But fans on social media are unimpressed by France‘s attempt to switch up the ceremony, with one writing: ‘I’m sorry but this is the worst Olympic opening ceremony in memory.
‘It’s an interesting idea bringing the athletes in on boats but it looks rubbish and misses the roar of the crowd. Sorry but not for me.’
Some had critiques for the boats themselves, writing: ‘All the boats should have been the same and more fancy looking.’
Another said: ‘This opening ceremony would really benefit from Graham Norton’s commentary questioning what the hell is going on. Anyone else finding this just bizarre and hard to follow?’.
Gaming fans have drawn comparisons between the masked torch barer seen running around the city on rooftops and Arno, a character from the video game Assassin’s Creed.
The official Assassin’s Creed X account even posted a video of Arno jumping around in the game with the caption: ‘Keep an eye on Paris’ rooftops – Arno might just be watching from above.’
A performance by a man painted blue and covered in flowers and fruit, depicting the Greek god Dionysus, singing in French left viewers bewildered, comparing him to a smurf, an avatar and Iggle Piggle from children’s TV show In The Night Garden.
One X user wrote: ‘Can this get any worse! Avatar meets smurf remake’.
Another viewer joked: ‘Hilarious irony that the French are relying so heavily on their contribution to different musical genres and yet all the microphones are picking up is the rain’, after performances of the can-can, a selection of songs from Les Mis, the opera Carmen and a show from French heavy metal band Gojira were drowned out.
Meteorologists who predicted the unusual rainy July weather would be a ‘disaster’ for the outdoor ceremony appear to have been correct as the screen at the Trocadéro where thousands of spectators are gathered appeared to suffer a blackout as a result of the dreary weather.
Instead of crowds wearing shorts and t-shirts to soak up the Parisian sun, streets were lined with umbrellas and spectators – including celebrities – turning to ponchos to protect from the rain.
A viewer on social media joked: ‘If this rain keeps up by the time they get to Zimbabwe they’ll be able to sail the boat down the street!’.
‘Well this fancy outside idea went well didn’t it’, wrote another sarcastically.
