Paris Olympic Games

It all started last Friday July 26th at 6.30 pm. What an unbelievable opening ceremony. It was unique as it was not held in a stadium. It had tradition, it had romance. It had comedy. It had music. It had something for everyone.

I was engaged with the entire ceremony from start to finish and felt privileged to witness the event.

There were so many highlights. The athletic phantom ( or perhaps phantoms) racing across the roofs of Paris. Dancing on wet surfaces. Enthusiastic crowds on the banks of the Seine. History of Paris and France through music, dance and art.The section where the characters from famous paintings went missing from the Louvre. Were they also on the rooftops looking down at the spectacle?

A flotilla of boats to bring a selection of athletes from every country down the Seine. That was wonderful to see. Unfortunately some boats seemed to have too many countries so that it was hard to actually see all the flags. All these boats regularly move up and down the Seine. The Captain of the last boat which carried the French Team was retiring immediately after the opening ceremony.

Did you see the mechanical horse “riding” up the Seine. What just amazed me was the brains behind the concept, transforming that concept into reality and finally showing the world a marvel.

The Olympic Oath, raising of the flag and the official opening of the games kept to the tradition of the games.

There is always anticipation as to how the cauldron is going to be lit. Paris outdid it with a floating Olympic flame in a hot air balloon. It was magical to see.

Merci Paris