Paris 2024 Ceremonies - Verdict

[SkiFreak]

6 minutes ago, MisterSG1 said:

 

i was honestly completely thrilled that Vancouver pulled out of 2030, I could only imagine what that would have been like with the current climate Canada is in.

Same with Calgary 2026. Calgary is a very different place now than 1988. When I moved here in 2011 I think I caught the last 2 good years, and then things went down hill. No way we could pull off another Winter Games in today's climate.

[guilherme b]

 

 

The question that should be asked in relation to this ceremony: Was this necessary? Does it contribute to the Olympic spirit? Does it represent the ideals of the Games? Does it bring any improvement to the overall situation in the world?

Unfortunately, no one will answer these questions, nor will anyone be held accountable for this absurdity. They should. Congratulations Paris, you have added a few more kilometers to the division between people.

[MisterSG1]

4 minutes ago, SkiFreak said:

Same with Calgary 2026. Calgary is a very different place now than 1988. When I moved here in 2011 I think I caught the last 2 good years, and then things went down hill. No way we could pull off another Winter Games in today's climate.

By climate I assume you meant like I did, political climate.

Heck, the Toronto Pan Am games weren’t that long ago, but 2015 Toronto feels like a totally different place to 2024 Toronto.

[SkiFreak]

1 minute ago, MisterSG1 said:

By climate I assume you meant like I did, political climate.

Heck, the Toronto Pan Am games weren’t that long ago, but 2015 Toronto feels like a totally different place to 2024 Toronto.

Both political, and environmental. Just pretty much the overall climate of things these days.

[Gonzo]

12 minutes ago, guilherme b said:

Was this necessary?

LePen just got even more votes in the next election

[baron-pierreIV]

21 minutes ago, guilherme b said:

 

 

The question that should be asked in relation to this ceremony: Was this necessary? Does it contribute to the Olympic spirit? Does it represent the ideals of the Games? Does it bring any improvement to the overall situation in the world?

Unfortunately, no one will answer these questions, nor will anyone be held accountable for this absurdity. They should. Congratulations Paris, you have added a few more kilometers to the division between people.

Whoa!  Good catch.  I was wondering about that woman in the center.  Luckily, not many people caught the allusion.  No wonder the X called it a "woke" ceremony.  

[MisterSG1]

9 minutes ago, Gonzo said:

LePen just got even more votes in the next election

But according to the OP, everyone in France just loved the opening ceremony.

[Gonzo]

French MP

https://x.com/MarionMarechal/status/1816925819077296174

[krow]

28 minutes ago, guilherme b said:

nor will anyone be held accountable for this absurdity

why would anyone be held accountable for an artistic choice during a creative ceremony?

y'all need to CALM DOWN seriously. 

about to throw people in jail for having different opinions and tastes than you. who cares. stop taking things meant for billions of people so incredibly personally, as if you are the only person on earth who gets to enjoy things.

you're not a child; grow up.

[Bear]

33 minutes ago, guilherme b said:

The question that should be asked in relation to this ceremony: Was this necessary? Does it contribute to the Olympic spirit? Does it represent the ideals of the Games? Does it bring any improvement to the overall situation in the world?

Unfortunately, no one will answer these questions, nor will anyone be held accountable for this absurdity. They should. Congratulations Paris, you have added a few more kilometers to the division between people.

bro calm down you're acting like such a snowflake

[Olympics2028]

3 hours ago, LOUIS said:

After Paris, I have a newfound respect for Beijing, Athens, (even) Sydney. A "golden age" of OLYMPICS opening ceremonies.  No eurovision style entertainment.

5/10

 

 

The artistic, cultural trends have been following the same general pattern for over 25 years. I haven't watched the symbolic start of the 2024 games, but images and comments indicate it's apparently a non-stadium, riverside version of what started in Barcelona as long ago as 1992. That format is now universally baked in.

The best that can be hoped for in 2028 is that at least the budget for those games doesn't bust the bottom line. And there's no terrorism or some huge natural disaster.

 

[illustrado]

Much like the Amazing Race: Family Edition. It was an innovative way of refreshing the opening ceremonies. Now let not do it or acknowledge it ever again.

I feel like this needs heavy commentary which i didn’t get in my feed.

