An (anxious, expensive, and utterly unforgettable) Evening in Paris

"The chief danger about Paris is that it is such a strong stimulant," said T. S. Eliot, and he wasn't even accounting for an epic event like the unprecedented open air Olympics opening ceremony. Thus, the idea of experiencing the historic Olympics the city was hosting for the third time after a hundred-year went beyond being a "stimulant"; it became intoxicant. As expected, the City of Lights and Love did not disappoint.

Our inspiration stemmed, in part, from the Paris Olympics organizers’ bold vision of a never-been-done before the outdoor opening ceremony.? An unprecedented open-air event showcasing the world’s top athletic talent traversing through 6 kilometers of Seine in 80+ boats was an ambitious but risky plan considering the geopolitical state of the globe. Yet it was enticing enough for us to take our chance and be one of the few fortunate spectators to watch the historic event unfold in person.

The Beginning of the Olympics Experience

Our Olympics experience started in Nice, France a few days before the opening ceremony, where we witnessed the phenomenon called “international soccer” – France Vs. the USA. The anticipated outcome of French players comfortably defeating the Americans, did not deter us from attending and cheering for Team USA.? World-class athletics, 100-decibels noise, and electric energy from the crowd made the case for how the FIFA Soccer World Cup competes with the Olympics for the title of the world’s biggest sporting event.? Yet even FIFA does not match the Olympic spirit represented by over 10,000 athletes, from all five continents, competing in myriads of sports as varied as sailing, horse riding, and sprinting.? Not to mention break dancing!

The Opening Ceremony Experience

We experienced Paris’ readiness as we took the first step outside the train station two days before the opening ceremony.? Inner-city transportation confusion, road blockades, and armed security personnel presence gave a glimpse of the city’s preparedness and what the city was preparing for. Any act of violence that could cause chaos and disruption during the Olympics opening ceremony – one of the most-watched sporting events in the world. A massive attack on the high-speed train system only hours before the opening ceremony left our nerves shaken and our minds anxious.? Yet our hearts remained giddy with anticipation and excitement.

As the time of opening ceremony arrived with anxious anticipation, we made our way through the unusually empty streets of Paris to arrive at the entrance point for seating on the Pont des Arts bridge next to the iconic Louvre Museum. For a frequent traveler used to the anxiety and chaos of airport security routine, the calmness of the security process was unnerving and delightful at the same time. Young men in different shades of military uniforms equipped with heavy arms eased our hearts and the security checkpoint personnel asking attendees to drink the liquids from their bottles amused our minds. After making our way through long winding lines and a long wait, we took our seats on the bleachers on one of the most iconic bridges in Paris on a wet and cloudy afternoon awaiting the show to arrive. And arrived it did - in style.

The Procession and The Show

Starting with the tri-color smoke that bellowed from the bridge in front of us the opening ceremony kicked off with high anticipation. The oohs and aahs expressed in myriads of languages conveyed the true global nature of the event. The American popstar Lady Gaga’s opening theatrical act built up the excitement. Then came the boats. Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics, led the procession with that distinct honor and received thunderous applause. The Olympics delegation made up of refugee athletes followed Greece and was met with massive cheers and support. The rest followed alphabetically – French alphabetically, of course. Our Indian American eyes eagerly waited for the familiar but different tri-colored flags. As it arrived in the shared boat with Indonesia and Iran, the Indian delegation headed by PV Sindhu neatly draped in Orange, Green and White sari was joined by smiling Sharath Kamal proudly waving the tiranga. The cheers heard on the bleachers on Pont des Arts albeit global represented the geopolitical turmoil the world was experiencing. The cheers for Israeli and Palestinian delegations were plenty yet restrained, but the support for Ukrainian delegation was loud and unequivocal.

In between the procession, the show continued with the performances by French musical artists and acrobats alike. A plane painting the sky with a smoky red love sign paid homage to the city known as “The City of Love.”

After a long line comprised of 80+ boats hosting 200+ delegation, much anticipated American delegation came in sight raising expectations and the noise levels on the bleachers. The USA delegation, the sole occupant of the entire boat, floated ahead of the host nation which held the honor of going last. While the protocol of going second to last was bestowed upon USA being the host of the next Olympics in 2028, I wonder if could also have been due to the historic French American fraternity, taught in every middle school history lesson in both countries, such as the one that we saw on display at the beaches of Normandy. The tremendous support for American delegation showed both the American presence and the respect for the of unparalleled American athletics.

If one were to measure the popularity through the noise level of cheers, America won.

Made for TV ceremony

After the boat procession we sat twiddling our thumbs not knowing what else to do besides starting at giant monitors stationed at each end of the bridge. The gloomy afternoon gave into the dark rainy evening, but the crowd spirit remained high and undiminished with selfies, flag waving and laughter all around. Besides several notable events – launching and departure of Serena Williams-Rafael Nadal’s and Celine Dion’s flotillas, the mysterious illuminated rider bike-floating over the Seine and the grand arrival the revered Olympics torch at the Louvre, we experienced the rest of the ceremony through live broadcast like billions across the world glued to their TV.? The disconnect brought a momentary inquiry in our minds whether the trouble taken for this moment was worth it. The answer was resounding yes. On July 26th, 2024, 5pm CET there was no other place to be at then on the bridge on the Seine. (When it came to the resources spent on witnessing event, there was probably a strong contender. The heart pounding USA vs France basketball final, which we watched on TV ten days later, was probably worth every dime.)

The sights of world-class athletes in all shapes and forms proudly presenting their sports and their nations are a treasure of a lifetime. The memories of the entire humanity floating by at an arm’s length will forever be etched in our minds and hearts.

Lessons Learned and A Tip of Hat to France

Yet a few observations not related to the opening ceremony stand out.?

As we waited in long winding lines to enter the restricted viewing area, we were surrounded by law enforcement personnel armed with their heavy weapons and stern looks. That contrasted with the security checkpoint professionals’ tone and demeanor which were calm but friendly. They allowed the attendees to carry their own food and drinks. We were simply asked to drink the liquid from their bottles. The experience was quite different from our security experience at airport screenings that we go through frequently in the USA where one feels like a suspect under scrutiny. It also differed from the routine at local sporting events where the security confiscates every ounce of food and water from you in the service of selling overpriced goods to you.? And those overpriced oily, greasy foods and in presence of barking orders from the security personnel take away the sense of joy of the experience.

In addition to enjoying our own snacks during the long haul, we also enjoyed a couple of rounds of fresh waffles available at the sole food kiosk on the bridge. The quality of those sweet and savory freshly made waffles was at par with any specialty brunch restaurants.

If France can manage the security of such prominent open-air event stretched across 6 kms of river involving 10,000+ world class athletes and scores of global leaders without barking orders and generating fear, there’s something to be learned from. And if it can feed 300,000 spectators with high-quality food at a reasonable price, one must admit that excessive commerce/monetization at entertainment events in USA kills the fun of attending those events.

After the Beginning

Unlike our previous rendezvous with the city and the host nation, Paris and France also excelled at the friendly hospitality and non-French communication during the Olympics.

For the remainder of the Olympics American excellence too was felt not just by the cheers from the bleachers but also by athletes standing on the podiums – making the case for “An (elated) American in Paris.”

For us, many more Parisian evenings filled with delicious foods, lively chatters, late night strolls, and spectacular sceneries followed. The city enchants and intoxicates its temporary habitants with its remarkable history, monuments, and architecture enough to lure them back for more. And yet I am certain that no future Parisian evening will match the scale and the sentiment of anxious, expensive and utterly unforgettable evening we had on a rainy summer day on the bridges of Seine.