Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy, showcasing the city’s resilience as authorities dealt with suspected acts of sabotage that targeted France’s flagship high-speed rail network.
PARIS —
Still, as the show got underway, optimism soared that Paris – true to its motto that speaks of being unsinkable – might just win its gambles. “Of course when you organize an outdoor spectacle, you prefer good weather,” the Paris Games’ chief organizer, Tony Estanguet, said on France Inter radio.“It will perhaps be a bit different,” he added. “We’ll adapt.”
It’s a big ask. So Paris is going big, very big. That goes for the security, too. Large fenced-off stretches of central Paris are locked down to those without passes and the skies during the ceremony will be a no-fly zone for 150 kilometers around. The identity of the final torch bearers has been the country’s biggest secret. Estanguet said Friday morning that only he knows “the personality or athlete” and that he still hadn’t told that person.The ceremony’s broad-brush strokes have been previously announced and are stunning in their ambition. French President Emmanuel Macron said they initially felt like “a crazy and not very serious idea.”
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