Paris Olympics 2024

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/21/24 at 1:54pm

One hundred years after hosting the 1924 Games, Paris is back.  Very exciting for us Olympics geeks.  Husband and I had hoped to attend this year, but the stars did not align.  However, we do plan to drive north a few miles for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.  

I am a particular fan of the Athletics events, especially the marathon.  Perhaps some of you will be inclined to post your thoughts as the games progress.

https://olympics.com/ioc/paris-2024

Updated On: 10/10/24 at 01:54 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 7/21/24 at 4:10pm

I am excited for the unique opening ceremony.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 12:30pm

Jill Biden, our First Lady, is scheduled to lead the U.S. Delegation to the Opening Ceremony.  Doug Emhoff, our Second Gentleman, is scheduled to lead the U.S. Delegation to the Closing Ceremony.

[darquegk]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 1:07pm

The London opening ceremony is one of the most extraordinary multimedia events I’ve ever seen. Here’s hoping this one comes close.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 1:56pm

A lack of stadium might inhibit that somewhat? Sailing down the Seine on boats will sure be different.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 7/23/24 at 6:15pm

OMG at the rumors of a certain French Canadian singer performing. What an emotional triumph that would be.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/23/24 at 7:16pm

Jay Lerner-Z said: "OMG at the rumors of a certain French Canadian singer performing. What an emotional triumph that would be."

And some folks are simply "gaga" about another possibility.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/24/24 at 4:56pm

I am equally excited about the Paris Paralympics.

https://www.paralympic.org/paris-2024

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 7/24/24 at 5:01pm

France also snagged the 2030 Winter Games, it was announced today.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/24/24 at 5:08pm

Jay Lerner-Z said: "France also snagged the 2030 Winter Games, it was announced today."

And Salt Lake City (my hometown) has the 2034 Winter Games.

And, again, Los Angeles has the 2028 Summer Games.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 7/24/24 at 5:24pm

Coco gauffe and Lebron James are going to hold the flag at the opening ceremony!! Exciting!!

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/25/24 at 3:05pm

I read different reports, but there may be a bit of rain in Paris tomorrow.  Hope not.

A couple of nice photos in this attachment.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/25/sport/paris-olympics-2024-preview-spt-intl/index.html

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 7/26/24 at 12:57pm

Hopefully a bit of rain is all they have to worry about at the ceremony. The arson attacks on the railways don't bode well for the games. Sad.

30 minutes to go!

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/26/24 at 1:08pm

We are recording the ceremonies to watch at our leisure tomorrow.  We also plan to have our version of a French vegetarian meal:  onion soup, quiche, salad, macaroons.  We don't drink alcohol, so will enjoy sparkling apple cider.

I really hope these Paris Olympic Games will be a rousing success!

   

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/26/24 at 4:59pm

Watching them live on NBC now.

A shame it rained but they pulled it off. Very different and ambitious. The journey of the flag to the temporary stadium was breathtaking, IMO. Really enjoying the use of the city for various performances. I would say the only downfall was that it was spread out so we didn't get to see everything as it was happening. Could have used less coverage of the U.S. boat and more of what was going on but, I guess that was to be expected. It started out as an uninterrupted broadcast but that went away fast. For this ceremony, that would have been great so we could have seen more of what was happening.

But all in all, I enjoyed them and will probably watch the re-broadcast this evening. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/26/24 at 6:32pm

I really thought Titaníque would have a field day on their socials with Celine’s grand return at the opening ceremony. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 12:24am

Watched the re-broadcast. They totally cut short the horse running down the middle of the Seine with the Olympic flag for a commercial break. Unbelievable...but believable. So glad I watched it live earlier. And because of all of the commercials, the re-broadcast was longer than the live broadcast.

[inception]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 7:28am

The version broadcast on NBC was really bad.  I watched the CBC broadcast which featured 3 Canadian athletes off camera giving commentary.  Occasionally they would split screen to show the Canadian team, but they focused more on the entire show instead of just one team like NBC did.  Also having the hosts on camera so much on NBC, they didn't show as much of the actual.presentation.

I thought the ceremony itself as a whole was a colossal mess.  Easily the worst opening ceremony ever.   The music was atrocious.... the Vengaboys Venga Bus even at one point?  How embarrassing.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 10:10am

I loved every second, from start to finish.

The sights of Paris can not fail. Rain be damned. A shame Notre Dame could not be completed in time, but we can't have everything. I think there was little to complain about. I especially loved the Queerness of certain moments. Such inclusivity. The flag-raising, anthems, and pomp and ceremony is normally the type of nationalistic grandiosity I can't stand, but when it includes the whole of humanity I can't complain an it has undeniable power. Of course the grand finale, the hot air baloon flame cauldron followed by the glorious return of Saint Celine can not be beaten. Ever. She really is an Olympian in her own right. Her performance last night was her own personal gold medal.

Follow that, LA.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 12:32pm

Jay Lerner-Z said: "Follow that, LA."

LA's on it!

https://la28.org/en/games-plan.html

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 1:59pm

Jay Lerner-Z said: "I loved every second, from start to finish.

The sights of Paris can not fail. Rain be damned. A shame Notre Dame could not be completed in time, but we can't have everything. I think there was little to complain about. I especially loved the Queerness of certain moments. Such inclusivity. The flag-raising, anthems, and pomp and ceremony is normally the type of nationalistic grandiosity I can't stand, but when it includes the whole of humanity I can't complain an it has undeniable power. Of course the grand finale, the hot air baloon flame cauldron followed by the glorious return of Saint Celine can not be beaten. Ever. She really is an Olympian in her own right. Her performance last night was her own personal gold medal.

Follow that, LA."

 

I did like how they featured the construction happening at Notre Dame. It almost had a Cirque feel to it. 

And I also loved how they were all inclusive and featured the gay/queer community. I was expecting some online backlash over the 3 in the library. I LOVED Kelly Clarkson's reaction when they shut the door to the room! I was reading that there is some far right group over there that had a problem with the fashion show and the drag queens. They also had a problem with the rapper that performed. I loved the concept with the rapper and the marching band (That was part of the problem these people had that she was performing with this band.) but she just kind of had no personality. She just flipped her hair and was just halfway dancing. 

I read that the Cauldron/balloon will be raised in the air at around 7:00 in the evening and lowered again for daytime hours for people to walk up to and see. 

I actually got to watch the whole Marie Antoinette segment and it was simply brilliant. 

Just an outstanding job. I am hoping that since this is a first, they filmed it all and may possibly put together a video of the whole thing uninterrupted with no commentators. And I would love to own pretty much all of the music and songs used and composed for the ceremonies.

I just don't see LA topping this. And really, they don't have to. I am excited to see what Italy has in store for the Winter Olympics opening ceremonies.

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 5:45pm

Boring and completely misguided opening ceremony last night. At least Celine awoke me from my slumber. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 8:01pm

I am dying to see what they have up their sleeves for the closing ceremony.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 8:10pm

Uncageg, the Olympics YouTube channel has previous opening ceremonies up in full. We can watch 2004 or 2012 and more whenever we like! Nice. I’m sure Paris will join them soon.

I can’t wait for for the closing ceremony too, but I always find it both happy and sad. The Games fly by so fast. I’m never ready for them to be over.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 9:39pm

Oh, I get all choked up at the closing ceremonies!