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Olympics Opening Ceremony chaos as organisers battle weather 'disaster' and locals fume
One meteorologist even described it as a 'disaster' for what will be the first Opening Ceremony to take place outside a main athletics stadium
Olympic bosses faced a battle to avoid opening day chaos at the 2024 Games in Paris.
The start of the games threatened to descend into farce, as rain dampened the celebrations during the opening ceremony. Coverage's audio was mired by the sound of rain and scenes of a bedraggled crowd were two a penny.
Then, in another toe-curling moment, the Olympic flag was raised upside down. And this came just hours after arsonists lit fires on three of France's main high-speed train lines.
The arson attacks caused massive disruption for more than 800,000 passengers, including athletes - attempting to travel to the French capital. Organisers have spent years planning an opening ceremony most people believe will be one of the greatest in Olympic history.
Despite the rain, the ceremony was still a sight to behold, with stunning performances from Lady Gaga, Celine Dione, a host of incredible dancers and a ghoulish horserider who zipped along the Seine. Meanwhile, a flotilla of up to 10,000 competitors sailed down a 6km stretch of the River Seine through the heart of Paris.
Up to 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs and celebrities gathered alongside the banks of the Seine.
American superstar Lady Gaga performed at the top of the bill, which took place in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
While President Emmanuel Macron was spotted in attendance, tasked with the job of declaring the Games officially open.
But Meteo-France, the French weather service, predicted hours of 'flooding rains' - the equivalent of 15 days of rainfall - for this evening between 6pm and midnight.
One meteorologist even described it as a 'disaster' for what will be the first opening ceremony to take place outside a main athletics stadium.
And rain it certainly did. "It's throwing it down," commentator Andrew Cotter was heard saying at one point during BBC's coverage to the backing track of the sound of slapping rain.
Parts of Paris have also been sealed off to the public, and the streets are lined with up to 45,000 policemen and women.
Security has reached unprecedented levels, with strict bag checks taking place and long queues forming for those attempting to get into the opening ceremony.
Meanwhile, local Parisian residents are fuming with all the disruption street closures and rings of tight security have caused.
While students have been turfed out of their accommodation, to provide police officers with places to sleep.
Meanwhile, despite the excitement, as the ceremony was taking place, some people took to X to complain about what they saw.
"Looks like a cheap production at some amateur dramatics club. Dear or dear, where is #JamesBond when you need him," one disgruntled viewer said.
Presumably referencing the break with tradition of having the opening ceremony in a stadium, one person wrote: "Not the same is it".
Others joked about the various sizes of the boats, with some teams having to share with other nations to fill them, while others feared the size of the vessel needed to fit all of Team USA.
"[The] size of the American team they will be using the f****n Nimitz," one person said. "LOL. 5-6 countries on one giant a** boat…" another said.
Daily Star Sunday
One meteorologist even described it as a 'disaster' for what will be the first Opening Ceremony to take place outside a main athletics stadium
Olympic bosses faced a battle to avoid opening day chaos at the 2024 Games in Paris.
The start of the games threatened to descend into farce, as rain dampened the celebrations during the opening ceremony. Coverage's audio was mired by the sound of rain and scenes of a bedraggled crowd were two a penny.
Then, in another toe-curling moment, the Olympic flag was raised upside down. And this came just hours after arsonists lit fires on three of France's main high-speed train lines.
The arson attacks caused massive disruption for more than 800,000 passengers, including athletes - attempting to travel to the French capital. Organisers have spent years planning an opening ceremony most people believe will be one of the greatest in Olympic history.
Despite the rain, the ceremony was still a sight to behold, with stunning performances from Lady Gaga, Celine Dione, a host of incredible dancers and a ghoulish horserider who zipped along the Seine. Meanwhile, a flotilla of up to 10,000 competitors sailed down a 6km stretch of the River Seine through the heart of Paris.
Up to 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs and celebrities gathered alongside the banks of the Seine.
American superstar Lady Gaga performed at the top of the bill, which took place in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
While President Emmanuel Macron was spotted in attendance, tasked with the job of declaring the Games officially open.
But Meteo-France, the French weather service, predicted hours of 'flooding rains' - the equivalent of 15 days of rainfall - for this evening between 6pm and midnight.
One meteorologist even described it as a 'disaster' for what will be the first opening ceremony to take place outside a main athletics stadium.
And rain it certainly did. "It's throwing it down," commentator Andrew Cotter was heard saying at one point during BBC's coverage to the backing track of the sound of slapping rain.
Parts of Paris have also been sealed off to the public, and the streets are lined with up to 45,000 policemen and women.
Security has reached unprecedented levels, with strict bag checks taking place and long queues forming for those attempting to get into the opening ceremony.
Meanwhile, local Parisian residents are fuming with all the disruption street closures and rings of tight security have caused.
While students have been turfed out of their accommodation, to provide police officers with places to sleep.
Meanwhile, despite the excitement, as the ceremony was taking place, some people took to X to complain about what they saw.
"Looks like a cheap production at some amateur dramatics club. Dear or dear, where is #JamesBond when you need him," one disgruntled viewer said.
Presumably referencing the break with tradition of having the opening ceremony in a stadium, one person wrote: "Not the same is it".
Others joked about the various sizes of the boats, with some teams having to share with other nations to fill them, while others feared the size of the vessel needed to fit all of Team USA.
"[The] size of the American team they will be using the f****n Nimitz," one person said. "LOL. 5-6 countries on one giant a** boat…" another said.
Daily Star Sunday