Paris 2024 Ceremonies - Verdict

[sebastien1214]

20 minutes ago, FYI said:

Paris, & L.A., are actually doing the IOC a huge favor by taking on the IOC's humongous extravagance. I'd say that Paris' Brand is more popular globally than even the Olympics. Paris, in particular, absolutely didn't need the Olympics in order to prove themselves to the world. 

Above all, above all, for the moment the Paris Games look like a huge success that can clearly do a huge service to the IOC by presenting these Games as memorable games:

- Events held in exceptional locations and settings
- A very big atmosphere with a lot of spectators; I don't remember hearing or seeing such an atmosphere since maybe London 2012
- Significant sporting moments; for example tonight's swimming session is quite iconic, between the 100m record broken, Marchand's two medals... (Rio 2016 seemed to me also to be just as exceptional from this point of view)

Apart from the opening ceremony for some people (and again, French opinion is largely different from international opinion), no major weak points for the moment*.

*(yes, the story of the "lack of bathrooms" in the OV, some who complain a little about the OV's food... but we are on the point of detail that we find in absolutely all the Olympics. It is not notable, it just serves to sell paper and make clicks nothing more)

[Sir Rols]

Nice avatar @sebastien1214!

9 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

*(yes, the story of the "lack of bathrooms" in the OV, some who complain a little about the OV's food... but we are on the point of detail that we find in absolutely all the Olympics. It is not notable, it just serves to sell paper and make clicks nothing more)

Ecatly, the typical clickbait “scandal” that nobody remembers as soon as it’s over. Particularly the vegan food story - just the type of thing to yield the “woke” hammer over again (and it’s the predictable suspects making such a big deal about it).

[FYI]

8 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

Above all, above all, for the moment the Paris Games look like a huge success that can clearly do a huge service to the IOC by presenting these Games as memorable games:

- Events held in exceptional locations and settings
- A very big atmosphere with a lot of spectators; I don't remember hearing or seeing such an atmosphere since maybe London 2012

Yeah, but as even Rol's noted not that long ago, that not very many cities can offer the type of backdrop(s) that Paris has done for these Games. And I think that is also adding to the atmosphere to these Games, plus - it's Paris! Cause yeah, between Tokyo 2020ne & Beijing 2022 (which were basically duds, as far as atmosphere, due to Covid), I can't really remember the last Games that were really this riled up. I don't think even Rio is able to match.

[StefanMUC]

As someone who is in Paris right now and busy going to the venues with little time to follow the chit chat about supposed „scandals“, I have to say this is an amazing experience so far and while I can fully understand Parisians whose daily lives have been upended for months or years now, as far as the Olympics are concerned, this is perfection in terms of saving a brand that has been really ruined by Escrime 1976 & co with their creeping up to authoritarian despots (which they will still continue for 2036 probably).

[FYI]

I actually posted an article in the Paris 2024 thread a few months ago & another a couple of weeks ago, that talked about this very thing. The 2024 Olympics were likely to be a very atmospheric Games, cause the pent up anxiety of Covid over the last two Olympics, it really going to draw the crowds out, cause we're all wanting a party at this point. Plus again, it's Paris!!

[sebastien1214]

7 minutes ago, FYI said:

Yeah, but as even Rol's noted not that long ago, that not very many cities can offer the type of backdrop(s) that Paris has done for these Games. And I think that is also adding to the atmosphere to these Games, plus - it's Paris! Cause yeah, between Tokyo 2020ne & Beijing 2022 (which were basically duds, as far as atmosphere, due to Covid), I can't really remember the last Games that were really this riled up. I don't think even Rio is able to match.

It's true that we have an undeniable advantage - and good luck to the next cities to beat us (but I don't think it should become a competition that would quickly become unhealthy) - but even if we look at more comparable things, we are really very good. Whether it's the look of the Games with the graphic style used in the arenas, the logo, even the mascot... in fact the only thing that bothers me is the look of OBS, but it's not the fault of the host country and I have the impression that OBS is 10-15 years behind. Sad.

