Olympics opening ceremony

[Nostaldub]

Hey French leftist perspective here:

The show made me proud to be French. It is better enjoyed with the commentary from one of the organizers which can be found on France2 replay. You'll have to listen to the geopolitical comments made about the different delegations which is pretty funny sometimes if you don't take it too seriously.

So the first person holding the torch is Jamel Debouze who is a famous french comedian. The segment with Zidane speaks for itself, Zidane is a monument of French soccer. Then you have the Paris Metropolitan:

"It would be unfair to remember the Paris metro, one of the oldest in the world, only for the exhausting weeks of strikes last winter or the numerous incidents that continue to disrupt the journeys of Parisians. There are many reasons to celebrate this network, embedded in a vast system of logistical equations. Starting with its density: 302 stations, on average less than 600 meters apart."

Then the three kids are going through the famous Paris crypt. Some of it is flooded, some of it is uncharted, people have died exploring it: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&sca_esv=ac57164e41e9010e&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIK70sqZt1CC-k2rP4mEFxbPO8W1Wg:1722336335983&q=paris+crypt&udm=2&fbs=AEQNm0B50Q_g0MhZhYryQ4CEBoMvfpmv2iw8N_G4VUW6cDc3-o2d6Qj30R5by82NbzezhclraO8YNsfvgaF26ZkMoi2Md4g-E31NTZGfekS0mMd6wNuTXOqYHK05BXqLfkyhF6uw9ddZKrMEMic-rLGqbJrJsTgA8NvDc5WbS8SmDfr-VIoagC5ZCcBKEqTocSb1wrPvFfHQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiKr_Xrys6HAxUY0QIHHcPCC3kQtKgLegQIGRAB&biw=1600&bih=765&dpr=1.2

The torch bearer is a reference to multiple French figures: The man with the Iron Mask, Arsene Lupin, The fantom of the opera, Fantomas, the Assassin of Ubisoft's Assassin's creed. Under the first bridge there is a water curtain to symbolize the theater world and the Blue White and Red explosion doesn't need to be explained. For the occasion the bridge was decorated with sports and theeater references.

The guy playing the accordion is a cliché of French parisian ambiance. Lady Gaga was the first reference to the Burlesque which is a cornerstone of French international culture.
The part about French clichés was funny. I would have loved to be the Croissant man haha

The Cancan show was not perfectly synchronized by choice: It was a popular dance which was used as a symbol of anti clerical and anti patriarchal courage of French women and also was used as a tool of seduction. It is not mean't to be ultra synchronized alla Moulin rouge BUT the dresses are going to be used by the dancers of the Moulin rouge
(Also it was live under the rain).

There was an hommage to French workers and handicraft who are building Notre-dame and who are making France proud all year long with their Craftmanship. To the luxe which is a big French industry. There was an explanation that medals have a small bit of the Eiffel tower in them.

The torch bearer was going around some of the most famous building in Paris and there was a reconstitution of Freedom guiding people (La libérté guidant le peuple).

Yes Marie Antoinette was horrible and Monarchy is contrary to freedom and equality. Our republic finds its root in 1789 and in the French revolution. The Gojira bit made me proud because it reminded the world that France's root is in our values of equality. (And the music was awesome).


The love part was so French. It was referencing the lover's triangle which is a stereotype of French theater and litterature. You even call it Menage à trois. Also, it was celebrating litterature in the Bibliothéque Nationale de France and it was celebrating that all love is beautiful (Yes inclusion of LGBTQIA people too) (the organizer had a looooot of emotion in her voice saying that all love is welcome and all identities).

Then the Patrouille de France drew a giant heart in the sky of Paris which was so french !

The republican garde (composed of professional military musicians) then made a show with a popular teenager pop star Aya Nakamura. She is popular in our "bad neighboorhoods so it mixed both the military and old school France with the more urban culture. I felt proud to see two world mixed and united.

The torch bearer went on to show some of the most amazing art in the louvre. The bit with the minion is because Illumination (Super Mario Bros and Minions) is in Paris. At the same time the heads of famous paintings were appearing from the seine. During the space exploration bit they spoke about Le Petit Prince and the Ariane (French rocket)

The person who sang the Hymn... was incredible. I've never felt so moved listening to the French hymn. The 10 statues are statues of very important figures of French feminism and or Sports. The statues are offered to the city of Paris. Some of these are going to be very important places to visit in the future. Stay tuned for part 2