While it may sound trite, the rainfall didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the audiences who congregated in the heart of Paris for the Olympic’s inaugural event. Some were fortunate to have tickets that allotted them a space to observe the grand display along the river Seine’s banks, whilst others not as lucky assembled in nearby streets, pubs, and restaurants.
Jang Jeong Eun, a 29-year-old Korean architect, had been arranging her journey to the 2024 Olympic Games alongside her friends for two years. “Paris is absolutely stunning; it’s incredible, and we’re thrilled to be here,” she expressed.
The kick-off event, which in recent days had brought the French capital’s nerve centre nearly to a halt in prep, saw thousands of sportspersons steer their way up Seine aboard numerous boats and floats.
Paris resident Juan Felipe Quintero, a 24-year-old native of Colombia, was part of a sizeable crowd attempting to snatch a peek from an adjoining side lane. The past month, he explained, had been incessantly echoing of the upcoming Games— the feeling was as though there was some construction activity “in every corner of the city”, even if it was just to mend a pothole.
Spectators were seen lining the balconies overseeing the river, while others congregated in front of the colossal screens broadcasting the event scattered around the city centre.
Native New Zealanders Theresa McGregor and Russel Cyne, who have called London home for a few years, found coming to Paris was as simple as a Eurostar train ride, unlike a “30-hour flight”, according to her. “It’s indeed nice. We’ve been here for several other sports events and it’s always a magical experience,” she shared. The pair held tickets to the Rugby Sevens final, thus they were crestfallen when New Zealand was eliminated earlier this week.
João Paulo Fontoura Nogueira, a Brazilian student based in Paris, admits they hadn’t adequately planned for the Olympics. Despite that, his uncle, Geraldo Nogueira, who was visiting throughout the games, seemed enthusiastic. Even though they might not get to see many events, he looked forward to exploring Paris. The duo managed to secure tickets for a women’s football match between Brazil and Japan and were on the hunt for additional last-minute tickets to other events.
Meanwhile, some visitors like Nadia Guetni, a Spanish tourist, were in Paris for a regular vacation. The city’s key sights were tough to access due to the opening ceremony, but the vibrant party atmosphere made up for the inconvenience.
With the projected influx of tourists and fans, a significant number of Parisians chose to depart the city for the week. Some office establishments even closed on Friday, suggesting their staff to operate remotely.
Anna Muller observed that Paris seemed to be populated mostly by athletes and tourists. Muller, hailing from North Germany, came to the Games with her companion, Louisa Schmidt. Their tickets were for the trampoline event, an Olympic discipline since 2000, Muller emphasized.
From Mallow, Co Cork, Tom and Brigid O’Sullivan arrived in Paris for the games, excitedly gathering whatever tickets they could find. Attending the hockey and archery events, Brigid O’Sullivan found the city absolutely buzzing with activity and anticipation.