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Paris 2024 Ceremonies - Verdict


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Well. I modestly thought that maybe the hot opinion of a French person would interest you. Sorry @baron-pierreIV, this will be a long message. I also think that it could be interesting to create a topic that would be a place for more detailed opinions (we can always reuse it for the 3 upcoming ceremonies, that's why I put a broad title).

I'm going to make a hot opinion that will be very focused on the feeling rather than on a detailed analysis of the work as such. I'll save that for my cold analysis tomorrow; unfortunately I'm working tomorrow so it will arrive late.

Before my opinion, I'm going to give you a very brief presentation of what I saw on French Twitter, which is that the French really liked this ceremony. (except those who scream about wokism, of course). And I also saw that this ceremony is going to be hugely hated abroad, that's the impression I have. I also think that we'll quickly return to the ceremonies at the Stadium. If that's what the majority of the world prefers, then I don't mind. But at least something else had to be tried.

I'd also like to start by saying a huge thank you to all the security forces who managed to ensure that there were absolutely no security incidents. A huge congratulations to all those in logistics who managed to make it work (I'm not talking about the artistic side). I don't know if we really realize the logistical feat that this ceremony achieved.

Now, my opinion.

I'm still having trouble positioning myself. In reality, I had a good time. But I felt out of step with the expectations of Olympic fans. It was so different, it broke the codes so much that... I totally understand the disappointment of many of you.

I found that there were things to review. The TV production, what a pain. The artistic scenes that were there to fill the void were far, far too long. They should have divided this downtime into several 5-minute scenes, not a long 20-minute one. And overall, it's true that I didn't manage to find a real common thread in the story. I had the impression that this ceremony was more of a conglomerate of ideas but not very well connected.

There were, however, some brilliant ideas. Integrating the flame's journey into the ceremony, I loved it. The painting on the French Revolution... my god. And the Olympic cauldron? Incredible. Imagine the Parisians who, at their windows, right now, see the Eiffel Tower and a huge Olympic cauldron...

But for the rest, despite all that, I feel proud to be French tonight. And it was not won. Yes, this ceremony disappointed you a lot compared to expectations. I understand you. It is true that this ceremony seemed to look a lot like a message to send to ourselves, the French, than to the whole world. But I am so proud that we wanted to try something so different, the French audacity, and too bad if it didn't appeal to many people internationally. So proud that for 3 hours and 45 minutes, the ideas we saw in this ceremony were the exact opposite of the political ideas and speeches that we have been hearing in my country for so long and that will one day end up winning, I'm afraid. You see, the Olympic ceremonies are political, and this opening ceremony was a cultural battle that we had to fight, and we did. And I cried at the end, I admit, for all these reasons. So just for that, yes, I will happily watch the replay of this ceremony for a long time.

And if I had to give a score, well I would be unable to give one. I don't really feel legitimate to give one because I'm biased anyway by my nationality, and I still can't tell myself that we can compare this object to ceremonies in a stadium because it's so different.
I might add other things tonight, but I'm not going to go to sleep soon anyway.

Edited by Sir Rols
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  • Sir Rols changed the title to Paris 2024 Ceremonies - Verdict
5 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

I had the impression that this ceremony was more of a conglomerate of ideas but not very well connected.

Well, the connection was French culture, but yes, it was not developed in a coherent fashion the way is was in most previous opening ceremonies.

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1 minute ago, Sir Rols said:

@sebastien1214, a quick question before I try my verdict it may take a while). It seems to me there may have ben some segments cut. Like the waiters and the hooded torchbearer from the “LaGrande Seine” video (unless I missed it). D ou think that was the case?

I would have to watch all this again in calm but yes, we did not see the relay runner being chased by the waiters. I also have the feeling that some moments were shortened or cut because of the rain, I am thinking in particular of a drone shot.

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So of course the rain didn't help, but overall the strategy of mingling the athletes' parade with the cultural segment significantly diluted the impact of the broadcast. Although it may, paradoxically, have been good for social media engagement, the format was inimical to artistic ambitions.

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My short review: yes, it was spread in more ways than one. Yes, it rained bad. Yes, the parade felt longer. Yes, your expectations were shattered. But i still felt worth it watching it in 2x speed at the bus after pausing right on the start to have a meeting with my therapyst, before getting home to watch with the family. A creative and diverse ceremony, even if a bit draggy, especially in the end. But you bet the calduron and Celine was cool.

