of the different segments were timed. This should not be too much of a surprise in a complex production like this ceremony, but after all our complaints about the "off" pacing of the ceremony, it is strange to hear someone counting down the start of the different segments.

[Bear]

Completely disagree with whatever BS Steven is spouting ("satanic"? 😐) but what Michael Payne is saying here about Paris 2024 deliberately misleading the IOC is certainly something. I kind of find it hard to believe considering that OBS would need to be kept in the loop of every single thing happening down to the minute to ensure everything is broadcasted.

Unless Paris 2024 did keep OBS in the loop but not the IOC leadership, but this would mean a severe lack of communication between OBS and the IOC itself, in addition to the disregard of the Host City Contract / Olympic Charter by Paris 2024.

Alternatively, Paris 2024 kept BOTH the IOC and OBS out of the loop. I know some of the common complains many of you had during the broadcast was that it seemed like OBS wasn't doing their job well. This could potentially explain it, as OBS would have to scramble to fit in the previously hidden parts into their existing plans...

Any thoughts?

[baron-pierreIV]

I was really surprised at how blatant the Louis Vuitton segment was -- as was the Minions-Despicable Me portion.  Those absolutely reeked of BLATANT commercialization and favoritism of select sponsors--regardless of how much they paid.  Those would never have passed the muster of the IOC Executive Board.  I think those were hidden from the IOC and the OBS.  

[Sir Rols]

1 hour ago, baron-pierreIV said:

I was really surprised at how blatant the Louis Vuitton segment was -- as was the Minions-Despicable Me portion.  Those absolutely reeked of BLATANT commercialization and favoritism of select sponsors--regardless of how much they paid.  Those would never have passed the muster of the IOC Executive Board.  I think those were hidden from the IOC and the OBS.  

Just wait till you see the LA mascot

[sebastien1214]

9 hours ago, Bear said:

Completely disagree with whatever BS Steven is spouting ("satanic"? 😐) but what Michael Payne is saying here about Paris 2024 deliberately misleading the IOC is certainly something. I kind of find it hard to believe considering that OBS would need to be kept in the loop of every single thing happening down to the minute to ensure everything is broadcasted.

Unless Paris 2024 did keep OBS in the loop but not the IOC leadership, but this would mean a severe lack of communication between OBS and the IOC itself, in addition to the disregard of the Host City Contract / Olympic Charter by Paris 2024.

Alternatively, Paris 2024 kept BOTH the IOC and OBS out of the loop. I know some of the common complains many of you had during the broadcast was that it seemed like OBS wasn't doing their job well. This could potentially explain it, as OBS would have to scramble to fit in the previously hidden parts into their existing plans...

Any thoughts?

I don't believe it for a second. The only explanation I could believe or IOC members would not have known everything in advance is if Thomas Bach had controlled everything himself, all by himself, without informing other important IOC members, and accepted more things than what the IOC would have accepted collegially; after all it is not impossible given the extent to which Bach acts almost like a king without a court and without an advisor, but then the problem would come in this case entirely from the IOC which is visibly very dysfunctional.

But in any case, we know for sure that at least OBS must have been aware of everything, since they had the media guide (and the media guide did not hide any surprises except for the torchbearers from the Trocadéro), and the director must have known all the scenes (you will have noticed that the "controversial" scenes were ultimately those where the direction was impeccable, notably the transition on Marie-Antoinette being decapitated).

And OBS is even more conservative than the IOC. (moreover, Paris 2024 did not keep OBS and the IOC at a distance; they may have had more freedom than before, it is even very likely, but we know that it is OBS's excessive control over the ceremonies team that may have created some small tensions, such as in the choice of director imposed by OBS)

What I think, on the other hand, is that people within the IOC have every interest in "leaking" via journalists/insiders/others the false information that "no but in fact we were not informed, things were hidden from us" because the IOC does not want to take on negative criticism. Exactly like the press release after the stupid controversy over the Last Supper where the IOC said "we checked with Paris 2024 that they had no malicious intent" - making people believe that they were not at all aware of this scene (which appears in the storyboard), which was ridiculous.

6 hours ago, baron-pierreIV said:

I was really surprised at how blatant the Louis Vuitton segment was -- as was the Minions-Despicable Me portion.  Those absolutely reeked of BLATANT commercialization and favoritism of select sponsors--regardless of how much they paid.  Those would never have passed the muster of the IOC Executive Board.  I think those were hidden from the IOC and the OBS.  

For LVMH: Last week Thomas Jolly was interviewed by the National Assembly (to review the Olympic Games) and he notably returned to LVMH. He said that the ceremonies team had to adapt to the specifications of Paris 2024, including their sponsorship contracts, and that this was the case for LVMH since in their contract that they had signed with Paris 2024 (the global Tier 1 contract), they required that the LVMH medal case appear during the ceremony (and perhaps other things but he only talked about the case).

So it was something that was included as standard in the Tier 1 contract. And I imagine that the IOC must have agreed and given its authorization; I imagine that the IOC does not let the organizing committees sign sponsorship contracts without looking at the contracts first.

(for the Minions, if it is also a sponsorship contract, it must necessarily come from NBC, and given their financial importance perhaps the IOC does not necessarily want to say "no" to NBC)

[Sir Rols]

49 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

For LVMH: Last week Thomas Jolly was interviewed by the National Assembly (to review the Olympic Games) and he notably returned to LVMH. He said that the ceremonies team had to adapt to the specifications of Paris 2024, including their sponsorship contracts, and that this was the case for LVMH since in their contract that they had signed with Paris 2024 (the global Tier 1 contract), they required that the LVMH medal case appear during the ceremony (and perhaps other things but he only talked about the case).

So it was something that was included as standard in the Tier 1 contract. And I imagine that the IOC must have agreed and given its authorization; I imagine that the IOC does not let the organizing committees sign sponsorship contracts without looking at the contracts first.

Interesting to hear that. I’m also pretty amazed to hear it was explicitly included in the contract  and do also think the LVMH segment sailed a bit too far into the advertising space for my taste. It was one thing that did leave a bad taste for me. Not a good precedent.

51 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

(for the Minions, if it is also a sponsorship contract, it must necessarily come from NBC, and given their financial importance perhaps the IOC does not necessarily want to say "no" to NBC)

The minions, on the other hand, I’m inclined to give a pass. I certainly was unaware of their French connection, and I’m pretty sure most people outside France still aren’t. It’s not like I think Tom Cruise’s stunts in the closing were an ad for the Mission Impossible franchise, or that Tokyo’s handover in Rio was an ad for Nintendo - some things are just a nod to the popular culture zeitgeist.

[Rob2012]

On the other hand, one fitted into the 'feel' of the ceremony (it was at least part of a build up to a dance segment), the other was just an extended cartoon in the middle of it with very little obvious connection to France or the Olympics. I think I feel the opposite way to you on this Rols.