In terms of atmosphere, for me, Rio was below. I remember the stands being much more sparse than what we see in Paris (which is not so surprising considering the standard of living of Brazilians, especially at a time when a serious crisis was hitting them). And the Parisian arenas seem to have the advantage of excellent acoustics; that also makes a difference.

(but I have a good impression of Rio, and I find that these games are underrated. And I hope that in the future we will have new games in emerging countries; even if the organization of the Games must not endanger the economy of these countries)

[Sir Rols]

3 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

In terms of atmosphere, for me, Rio was below. I remember the stands being much more sparse than what we see in Paris (which is not so surprising considering the standard of living of Brazilians, especially at a time when a serious crisis was hitting them). And the Parisian arenas seem to have the advantage of excellent acoustics; that also makes a difference.

It’s telling that we haven’t had the traditional “where are all the crowds?” Thread

[sebastien1214]

3 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

It’s telling that we haven’t had the traditional “where are all the crowds?” Thread

In truth, we could do it for the football tournament. The stadiums are half full (except for the French matches). But that raises another question which is: should we really keep football in the Olympics? Because I have the impression that no matter the edition of the Olympics, it's always like that with football. I ask myself the question more and more, and I wonder if it wouldn't be relevant to replace football with futsal at the Olympics. The Olympics don't need football for media coverage, and football doesn't need the Olympics to be popular, it seems like a lose-lose relationship between FIFA and the IOC.

[Olympics2028]

1 hour ago, sebastien1214 said:

I don't remember hearing or seeing such an atmosphere since maybe London 2012

 

 

[sebastien1214]

1 minute ago, Olympics2028 said:

 

Oh, I had a very different memory. But I'm probably wrong, it's been a long time, 12 years. Well, seems like we have the best atmosphere in Paris for... a long time.

[FYI]

26 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

The Olympics don't need football for media coverage, and football doesn't need the Olympics to be popular, it seems like a lose-lose relationship between FIFA and the IOC.

Yeah, it always seemed bizarre (cause that's what the WC is for), cause neither one really needs the other. Plus, the expense host cities can save if soccer is taken out of the Olympics. 

[Olympics2028]

2 hours ago, FYI said:

Oh, it'll be worse, for sure. If some of these whiners are saying that Paris 2024 is "woke", just they wait 'til L.A. 2028 then!  Can't wait!! 

 

The 2016 Olympics IMO didn't help Rio's image. The 2024 games to me so far aren't generally enhancing Paris's. Same with the 2012 games across the English Channel.

If the 2028 games screw up things like ceremonies, etc, it would be better for LA's image if the next summer Olympics were cancelled. I also don't trust 2028 OOC's head Casey Wasserman any more than I trust 2024 OOC's head Tony Estanguet.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-06-10/hollywood-economy-employment-revenue-production-down

 

Quote

 

“There is something of an existential question mark over large swaths of the traditional Hollywood economy,” said Stuart Ford, chairman and chief executive of Los Angeles-based AGC Studios, which develops, produces, finances and licenses films and television series. The decades-long way of making money in the film and TV industry has been turned upside down by new technologies, changing public appetites and the globalization of the workforce.

Coming out of the strikes in the fall, many expected a rebound in local film and TV jobs. But employment in L.A. County’s motion pictures and sound recording industries — the main category for film and television production — has barely budged from about 100,000 through April, which is about 20% less than pre-pandemic levels. Aside from the early months of COVID-19 in 2020 and the strikes in the summer last year, employment in the sector hasn’t been this low in more than 30 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Los Angeles probably will remain a thriving center for those who work at the top of the film and TV industry, but much of the production and distribution work may continue to move elsewhere. Toronto, for example, has long been an attractive alternative location for shooting movies, while the streets of New York are widely used for television. In recent years, a host of other locations including Atlanta have begun cutting into L.A.’s share of the business.

In fact, outside L.A., the film and TV industry’s payrolls nationally have largely recovered, reflecting in part California’s high costs and the long-term outflow of production to other locales, including Atlanta, Vancouver and London. California’s share of U.S. employment in motion pictures and sound recording is now down to less than 30%, from almost 40% just a decade ago.