The parade was in bits that i thought it didn’t work.

This is a tv audience ceremony. I hope the irl audience got their money back. 

I think it could have work if it was on land rather than on the river.

The international artist didn’t help nor hinder the ceremonies. 

Overall it was an ok show. Nothing innovative or jaw dropping. 

6/10. 

[Sir Rols]

1 hour ago, Gonzo said:

LePen just got even more votes in the next election

 

2 hours ago, guilherme b said:

 A ceremony meant to shock rather than entertain. The circus of horrors in Paris.

More than a disappointment! What I witnessed was easily the worst Olympic opening ceremony, at least among those I have attended.

A complete freak show, without cohesion, sense, continuity, or connection to the Olympics, athletes, and the games.

It seems someone on the committee decided to put a bunch of gays and make a totally woke ceremony, defending the progressive agenda, to then intermingle with athletes and try to relate it to the games. The result was an amalgamation of exaggerations with a circus of aberrations.

I expected the Olympics to be a place beyond political platforms. A place of respect, unity, and acclaim of the Olympic spirit, based on overcoming challenges. The organizers think differently.

The Olympics is supposed to be about the best of the best. People that strive, suffer, and sacrifice to push themselves to be better individuals. What do these people have do with excellence?

The best of Paris, which could be expected through art, music, and ambiance, was thrown away. Instead of can-can, we have trisal sex; instead of eternal works of art, we have a gay Last Supper. Instead of ballet, we see vogue dancers waving their hands as if swatting flies in the middle of strokes. Instead of the best classical music and opera, techno and rock performances.

The appearance of the tattered masked figure seemed to come from the right place: the sewers, to properly represent this ceremony. No surprise, just random races.

Also unsurprisingly, the athletes’ parade. The big novelty is that they came on boats, as if that made any difference besides making something that is always boring even more monotonous. And the rain was the least of the ceremony's problems. You can’t blame the water for the poorly placed and definitely lost cameras. Cameramen appearing in the focus, abrupt cuts, interspersing live and recorded images.

You think: "My God, can it get worse?" Enter the speech segment to make tedious what was already ridiculous.

My little enjoyment in this ceremony was seeing those responsible for this trash under torrential rain. A welcome pneumonia should come. Congratulations, Paris, it takes talent to make the purest juice of **** (although the ending with Celine Dion added some perfume to this manure).

If the grade goes from A to F, I’d give Paris a Z-.

 

 

2 hours ago, MisterSG1 said:

I agree with all you said but paraphrasing.

Id like to add, the fact that they got two people from Guadeloupe, while part of France, I’m sure many there don’t exactly have positive views of France. Think Barbados and Britain to get what I mean. The fact it had to be those two, and not the centenarian light the cauldron shows that they were going for a political statement and nothing more.

i was honestly completely thrilled that Vancouver pulled out of 2030, I could only imagine what that would have been like with the current climate Canada is in.

Anyways, while many will try to say that the Olympics have always been political, not to this extent anytime recently. The only politics we saw usually from the opening ceremonies was the playing of national anthems, no actual political statements or anything.

Go to any sporting event in Canada and you’ll see a lot of guilt tripping politics at all events now.

When I see it described unironically as “woke”, I know that they hit the right note and triggered the right snowflakes who seem to think compassion and inclusiveness are some kind of weakness and scourge.

But we knew Putin’s troll factories would be slavering away today. 

Edited July 27, 2024 by Sir Rols

[Sir Rols]

1 hour ago, Olympics2028 said:

I haven't watched the symbolic start of the 2024 games, but images and comments indicate it's apparently a non-stadium, riverside version of what started in Barcelona as long ago as 1992. That format is now universally baked in.

Surprise, surprise. Mr “I haven’t watched it, but don’t like it” came back.

[Quaker2001]

24 minutes ago, Olympics2028 said:

The artistic, cultural trends have been following the same general pattern for over 25 years. I haven't watched the symbolic start of the 2024 games, but images and comments indicate it's apparently a non-stadium, riverside version of what started in Barcelona as long ago as 1992. That format is now universally baked in.

The best that can be hoped for in 2028 is that at least the budget for those games doesn't bust the bottom line. And there's no terrorism or some huge natural disaster.

