The football and rugby events are already underway, along with the initial rounds of several other sports. However, the true Olympic atmosphere doesn't fully emerge until the official opening ceremony. This event is always a major attraction, and this year it is set to be even more spectacular as, for the first time, the opening ceremony will be held outside a stadium.
The opening ceremony will begin at 11:30 PM Bangladesh time on Friday. The vibrant festivities will conclude within four hours, coinciding with sunset. Traditionally, the main athletic stadium is used for the Olympic opening parade. However, the organisers of the Paris Olympics have decided to move it away from the city centre, aligning with the core theme of the Games, 'Games Wide Open'. The opening ceremony will take place on the Seine River. Fortunately for the organisers, the weather forecast predicts splendid conditions in Paris on Friday evening.
According to reports, 6,000 to 7,000 athletes will travel 6 kilometres along the Seine from the Austerlitz Bridge near the Eiffel Tower in boats and barges.
Over 500,000 spectators will enjoy the event from specially constructed stands. Tickets for the opening ceremony have already sold for more than 2,700 euros. However, the colourful event can also be viewed for free from the banks of the Seine and the balconies of nearby buildings.
In keeping with tradition, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics, will be introduced first at the opening ceremony. They will be followed by the Refugee Olympic Team, and finally, the host nation, France, will be introduced. Meanwhile, athletes from Russia and Belarus will participate under individual identities due to their countries' roles in the Ukraine conflict, which has led to their teams being banned.
The opening ceremony is being orchestrated by renowned theatre director Thomas Jolly. The 42-year-old Jolly is best known for directing the hit rock-opera musical 'Starmania'. His team includes Fanny Herrero, the writer of the French TV series 'Call My Agent', popular author Leïla Slimani, and esteemed historian Patrick Boucheron.
The entire event has been divided into 12 segments, featuring a total of 3,000 dancers, musicians, and entertainers. The performers will be stationed along the two banks of the Seine, on bridges, and near various monuments. The Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been rebuilt following a devastating fire in 2019, will also be part of the opening ceremony.
Although two-thirds of the ceremony will take place in daylight, the remaining portion will be held at twilight. Jolly hopes that this arrangement will allow spectators to fully appreciate the breathtaking Parisian sunset.
The success of the event hinges on everyone being able to return home safely afterwards. To ensure this, the French police have been working diligently, particularly considering the challenge of securing such a densely populated area. It is reported that around 45,000 security personnel will be deployed to safeguard the entire event.