Artistic: 10 Pacing: 6 Protocol: 7 Cohesion: 6 Total Score: 29/40 Grade: 7,25. Creative, at the very least.

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1 minute ago, JMarkSnow2012 said:

So of course the rain didn't help, but overall the strategy of mingling the athletes' parade with the cultural segment significantly diluted the impact of the broadcast. Although it may, paradoxically, have been good for social media engagement, the format was inimical to artistic ambitions.

I think that the idea of mixing the parade and the artistic part can appeal to those who basically don't like the Olympics and the Olympic ceremonies. It was perhaps even a desire on their part, to reach out to this audience.

Now, when you're a fan of the Olympics, and you're used to ceremonies divided neatly in a stadium, it's disturbing.

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13 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

I think that the idea of mixing the parade and the artistic part can appeal to those who basically don't like the Olympics and the Olympic ceremonies

True, and it'll be interesting to see if that balances the number of "traditional" viewers who watch the cultural performance, ignore most of the parade, then come back for the cauldron-lighting and fireworks just before bedtime.

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Parade of Nations was disjointed, too logistically challenging. The finale was alright. When the use of the river was announced, they should've have done something of a combination of Disneyland's Fantasmic show combined with Athens' 2004 history parade.

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7 minutes ago, SkiFreak said:

Parade of Nations was disjointed, too logistically challenging. The finale was alright. When the use of the river was announced, they should've have done something of a combination of Disneyland's Fantasmic show combined with Athens' 2004 history parade.

It makes me hope that 2028 will see Disney get involved, because I know exactly how they would have done this ceremony in the old days. Less long boat parade probably.

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I can’t honestly say that was one of the great ceremonies. I could maybe rewatch a highlights package of some of the cultural moments etc, but I couldn’t rewatch the whole thing through again.

I still applaud the audacity, but it didn’t quite hit the mark. The first hour was so promising - the middle artistic segments within the parade were some of the highlights with a lot to take in. Wish I’d taken notes of what I liked. I thought the tone was good and spot-on. But then, as much as I liked the notion of the flotilla of athletes as an idea, it totally wrecked the pace of it all. The artistic stuff just couldn’t get a good flow. It became, as so many said, disjointed and incoherent. And some bits obviously dragged like the fashion show and the mechanical horse. Speaking of the fashion show, full marks for sticking it in the faces of the alt-rightists. Featuring drag queens always gets high marks from me - but they milked it too long - almost as if it was extended to fill some missing/cut segments.

And, of course, the weather. It literally put a dampener on all proceedings. It’s going to be one of the great “what ifs” now as to how it would have been with sun and a sunset. And I’m sure some potentially great segments were cut because of it. And it definitely put the camera work off. Such a pity. But C’est la Vie, I guess.

On the plus side of the ledger…

The music selection was top notch! Loved just about every piece chosen, from the classics to the modern. Superb.

And the ending. What a cauldron! Though I’d guessed that was exactly what it would be and how it worked, it as even better than my expectations. Up there as one of the all-time best cauldrons. And Celine! Exquisite! You weren’t the only one getting emotional @sebastien1214, I got quite  emotional describing it to my partner.

I can only give i a B+ at he end though. High ambitions, but foiled a bit by execution and weather.

 

Edited by Sir Rols
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11 minutes ago, Olympic Fan Darcy said:

I’ll give a more in depth response later but nobody can honestly give this anything above a C+. 

 

All I can say or show for now is this image. What an embarrassment for Paris. 
 

spacer.png

 

I had not realised at the time, but the background image apparently was a reenactment of the last supper of Jesus Christ. 
 

that was a choice. The organisers chose that for a reason.

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8 minutes ago, rio2016man said:

Out of Summer Olympic Opening Ceremonies that I’ve seen:

1. Paris 2024
2. London 2012
3. Beijing 2008

I wouldn't necessarily put Paris ahead of London and Beijing, but once again... it's so different that I wouldn't even know where to place it.

