The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics sparked varied reactions from the international press. The performances by Gojira, Aya Nakamura, Céline Dion, and Lady Gaga were particularly applauded. However, the duration of the event, unfavorable weather conditions, technical issues, and some production choices were criticized.
For the first time, the ceremony took place outside a stadium, along the Seine. This innovation was deemed ambitious, but it also raised security and transportation issues, exacerbated by arson attacks on French railway lines.
American media, notably NBC and the Los Angeles Times, praised the event as "extraordinary" and "unique." In Europe, the Tribune de Genève and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung highlighted the brilliance of the staging.
Conversely, some Italian media like La Repubblica criticized the ceremony, calling it a "parade of self-celebration." In the United Kingdom, the BBC described it as a "brilliantly frenetic spectacle." In Spain, Marca deemed it "the best in history," while El Pais noted that "Paris amazed the world under the downpour."
Prince Charles-Philippe of Orléans firmly condemned certain aspects of the ceremony, calling them "scandalous" and "offensive," particularly the scene depicting Marie-Antoinette beheaded and what was perceived as a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper with drag queens. These criticisms were shared by other very conservative political figures always seeking buzz.
Despite these contrasting opinions, a Harris Interactive poll shows that 85% of the French found the ceremony rather successful, compared to only 5% who did not appreciate it at all.