Paris Olympics 2024 #2

[Cupid_Stunt]

I did laugh when Serena Williams nearly fell in the Seine but was saved from a watery humiliation by Nadia Comeneci.

I loved the horse(s), the balloon cauldron, the Eiffel tower lightshow and the parade of athletes, although I think the boats made that bit less fun than usual.

I get using the centre of Paris as the stage but it felt so strung out and disjointed. Can't beat a good old parade around a proper stadium.

Everyone kept mentioning Serena nearly fell in the Seine but I was too busy watching Carl Lewis at the time who also almost fell in. His face throughout most of that boat ride was “I did not sign up for this” and “please make it stop”. He was crapping himself bless him

I agree about the athletes parade on the boat made that section less fun. In a stadium you get to hear the roar from the crowd and see who they were waving at. You didn’t get any of that on the boat as the crowd were too far away.

It was a nice idea on paper doing the whole ceremony outside but it just lacked something, atmosphere. Apparently they hadn’t done a run though of the whole ceremony together, maybe if they had they could have seen that some of it didn’t work. Also the sound was really low when the singers performed in comparison to the BBC commentators so I didn’t turn the sound up in case when the commentators came back on they would burst my eardrums.

Celine was the only one who had good sound (apart from those doing the speeches) so it figures if she was miming why her sound was perfect

 

[sternchen275]

a flying Olympic flame on a hot air balloon in a city that’s on highest terror alert with a train attack on the first day

who wants to beat it’s not going to be flying for the 2 weeks?

 

[Shesaidwhat?]

If you can I really would recommend paying the £4 for Discovery+. They cover everything. I put the Equestrian on whilst I clean. I’ve cleaned nothing.

 

[londongirl2001]

Wait, so the balloon is the cauldron and it will just hover there for two weeks? This…will not end well, just like so many ideas tonight, I’m sure this looked great on paper

 

[Gym&Tonic]

Team GBs have just won our first medal

 

[londongirl2001]

German commentators now have no clue who we‘re seeing, absolutely astonishing that the French didn’t give out any info to broadcasters beforehand. This is a bit embarrassing tbh

 

[Grifty Mc]

If celine isn’t at the top of the pyramid at the Louvre at this point I will lose it

 

[Blablabla29]

Léon Marchand was on another planet tonight omg

 

[StephenTJackson]

It's amazing how unflattering a pair of goggles and a swim cap is on basically every swimmer.

No matter how attractive they normally are, they look like absolute plonkers in a cap and goggles.

 

[klarakluckbag]

I mean, their pylon looks pretty when lit up, but it's hardly London 2012, is it?

 

[kev1974]

Isn’t celine meant to be singing?

Be patient, they will shortly unveil her on the bow of the torch boat singing "Near, Far, Wherever you are ..."

 

[LaBlonde]

Can’t believe people in this thread were impressed by the horse sequence

we were impressed by it for about three minutes!

once three years had passed and it was still galloping along the novelty wore off

 

[Mrs Fluff]

And the rehearsal schedule was decimated by the performers striking on multiple occasions for extended periods. It's no wonder it was an absolute mess at times.

Ah the French.

 

[Salacious]

Michael Johnson restraining himself from saying it was shite.

 

[pecan]

I know everyone is still talking about the opening ceremony but I’m just watching the women’s synchronised diving and I’m fascinated how some of these pairs look SO alike without being related, full on doppelgängers. How do they manage to find people who are not only Olympic level divers but who also look identical?! It can’t be pure coincidence. Not all of them look similar but some really do!

 

[emerald]

I thought water polo was played on horseback until a few years ago 🫣 Did think it was unfair on the horses.

 

[2ofeach]

Every time I open the Olympic app I cannot unsee what to me is a very modern stylish hair salon logo . A neat bob, perty little lips
It is of course the Olympic flame within a sphere but I want to share (or spoil) my vision with you all.... you're welcome

 

[2ofeach]

Hold on tight riders

 

[Suzesnooze]

Why is Matt Baker commentating for men’s gymnastics? Is he a former gymnast?

I always thought he was but having just googled him he had to give it up age 14 when he was diagnosed with anaemia.

However, I do enjoy his commentary and think he’s a good presenter and if Claire Balding can commentate on tennis having never played it then at least Matt has some gymnastic experience!

 

[Ultimate Lurkee]

I have infos about the masked guy with the torch and the one on the horse.
The guy with the torch was actually several people: Clément Dumais (chase tag world champion) and Simon Nogueira (specialised in parkour, i am sorry i don't know what the name is in English ). They were probably other people too but they haven't been revealed

The girl on the horse was Floriane Issert, she is a member of the Gendarmerie

Kinda shite to be a focal point of the opening ceremony and no one know who are