July 26th 2024.
Rebecca Adlington, a former Team GB Olympic champion, shared her thoughts on the Paris 2024 opening ceremony that took place on Friday. She expressed her disappointment with the event being held outside of a stadium, along the River Seine. This was the first time in history that an Olympic opening ceremony was not held inside the host city's stadium. Adlington, who has won two gold and two bronze medals in her swimming career, found the ceremony to be "disjointed" as it switched between showcasing athletes on boats and various performances before ending at the Palais du Trocadero. She also mentioned that the ceremony was slightly ruined by the continuous rain and cold weather.
Adlington admitted that her experience watching the ceremony on television was different from being there in person. She would have preferred the traditional setting of the stadium, where everything is in one place and it's easier to keep track of different events. She also shared that the ambitious and unique approach taken by Paris might have been too much for her, as she is used to the traditional format.
Michael Johnson, a former United States sprinter and BBC pundit, also shared his views on the ceremony. He applauded the French for their ambitious approach but pointed out that some spectators had long periods of not being entertained. The ceremony, which featured over 90 boats transporting athletes down the River Seine, was very different from previous ones. However, Johnson found the lighting of the Olympic flame and Celine Dion's performance to be some of the standout moments.
Johnson also mentioned that he was curious about the experiences of both fans watching on television and those present at the event. He was concerned that some might have had a less enjoyable experience due to long periods of not being entertained. He explained that being in a stadium allows for an immersive experience with live action and entertainment happening right in front of you. Overall, Johnson found the ceremony to be different and ambitious, but he was curious about the experiences of others.
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