I would have to do the mental exercise in my head to try to compare it: if we cut out each piece individually and glue it back together like for a classic ceremony (artistic - parade - protocol). There, we could possibly compare this mental result with the other ceremonies. And, I must admit that I was perhaps more marked by the artistic segments of London than Paris. (for Beijing.... I have no memory in fact. I had watched it but I was still young, I have no memory of it).

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For me, this was a flawed experiment. The weather, couldn’t be helped! But everyone else could … it seemed disjointed. I had hoped the last segment would rescue it… but there was no chain reaction. Celine was Celine… I guess many enjoyed that! I admire her for doing it after her health woes; but overall… a disappointment. I fully expect LA will revert to type - stadium opening. 

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7 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

I can’t honestly say that was one of the great ceremonies. I could maybe rewatch a highlights adage of some of the cultural moments etc, but I couldn’t rewatch the while hung through again.

I still applaud the audacity, but it didn’t quite hit the mark. The first hour was so promising - the middle artistic segments within the parade were some of the highlights with a lot to take in. Wish I’d taken notes of what I liked. I thought the tone was good and spot-on. But then, as much as I liked the notion of the flotilla of athletes as an idea, it totally wrecked the pace of it all. The artistic stuff just couldn’t get a good flow. It became, as so many said, disjointed and incoherent. And some bits obviously dragged like The fashion show and the mechanical horse. Speaking of the fashion show, full marks for sticking it in the faces of the alt-rightists. Featuring drag queens always gets high marks from me - but they milked it to long.

And, of course, the weather. It literally put a dampener on all proceedings. It’s going to be one of the great “what ifs” now as to how it would have been with sun and a sunset. And I’m sure some potentially great segments were cut because of it. And it definitely put the camera work off. Such a pity. But C’est la Vie, I guess.

On the plus side of the ledger…

The music selection was top notch! Loved just about every piece chosen, from the classics to the modern. Superb.

And the ending. What a cauldron! Though I’d guessed that was exactly what it would be and how it worked, it as even better than my expectations. Up there as one of the all-time best cauldrons. And Celine! Exquisite! You weren’t the only o getting notional @sebastien1214, I got quite  emotional describing it to my partner.

I can only give i a B+ at he end though. High ambitions, but foiled a bit by execution and weather.

 

I rather agree with this opinion (even if I would have been less harsh but I am not objective, I am French !). And somewhere, at the same time I want to know what it would have been like if there had been good weather, were things cut or not, but on the other hand I don't necessarily want to because it could give us all regrets.

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1 minute ago, Michelle said:

For me, this was a flawed experiment. The weather, couldn’t be helped! But everyone else could … it seemed disjointed. I had hoped the last segment would rescue it… but there was no chain reaction. Celine was Celine… I guess many enjoyed that! I admire her for doing it after her health woes; but overall… a disappointment. I fully expect LA will revert to type - stadium opening. 

I tell myself that at least we tried. Too bad if we won over far fewer people than we imagined. But we tried something out of the ordinary and mind-blowing when you look at the logistical aspect of things. Putain, we did it anyway.

And basically, if LA28 comes back to the Stadium, and all the future Olympics too, well it doesn't matter. It'll be fine with me. Because this time, we know what a ceremony outside the stadium can give, we will have tried at least once and that's the main thing.

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I need to rewatch it. I'm having a hard time processing everything which transpired these last four hours, but I promise to come here with a detailed review.

For now, i'll just say they were not lying when they said this ceremony was going to break molds. This whole show felt extremely experimental, but in a way I feel its the only way to innovate and distance from the usual style which was, to be honest, getting very repetitive and struggling to reach the zenith which was Beijing and London's ceremonies.

It was far from perfect, but I think it will undoubtly inspire much needed changes to olympic ceremonies to make them interesting again.

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Just now, sebastien1214 said:

I tell myself that at least we tried. Too bad if we won over far fewer people than we imagined. But we tried something out of the ordinary and mind-blowing when you look at the logistical aspect of things. Putain, we did it anyway.

And basically, if LA28 comes back to the Stadium, and all the future Olympics too, well it doesn't matter. It'll be fine with me. Because this time, we know what a ceremony outside the stadium can give, we will have tried at least once and that's the main thing.

Of course. 
Paris’24, has that… it sure was different (if nothing else). 

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