A thread for the Olympics. 🏃‍♂️

I rather thought the French were sending themselves up in the tableaux but perhaps we were meant to take them seriously?

Lady Gaga - just why? She's not French and she looked like a pink ostrich.

I liked the opening ceremony

Maybe RosiesMaw2, who knows. I’m not judging, just saying it’s different. If you pressed me I’d say that in my opinion we are a naturally cynical bunch in the UK, and our default is to make fun of the way others do things differently.

Interesting question Casdon.
There's always that certain pride in everything French which emanates from their countrymen. It almost verges on arrogance at times, so maybe our neighbourhood rivalry automatically incites criticism of their achievements?

Casdon

What’s really interesting about this thread is that the Gransnet take on this event is so different to that of the media worldwide, which has widely praised France for putting on an opening ceremony that’s so different to any previous ones, and had visually spectacular moments. I think it’s a bit like Eurovision, Brits take the Mickey out of it relentlessly, but the rest of Europe embraces it.

Or it could be that we are more discriminating (and honest in our opinions?)

I have, and I’ve read about it in the news in UK and from other countries, and the take on it here is definitely more downbeat than it is elsewhere. Whether part of that is neighbourly rivalry, comparison with London because it was recent and memorable for Brits, the dislike we seem to have in UK for ‘staged’ events overseas, media outlets overseas being kind to the French, or what - who knows?

Casdon

What’s really interesting about this thread is that the Gransnet take on this event is so different to that of the media worldwide, which has widely praised France for putting on an opening ceremony that’s so different to any previous ones, and had visually spectacular moments. I think it’s a bit like Eurovision, Brits take the Mickey out of it relentlessly, but the rest of Europe embraces it.

You haven't looked on Mumsnet then?
😁

and had visually spectacular moments
without a shadow of doubt!
Technology advances so quickly these days that, every four years, more and more innovative techniques are employed in staging The Games. Paris still managed this admirably without building any new structures designed specially for the event.

Training for the triathlon in the Seine today has been cancelled due to pollution levels. Sadly all that rain on Friday evening has had an effect on the river levels. I'm assuming all those boats stirred up the waters too.

What’s really interesting about this thread is that the Gransnet take on this event is so different to that of the media worldwide, which has widely praised France for putting on an opening ceremony that’s so different to any previous ones, and had visually spectacular moments. I think it’s a bit like Eurovision, Brits take the Mickey out of it relentlessly, but the rest of Europe embraces it.

Syracute

The last supper thought was made up by the media . They did better explanations of the symbolism of everything in US newspapers .
Everything had a meaning and was very interesting . I liked that it was different and unusual . That the wotld could really experience Paris through the eyes of the French . Not everyone gets to go to Paris after all .

Not everyone wants to go to Paris either.

Just saw a comment on FB re Dionysius:

"So glad I wasn't his maquilleuse!"

Well that was just his opinion Exactly Syracute, and he along with many others, including some on this thread, might just have been right. In the words of Thomas Jolly, the artistic director himself, en France on a le droit de croire et de ne pas croire, in France you are free to believe what you want. People have the right to think for themselves.

That the wotld could really experience Paris through the eyes of the French . Not everyone gets to go to Paris after all

All the French?

Syracute

Joseann

It was actually described as The Last Supper by a commentator on France Télévisions during the opening ceremony.

Well that was just his opinion but even if it were the Last Supper has been parodied many, many times .
This image was part of the 12 part tableaux vivant series that went right by most viewers here on this thread .

This image was part of the 12 part tableaux vivant series that went right by most viewers here on this thread

Oh really?
Why would you say that?

I've had that song as an ear worm since watching it
"With her head tucked underneath her arm .... 🎶🎶🎶"

Joseann

It was actually described as The Last Supper by a commentator on France Télévisions during the opening ceremony.

Well that was just his opinion but even if it were the Last Supper has been parodied many, many times .
This image was part of the 12 part tableaux vivant series that went right by most viewers here on this thread .

It was actually described as The Last Supper by a commentator on France Télévisions during the opening ceremony.

The last supper thought was made up by the media . They did better explanations of the symbolism of everything in US newspapers .
Everything had a meaning and was very interesting . I liked that it was different and unusual . That the wotld could really experience Paris through the eyes of the French . Not everyone gets to go to Paris after all .

Oreo

Well, we all know what theories on SM are like, and that wasn’t my impression of it.Sometimes insults are looked for where there are none.

Sometimes the insult is real to some people. You're very dismissive of such.

Most of it was like being in the middle of a weird dream, hoping to wake up but it goes on and on and on.

Thank goodness for the athletes carrying the torch and Celine Dion.

No Jews that I know would go along with this!
Some Christians might be offended too.

Although I think most people would just think it was utterly ridiculous.

Oreo 👍🏻

So, an extra bit of weirdness from a weird experience all round.
Maybe the next country who hosts the Olympics will do a better job.

GrannyGravy13

Callistemon213 yep however, the painting is in the Louvre.

Apologies, you are right as I just googled and found it was meant to be a version of The Last Supper painting by Da Vinci which hangs in the Louvre.
I viewed it as partying going on in the background but apparently not.
Why they had to do this at all I really don’t know but to be a parody with using drag queens is insane.This wasn’t a backstreet revue but something put on by the French State so is mind boggling really.
No Jews that I know would go along with this!

Actually I'm guessing he might say that in Art anything can be represented without causing offence? But there's a very fine line.