 

 

 

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[yoshi]

35 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

In truth, we could do it for the football tournament. The stadiums are half full (except for the French matches). But that raises another question which is: should we really keep football in the Olympics? Because I have the impression that no matter the edition of the Olympics, it's always like that with football. I ask myself the question more and more, and I wonder if it wouldn't be relevant to replace football with futsal at the Olympics. The Olympics don't need football for media coverage, and football doesn't need the Olympics to be popular, it seems like a lose-lose relationship between FIFA and the IOC.

I like to keep an eye on continental domestic football (although mainly the Bundesliga because I've been to more places in Germany) & I get the impression that France is kinda losing interest in football generally - except maybe the national team. I saw the stories about Bordeaux going under, which is remarkable for such a big city team, the fuss about TV rights which tbh I don't fully understand, PSG domination, Ligue 1 doesn't really get considered as one of the top leagues now. Plus it seems from here that rugby is becoming more emphatically the main sport as time goes on. 

Edit: I do think it's time for football to go. Nothing else plays under 23 anyway, I might've said keep women's football before last year, when the World Cup took its rightful place. Now, I don't see any benefits for either side keeping it in. 

Edited July 31, 2024 by yoshi

[sebastien1214]

1 minute ago, Olympics2028 said:

The 2016 Olympics IMO didn't help Rio's image. The 2024 games to me so far aren't generally enhancing Paris's. Same with the 2012 games across the English Channel.

If the 2028 games screw up things like ceremonies, etc, it would be better for LA's image if the next summer Olympics were cancelled. I also don't trust 2028 OOC's head Casey Wasserman any more than I trust 2024 OOC's head Tony Estanguet.

Paris and Los Angeles are among the only cities in the world that absolutely do not need the Olympic Games for their image (in fact... I only see 5 cities in the world in this case: Paris, LA, New York, London, Tokyo).

Paris will always be Paris after the Games. Same for LA. And it was the same for London.

And I find your remark about LA very strange; wishing for the cancellation of LA28 if they are not able to make a ceremony to your taste, for me it is a bit like using a flamethrower to kill a fly in your living room.

[Sir Rols]

6 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

And I find your remark about LA very strange; wishing for the cancellation of LA28 if they are not able to make a ceremony to your taste, for me it is a bit like using a flamethrower to kill a fly in your living room.

Olympics2028 hasn’t liked any games ceremony since 1964. Not that he watches them anyway.

Edited July 31, 2024 by Sir Rols

[FYI]

5 minutes ago, Olympics2028 said:

The 2016 Olympics IMO didn't help Rio's image. The 2024 games to me so far aren't generally enhancing Paris's. Same with the 2012 games across the English Channel.

Because neither city really needs the exposure from the Olympics (as I mentioned earlier), particularly Paris. Cities like Atlanta & Brisbane that think the Olympics will somehow enhance their global standing are in for a rude awakening.

7 minutes ago, Olympics2028 said:

If the 2028 games screw up things like ceremonies, etc, it would be better for LA's image if the next summer Olympics were cancelled. I also don't trust 2028 OOC's head Casey Wasserman any more than I trust 2024 OOC's head Tony Estanguet.

LOL, okayyyy! 

[sebastien1214]

2 minutes ago, yoshi said:

I like to keep an eye on continental domestic football (although mainly the Bundesliga because I've been to more places in Germany) & I get the impression that France is kinda losing interest in football generally - except maybe the national team. I saw the stories about Bordeaux going under, which is remarkable for such a big city team, the fuss about TV rights which tbh I don't fully understand, PSG domination, Ligue 1 doesn't really get considered as one of the top leagues now. Plus it seems from here that rugby is becoming more emphatically the main sport as time goes on. 

Yes, the French championship is not doing well. We have never been a very big European championship that said; except maybe in the 90s, we have always been content to be the 4th or 5th European championship. That said, the average attendance in Ligue 1 stadiums is quite correct and even very good. And I don't think that overall we have lost interest in football; there were certainly lower TV audiences for Euro 2024, but that was mainly because France was then in the middle of a political crisis (which is not resolved, by the way, lol - but with the Olympics it's forgotten for the moment)

Now, indeed, the TV rights being in crisis it is not going to improve the situation. We are planning for the next seasons 500M€/year, which compared to the PL is... not much.

