Rain Doesn’t Dampen Spectacular Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony
The one thing they couldn’t control was the rain, which made an unwelcome appearance at the Paris Games opening ceremony, drenching athletes, artists, spectators, and officials alike.
At first, the rain was light and intermittent, but about 45 minutes in, it intensified, forcing everyone to cover up with plastic if they had it. Some attendees left their seats after an hour of the show.
At the Trocadero, where the ceremony was set to conclude, one of the giant screens went black and stopped working.
Many athletes used their hats as a small shield against the rain while making their way along the Seine in various open boats.
This is the first time in history that an opening ceremony has been held outdoors, outside of a stadium. The grand spectacle on the banks of the Seine, as the boats passed by, continued despite the rain, though the heavy downpour took away from its grandeur.
Both along the Seine and at the makeshift Trocadero stadium, the stands were completely exposed, except for a section reserved for the IOC members and heads of state and government.
Approximately 600,000 people attended the ceremony in person, with 300,000 in the stands and the same number watching from balconies and homes.