You would like it.. they had a lot of pianos!  Not a lot of flagpoles and choirs though.  I'll echo Rols' thought and laugh at the notion that you're telling us you didn't watch, but already have an opinion.

 

Here's my verdict.  I think they had an ambitious plan and for the most part succeeded.  The parade of nations was really disjointed, so that's a knock against them.  Overall, it was unique and a show that could have only worked in Paris.  There will be some indelible images, which is what you want from an event like this.  Definitely a few things they could have done differently, but it worked in this time and place.  Most importantly, it all happened without incident.  A good start to what is hopefully a memorable Olympics.

[Gonzo]

 

[Bear]

Just now, Gonzo said:

 

omg who cares

[Gonzo]

10 minutes ago, Bear said:

who cares

2.4 billion Christians

[Quaker2001]

 

[Gonzo]

[Bear]

Just now, Gonzo said:

bro's so butthurt he had to post the same image three times

[Olympics2028]

1 hour ago, Sir Rols said:

When I see it described unironically as “woke”, I know that they hit the right note and triggered the right snowflakes who seem to think compassion and inclusiveness are some kind of weakness and scourge.

 

Forget the politics. It's a matter of creativity that fits or not.

If you're invited to a wedding or college graduation ceremony and show up with a snorkel and bathing trunks, even that might be described by some guests as perfectly fine attire.

As for today's event, I admit I didn't watch it, but I also didn't say it was good or bad. I just said it follows a pattern that goes back decades. However, I admit that, okay, I'll probably be unimpressed.

 

[mr.bernham]

Enough has been said about what was wrong with this ceremony, and I don't think me piling on will help much. I'll stop my deeper criticisms by saying Paris is very fortunate that Rio hosted it in 2016. As we say in America, you'll never be the worst as long as Mississippi exists.

The music was spectacular. Based on the Leitmotifs, I'm assuming it was produced mostly by Woodkid. This was quite emotional for me. Paris has been using Woodkid since their Bid back in 2015! Woodkid again produced the handover ceremony's music in 2020. I loved this continuity, and it's something I think almost everyone missed. 

Instead, I'd like to offer some suggestions for how this ceremony could've been improved. 

The concept of a ceremony on the Seine was novel, and I think Paris should be commended for breaking the mold. Aside from the rain (which frankly, the organizers should've anticipated...the climate is changing but Paris is notoriously rainy this time of year), I feel the concept fell apart because it failed to take advantage of the backdrop of Paris. 

Watching the ceremony for a second time during NBC's re-broadcast, it shocked me how little we see of the Seine's banks! So many iconic vistas are completely lost. Perhaps this is due to poor camera angles. But I think it's down to how the show was structured. From my perspective, it seems they tried to fit traditional arena set pieces onto the banks of the Seine rather than letting the Seine's banks themselves be the set pieces. It's almost as if they weren't ready to think outside the box and settled for this weird middle ground that felt too muddled, too off-pace, and not majestic enough. Yes, Athens 2004 was a homecoming, but this was the *true* homecoming for the modern Olympics, and it didn't feel like it all. 

The ceremony really only came together once everyone made it to the Trocadero. In my opinion, if the organizers wanted to stay wedded to the traditional artistic set pieces while still involving the backdrop of Paris, the temporary arena constructed at the Trocadero should've been the main arena for the artistic pieces. In my idealized version, the ceremony starts on the Champs Elysee and then moves through the Arc de Trimophe into the Trocadero. As the artistic sections are taking place in Trocadero, have the athletes start processing, but only cut to them once they pass under Pont de Alexandre III. Have the torch journey be an ongoing theme of the ceremony as a whole, but once it gets to Trocadero, keep it there. Have the relay take place w/o the international athletes included (why steal LA's thunder??), but lead to the Champ de Mars. Loved the caludron, but lets have that balloon soar above the Eiffel Tower. 

Feel free to tear this apart, but I just think this concept was good idea but could've been executed better than what we saw tonight. France had a lot of bold ideas, but they didn't form up together right. Shame really, they had 12 years to out-do the English and failed. 

[Australian Kiwi]

Gonzo's fragility is exhausting. What a deeply unhappy person they seem to be.

[Sir Rols]

Alt-right nutjobs just love being “outraged”