The horsewoman (C) arrives with the Olympic flag at the Trocadero during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Stephanie Lecocq / POOL / AFP)

France faced criticism for the ambitious concept and security risks of holding the Olympic opening ceremony on the River Seine instead of a traditional stadium.

Despite the challenges, the ceremony for the 2024 Paris Games was successfully executed after years of preparation. President Emmanuel Macron's theatrical gesture was evident, but it also brought substantial risks.

The day was marred by news of attacks on signal infrastructure on the French railway network, disrupting travel and raising concerns of a coordinated attempt to disrupt the Games by unknown individuals.

In the midst of the event, unfavorable weather conditions posed significant challenges for both organizers and attendees. An unexpected downpour drenched the performers, athletes, and spectators, leaving them with only plastic ponchos for protection.

Performers dance along the banks of the Seine River during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Petros Giannakouris / POOL / AFP)

Headless figures depicting the 18th century Queen Marie Antoinette perform along the Seine river embankment outside the Conciergerie, where the queen was held captive during the French revolution, during the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP)

Lights illuminate the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP)

Spectators with various international flags cheering on from their balconies are pictured from the boat of Brazil’s delegation sailing along the river Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / POOL / AFP)

Nevertheless, the event proceeded as planned.

The marathon event lasted for four hours, culminating in a spectacular climax as the Olympic flame soared into the sky aboard a cauldron tethered to a balloon, and Celine Dion serenaded Paris with an Edith Piaf song from the Eiffel Tower. The show, directed by Thomas Jolly, was described as "surreal" and a "damp squib" by the Times of London, but its originality and daring were undeniable. Most importantly, the mass event concluded safely without incident.

Parisians and visitors can now enjoy most of the city without needing QR codes to pass through police barriers that were put up for the event, which had placed much of the riverside embankment under security lockdown in the preceding days.

"With sabotage of railway installations in the morning and pouring rain in the evening, the opening day of the Olympics was chaotic but ended with a grandiose ceremony which broke all the rules," wrote daily Liberation on the front page of its Saturday edition.

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal (2L) holds the Olympic torch next to US’ athlete Carl Lewis (L), Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci (2R) and US tennis player Serena Williams (R) on the river Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

A torchbearer passes the Olympic flame to French former football player Zinedine Zidane during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

Former French football player Zinedine Zidane holds the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Xu Chang / POOL / AFP)

French former football player Zinedine Zidane (L) looks on as Spain’s tennis player Rafael Nadal (R) carries the Olympic flame at the Trocadero during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Jeff PACHOUD / AFP)

‘An Exceptional creativity and intellectual prowess’

The deployment of police snipers on rooftops served as a sobering reminder of the ongoing security challenges faced by France, which has experienced a series of attacks perpetrated by Islamist extremists since 2015.

Furthermore, the ceremony provided a much-needed boost for President Macron following two tumultuous months marked by snap parliamentary elections that briefly raised the possibility of a far-right victory and the formation of a new government.

While this scenario did not materialize, the country remains in a state of political gridlock post-elections, with the president’s authority perceived as diminished during the remaining three years of his term.

“Thanks to Thomas Jolly and his creative genius for this grandiose ceremony. Thank you to the artists for this unique and magical moment. Thank you to the police and emergency services, agents and volunteers,” Macron wrote in an unusually triumphant post on X.

“Thank you to everyone who believed in it. We’ll still be talking about in 100 years! We did it!”

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin added: “We did it! After four years of intense work to prepare for the world’s biggest sport event, we have never been prouder of our security forces.”

Extreme-right MEP Marion Marechal harrumphed on X that she was left to “desperately seek to celebrate the values of sport and the beauty of France in the midst of such crude woke propaganda.”

Bboats with delegations sail on the river Seine as a water fountain is enlighted in the colours of the French national flag during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / POOL / AFP)

A model presents creations while walking a catwalk erected along the Passerelle Debilly bridge on the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP)

Athletes from Refugee Olympic Team’s delegation sail on a boat along the river Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)

PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Tightrope walker Nathan Paulin performs on a high rope during the athletes’ parade on the River Seine near the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Maddie Meyer / POOL / AFP)

‘It is imperative to avoid making mistakes.’

Certain spectators expressed dissatisfaction due to the rain and crowds obstructing their view. However, Jolly’s concept primarily focused on the millions of viewers watching worldwide on television.

Furthermore, it skillfully incorporated themes of French culture and history, presenting them with a contemporary perspective and an abundance of subtle references for those interested in discovering them. Jolly also celebrated the diversity of modern France by highlighting artists of immigrant backgrounds.

“The opening ceremony is really the moment when you can’t mess up. It’s a successful gamble,” communications specialist Philippe Moreau Chevrolet told AFP.

“He (Macron) has very successfully carried out his communications operation for the country and for himself: it’s a moment of coming together for the nation… and he hasn’t had many in seven years in power.”

Smoke in the colours of French national flag billows in back ground during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / POOL / AFP)

A general view of the Eiffel Tower and lasers lighting up the sky, during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)