[JMarkSnow2012]

41 minutes ago, Olympics2028 said:

 

It may be precisely because London experimented with solutions to the problem of underused front-rows seating reserved for "Olympic Family and Friends," in sold-out venues, that Paris seems not to be having the same problems.

[sebastien1214]

2 minutes ago, JMarkSnow2012 said:

It may be precisely because London experimented with solutions to the problem of underused front-rows seating reserved for "Olympic Family and Friends," in sold-out venues, that Paris seems not to be having the same problems.

For Paris, in the 100 days preceding the opening of the Games, there were what we had the "Ticket Thursdays" or every Thursday, Paris 2024 put "new" tickets on sale, but in fact these new tickets were quotas allocated to sponsors/others who had not found "takers" among these sponsors.

[Red Centaur]

The Olympics look amazing in beautiful cities like Sydney, Barcelona, and Paris because of their stunning settings. Sydney's Harbour and Opera House provide a spectacular backdrop for the events. Barcelona’s mix of historic sites and modern architecture creates a lively and colorful atmosphere. Paris, with its iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, adds a touch of romance and charm. These cities offer unique vibes and gorgeous scenery that make the Olympics even more special, blending sports with culture and making the experience unforgettable for everyone involved. Other cities just can’t replicate these visuals, as the natural and architectural beauty of Sydney, Barcelona, and Paris is truly one-of-a-kind. While London and Beijing made impressive efforts with their Olympic parks, the true grandeur of these cities often lies indoors, lacking the inherent outdoor charm and visual appeal that is natural in Sydney, Barcelona, and Paris.

[Sir Rols]

1 minute ago, Red Centaur said:

While London and Beijing made impressive efforts with their Olympic parks, the true grandeur of these cities often lies indoors, lacking the inherent outdoor charm and visual appeal that is natural in Sydney, Barcelona, and Paris.

I dunno. Horseguards, Greenwich Park and open road events certainly also gave London its share of picturesque sheen. If anything,

I don’t think Sydney utilised the beauty of the harbour as much as it could have - I still have missed feelings about locating our epicentre at Homebush.

[Olympics2028]

2 hours ago, sebastien1214 said:

And I find your remark about LA very strange; wishing for the cancellation of LA28 if they are not able to make a ceremony to your taste, for me it is a bit like using a flamethrower to kill a fly in your living room.

Not just an opening, but other things too. I was referring to issues like the following.

^ That's like the IOC and 2024 OOC knowing well in advance that their ceremony and not just things like food probably would fail the test of "does this make sense?" 

In general, any OOC has what I rate as 3 major goals: (1) Budget, (2) Attendance & (3) Organization/Planning: Ceremonies/logo/signs, transportation, security, etc. That 3rd category may be too general since I would also include things like housing for athletes and officials.

[sebastien1214]

A long interview with Patrick Boucheron, the historian who participated in writing the opening ceremony. I highly recommend you read it, it's long but it's definitely worth it and it covers lots of topics about this ceremony.

https://legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2024/07/30/oui-ca-ira-une-conversation-fleuve-avec-patrick-boucheron-co-auteur-de-la-ceremonie-douverture-des-jo-de-paris-2024/

 

[Olympics2028]

2 hours ago, Sir Rols said:

Olympics2028 hasn’t liked any games ceremony since 1964. Not that he watches them anyway.

Actually, over the past 40 years, I thought the opening of the winter games in Beijing 2022 came sort of close to setting the right tone. In the thread on LA, I've also cited 1984 as setting the right tone too.

I thought Beijing 2008 was too China-fied, but I'd rather have that than last Friday's "WTF?!" along the Seine. 

[Sir Rols]

Just now, Olympics2028 said:

Actually, over the past 40 years, I thought the opening of the winter games in Beijing 2022 came sort of close to setting the right tone. In the thread on LA, I've also cited 1984 as setting the right tone too.

I thought Beijing 2008 was too China-fied, but I'd rather have that than last Friday's "WTF?!" along the Seine. 

Have you watched them now?