This ceremony, which should take place under the eyes of 326,000 spectators and more than a billion people around the world via the small screen, will be marked by a timed river parade (planned to last 3 hours 45 minutes) where dozens of boats, in star, will parade on the Parisian river.
Athletes, delegations, artists and officials will be spread across around 90 boats, including 85 dedicated to transporting more than 6,000 athletes (out of the 10,500 in total). Around ten Bateaux Mouches, these emblematic boats of Paris, will also take part in the event.
The river procession will take a picturesque route 6 km long, passing several historic monuments of the capital, from Notre-Dame to the Town Hall, along the Grand Palais. The route, oriented from east to west, will extend from the Pont d’Austerlitz to the Pont d’Iéna, ending in apotheosis in front of the Trocadéro, the balcony of Paris where the finale of the shows and protocol ceremonies will take place .
On the banks and bridges of Paris, some 3,000 dancers and actors will offer “twelve artistic scenes, which will showcase French heritage, Paris, its monuments and bridges which mark the route”, according to the organizers. Paintings designed by Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the Paris 2024 ceremonies, who called on four authors to write the history of this “unprecedented” ceremony, including the Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani.
The fleet and its captains have taken part, on numerous occasions, in rehearsals and training in recent months in order to ensure the control of the boarding and disembarkation of the athletes. The final dress rehearsal was held last Friday.
The long-awaited evening will begin at dusk, when the sun will gently set on the banks of the Seine (7:30 p.m., HL), bathing the city in golden light.
“The ceremony promises an unprecedented experience, relying on the natural light of the setting sun with all its nuances to illuminate the river stroll of all the best athletes in the world on the Seine, in the heart of the capital,” assure the organizers. .
After weeks of meteorological instability, which caused much concern, the forecast for D-Day brings relief to the organizers: The opening ceremony should take place in “calm” weather with seasonal temperatures, but under the clouds, predicted Monday “the French Weather Channel”, evoking “a little uncertainty” about possible showers but ruling out any risk of storms.
If the Olympic Games are the celebration of sport and excellence, it is also an opportunity to highlight the art of fashion, by revealing unique creations that embody the spirit and identity of each nation . The various delegations, which will parade on boats along the Seine, are already beginning to unveil the outfits that their athletes will wear for the event.
At the beginning of July, the National Olympic Committee (CNOM) unveiled the outfits that Moroccan athletes will wear during the opening ceremony. National representatives will wear an off-white jacket decorated with a green star, red pants and sneakers matching the jacket design, with green and red laces. The striking detail is the presence of the names of all Moroccan Olympic medalists, written on the lining of the jacket. These “100% made in Morocco” outfits are the work of Moroccan designer Ali Drissi.
A splendid showcase of Moroccan know-how in the making of clothing and fashion, combining finesse, authenticity and excellence, values perfectly in harmony with the sporting performances which will be highlighted throughout these Olympics.
Until August 11, 10,500 athletes will compete in 329 separate events. This large number of events will cover a wide range of disciplines, highlighting the talents and efforts of athletes from around the world.