S Kannan in Paris
The opening ceremony at a summer Olympics is about capturing the ethos and energy of the host city. As Paris awaits the grand opening ceremony on Friday – not inside the Stade de France, but along the Seine River – many memories come flooding back.
After all, when the Olympics were held in the year 2000, there was a major issue beforehand with computers and resetting the clock – described as the Y2K problem. So, when Sydney hosted the Games beautifully in September 2000 with a great human touch and passionate efforts from the volunteers, they won hearts.
What will stand out as unique from Sydney is how the theme the “Games Of The New Millenium”. The surprise, so to say, was the Olympic flame being lit at the fag end of the ceremony. For all the atrocities perpetuated on the Aboriginal community over the decades, the decision to have Cathy Freeman perform the honours was kept a well-guarded secret. Having Freeman as the face of the Games was a calculated move, and after lighting the cauldron, she went on to win the gold medal in the 400m.
By the time Athens hosted the next Olympics in 2004, there was uncertainty and chaos. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was worried till the last minute if the Games would even happen, for stadia work had not been completed till the last hour. Athens was an emotional choice as venue, given the rich history associated with the Olympics. At that time, two decades ago, the effort from the Games organisers was to showcase Greek culture and history. Anyone who had studied history as a subject even till middle school level would know about the Greek civilisation, and Alexander the Great.
Beijing was host of the 2008 Olympics in extreme dry heat, pollution and other negative facets highlighted by the Western media. Nothing positive was written about China and Beijing, though the opening ceremony they showcased was high on energy. The use of technology and also the loud Phao drums reverberated around the Bird’s Nest Stadium. Sadly, the same venue lies in a dilapidated state today, but no one can forget how Beijing splurged money and the opening ceremony left one and all spellbound.
Cost caps and so many restrictions had kicked in by the time London was host in 2012. The good part was that London used its historical connect with the world and the famous ‘Mr Bean’ was the super hit of the opening ceremony. Rowan Atkinson, famous for that particular comic role, became one of the faces of those Olympics, where efforts were made to include venues inside the city. A tennis event at Wimbledon and equestrian events inside the city were well received.
In 2016, Rio de Janeiro as host faced political uncertainty, with the budget to host the Games leaving the host nation in distress. Yet, the opening ceremony held at the Maracana Stadium was classy. To capture Brazil, its nature and diversity was not easy, but they pulled it off. As early as 2016, Rio tried to present how important climate change and environmental conservation were. For those present inside the stadium, the attempt to encapsulate Brazil’s history resonated well. From the Portuguese arriving in Brazil, to how poor many still are – living in favelas – the Rio opening ceremony was quite different. They did not have the budget of Beijing or the sophistication of London, yet their opening ceremony was memorable.
Sadly, when the postponed Tokyo Olympics was held in 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic made things difficult. Survival for humanity was a challenge and to see athletes compete in fear was a sad sight. That the Games were pulled off was a miracle and most memories pertain not to the opening ceremony, but masks, sanitisers, and daily testing for the virus.
Paris will be different and for a city hosting the Olympics after 100 years, the opening ceremony has been planned in great detail. To hold it on a 6km-long stretch along the Seine River will be path-breaking.
Despite some negativity in the media and social media about security concerns, Paris is bound to wow the world. Seeing is believing, so one will have to wait until Friday night for the Olympic flame to burn bright.