Post by jo on Jul 27, 2024 5:05:01 GMT -5
The ceremonies which I caught only as summarized is very different from previous Opening Ceremonies -- usually full of spectacular and sheer numbers.
This time, 100 years after it hosted the Olympics, Paris decided to share its most enduring memories as a beautiful city.
featuring, most importantly --
*The Eiffel Tower
*The River Seine
*The French Language
*One of the most heartwarming sights was the CARRYING OF THE OLYMPIC TORCH
-people were so surprised to see Rafael Nadal, a Spaniard still competing in this Olympics for the last time, take the torch from French Football great Zinedine Zidane"
"French football legend Zinedine Zidane handed Rafael Nadal his 1st French Open trophy in 2005. 19 yrs later he’s passing the Olympic torch to a 14x French Open winner Rafa in Paris Olympics 2024. Very iconic historic & legendary.🐐"
Why Nadal - when he is not French and the last laps are usually carried by athletes of the host country --
because Rafa has won the French Open 14 times at Roland Garros...and on his own has 2 GOLD Olympic medals ( Singles & Doubles titles) and was once flagbearer for his country's Olympic team.
Then he took the torch on a boat until he reached a landing - met other famous athletes...until the final pass and then to the 2 athletes (male & female) who eventually lit the Olympic flame.
The Welcome address and the signal that the games were now open were delivered in French!
The final heartwarming touch was Celine Dion, beautiful and regal, atop the Eiffel Tower singing a famous Edith Piaf ( France's beloved songbird who composed l'Hymne a l'amour) which touched so many hearts!
So beautifully and dramatically done - the Opening Ceremonies, unlike the spectacles of previous Olympics!
This time, 100 years after it hosted the Olympics, Paris decided to share its most enduring memories as a beautiful city.
featuring, most importantly --
*The Eiffel Tower
*The River Seine
*The French Language
*One of the most heartwarming sights was the CARRYING OF THE OLYMPIC TORCH
-people were so surprised to see Rafael Nadal, a Spaniard still competing in this Olympics for the last time, take the torch from French Football great Zinedine Zidane"
"French football legend Zinedine Zidane handed Rafael Nadal his 1st French Open trophy in 2005. 19 yrs later he’s passing the Olympic torch to a 14x French Open winner Rafa in Paris Olympics 2024. Very iconic historic & legendary.🐐"
Why Nadal - when he is not French and the last laps are usually carried by athletes of the host country --
because Rafa has won the French Open 14 times at Roland Garros...and on his own has 2 GOLD Olympic medals ( Singles & Doubles titles) and was once flagbearer for his country's Olympic team.
Then he took the torch on a boat until he reached a landing - met other famous athletes...until the final pass and then to the 2 athletes (male & female) who eventually lit the Olympic flame.
The Welcome address and the signal that the games were now open were delivered in French!
The final heartwarming touch was Celine Dion, beautiful and regal, atop the Eiffel Tower singing a famous Edith Piaf ( France's beloved songbird who composed l'Hymne a l'amour) which touched so many hearts!
So beautifully and dramatically done - the Opening Ceremonies, unlike the spectacles of previous Olympics!