BTN News: The Paris Olympics have been a resounding success in terms of attendance, with venues strategically placed near the city’s iconic landmarks, drawing millions of spectators both in-person and through television broadcasts. However, amidst all the triumphs, there was one glaring flaw that left many attendees deeply dissatisfied: the opening ceremony. In an ambitious move to break away from tradition, the organizers chose to have the athletes from each participating country sail down the historic Seine River, instead of marching into a stadium. Unfortunately, this novel approach backfired, leaving spectators—especially those present at the event—feeling underwhelmed and disappointed.
The idea of utilizing the Seine River for the athletes’ entrance was innovative, aiming to showcase Paris’s beauty while celebrating the global spirit of the Olympics. Athletes from all over the world were supposed to glide down the river on boats, passing by some of the city’s most famous landmarks. But in reality, the execution fell short of expectations. Spectators, who had paid significant sums for their tickets, found themselves staring at giant screens rather than enjoying a live, immersive experience. The grand idea of blending the historical charm of Paris with the modern spectacle of the Olympics didn’t translate well for those in attendance.
A prime example of the discontent came from Jean-Christophe Seznec, a French citizen originally from Costa Rica, who expressed his frustration in a column published by the French outlet Le Trégo (Actu.fr). Seznec, who resides in Brittany, paid 1,600 euros for a ticket, only to feel cheated by the experience. His troubles began even before he reached Paris, as a sabotage of the French rail network forced him to drive to the event, adding stress to what was supposed to be a memorable occasion.
Once at the ceremony, Seznec was disillusioned to find that his seat near the Musée d’Orsay offered little in terms of a live spectacle. Instead of witnessing the grand procession of athletes and the associated performances up close, he, like many others, had to watch most of the event on one of the 80 giant screens placed along the river. Seznec described his experience as staring at a screen for four hours, only catching distant glimpses of boats passing by in the dark, with minimal lighting and decoration. The performances and entertainment on the bridges and riverbanks were barely visible from his vantage point.
Seznec wasn’t alone in his disappointment. Many spectators reportedly left the ceremony early, disheartened by the lack of engagement and the disconnect between the event’s live and televised aspects. Seznec drew a poignant comparison, likening the experience to buying opera tickets only to watch the performance on a screen, with the live action happening elsewhere—something that would be free for anyone watching from home. The frustration among attendees like Seznec is palpable, as they feel they were misled into believing they would witness a once-in-a-lifetime event, only to end up as part of what some are calling a large-scale disappointment.
The closing segment of the ceremony, which included the final relays of the Olympic torch carried by sports icons like Rafael Nadal, and a performance by Céline Dion from the Eiffel Tower, did manage to captivate global viewers. However, even this spectacle wasn’t enough to salvage the experience for those who had attended in person. For Seznec and others, the ceremony failed to deliver the grandeur and excitement traditionally associated with the Olympic Games, leaving them feeling more than a little cold.
In conclusion, while the Paris Olympics have been hailed as a success in many respects, the opening ceremony stands out as a misstep, particularly for those who attended live. The ambitious vision of blending Paris’s scenic beauty with the Olympic spirit was undermined by poor execution, leaving spectators like Jean-Christophe Seznec feeling as though they had been shortchanged. As he stated in his column, he felt like a “gogo,” a victim of what he perceives as a major rip-off. The ceremony, meant to be a celebration of sports and culture, ended up being a source of frustration and disappointment for many, highlighting the challenges of reimagining traditions on such a grand stage.
