Paris Dazzles with Unique Olympic Opening Ceremony on River Seine

Paris transformed the Olympic Opening Ceremony into a spectacle along the River Seine, with performances on bridges, rooftops, and riverbanks. The event featured French athletes Marie-Jose Perec and Teddy Riner lighting the cauldron and a performance from Celine Dion. Despite heavy rain, the innovative format received mixed reviews from global media.

Paris broke from tradition on Friday by hosting the Olympic Opening Ceremony as a grand parade along the River Seine, rather than the conventional stadium spectacle.

Television audiences worldwide witnessed captivating performances on bridges, rooftops, and riverbanks, culminating with French athletes Marie-Jose Perec and Teddy Riner lighting the Olympic cauldron. Canadian singer Celine Dion also graced the event with a performance. Despite the heavy rain that dampened much of the evening, the 6,000 athletes, 3,000 performers, 300,000 spectators, and numerous world leaders in attendance endured the weather for the pioneering display.

France's Le Monde praised director Thomas Jolly for executing a spectacular show, while Le Figaro critiqued certain provocative elements. The New York Times described the event as an ambitious yet ordinary TV spectacle, but The Washington Post appreciated the novel approach. China's Xinhua highlighted the event's French themes, although it noted challenges with continuity. South Korea faced a notable hiccup when their team was mistakenly introduced as North Korea. India's media labelled the ceremony as sensational. German and British outlets had varied opinions, with some praising the show and others criticizing logistical issues.

(With inputs from agencies.)