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Olympic competitors from around the world will take part in an opening ceremony like no other. The grand procession, which will take place on 26 July, was conceived by artistic director Thomas Jolly.
Although the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games are usually held in a decorated stadium, for the first time in history, the highly anticipated event will be held along the River Seine in Paris, France, in a program that is supposed to last three hours and 45 minutes. Why? Because the 42-year-old creative director wanted it that way.
In conversation with FashionJolly explained how he reinvented the traditional segments of the opening ceremony (the artistic segment, the delegation segment and the protocol segment) and turned them into a completely new event.
“I decided to weave them together over a three-hour-and-45-minute evening, in which countries from all over the world take turns parading in a dozen tableaux,” he explained to the newspaper in an interview published on July 18. “Like athletes passing between the Austerlitz Bridge and the Iena Bridge, this great fresco is inspired by all the historical sites they pass through. And what fabulous inspiration!”
On the eve of the highly anticipated 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Fashion spoke to Jolly about his two-year creative process in preparation for the distinguished show.
The popular French actor decided to have the opening festivities begin at 19:30 CEST, just before sunset, primarily for ecological reasons. Since the host city is Paris, Jolly found motivation in its exquisite foundations – the buildings, the bridges, the sidewalks, and the water – all emblematic of the city’s rich history. The idea was to preserve what already existed, but enliven it with the work of 3,000 artists from a variety of mediums, including dance, music, comedy, and more.
“Everything is respectful of the environment in which we find ourselves,” he explained. “I call this ceremony ‘The Great Celebration of Our Shared Humanity.’”
Although such an opening ceremony is likely to be rehearsed to ensure a perfect presentation, Jolly does not plan to do a single rehearsal – something he is not familiar with, coming from the world of theatre. “Despite all our preparations, we must remember that, in order to maintain its confidentiality, this ceremony will never be fully rehearsed,” he said. “The goal is for everyone to discover the show at the same time!”
As for what viewers can expect in person and at home, Jolly revealed that the first ship will emerge from beneath the Austerlitz Bridge.
Jolly collaborated with several other people to design this remarkable production. Leïla Slimani, an award-winning novelist; Damien Gabriac, a playwright; Fanny Herrero, a screenwriter; and Patrick Boucheron, a historian, played a pivotal role in constructing the opening ceremony. Meanwhile, choreographer Maud Le Pladec, stylist Daphné Burki, and production duo Emmanuelle Fabre and Bruno have also been collaborating with Jolly in executing the opening ceremony.
Here's how to watch the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
