France: Food, Fashion, Fans: Paris Paralympics 2024
It’s official, Paris 2024, Summer Olympics and Paralympics Games are over. The closing ceremony for the Paralympic Games was held (in the rain) last Sunday evening. And I have just a few thoughts as Paris says goodbye to the Olympics, still shaking our collective heads that it all seemingly went off without a hitch.
The Olympics Opening ceremony celebrated diversity, inclusion and women. And introduced Paris’s iconic monuments as sites for serious athletic competition. The closing ceremony celebrated the athletes and passed the torch to Los Angeles. To Tom Cruise and Snoop Dogg, oh dear!
The Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics did not unfold along the Seine but it did take place in a place, well actually a ‘Place’ that was every bit as iconic. Under a clear sky, as the sun set, thousands of athletes, in Paris to compete in the Paralympics, paraded down the Champs-Elysees to the Place de la Concorde - in wheel chairs, on crutches, with guides for the blind. (Fig 2)
Figure 1. Paralympics Opening Ceremony at Place de la Concorde, with symbol of Paralympics, Paris 2024
Figure 2. Opening Ceremony, Paralympics, Paris 2024
The purpose of the Paralympics opening ceremony was to take the themes of inclusion and diversity beyond race and religion and nationality and gender. To embrace physical and mental ‘differences,’ too. The dancers, musicians and singers who opened and closed the Paralympics, showed us that not only can people in wheelchairs and on crutches be outstanding athletes, they can be gifted entertainers. As images were projected on the Obelisk in the center of the Place, performers incorporated sport movements with artistic ones. The South African dancer, Musa Motha, balancing on one leg, showed breakdancing as a performance art. (Fig 3)
Figure 3. Musa Motha at Opening Ceremony, Paralympics, Paris 2024
According to Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of Paris 2024, the theme of the Paralympics Opening Ceremony was ‘Paradox.’ Appropriate for the Place de la Concorde which didn’t get this name until 1795. During the French Revolution when it was called Place de la Revolution, a guillotine working overtime beheaded, among others, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Jolly decided that this ‘Place’ was just the right place for able bodied and disabled artists to go from Discord (dancing in opposition) to Concord (dancing together). (Figs 4,5)
Figure 4. Opening Performance, Paralympics, Paris 2024
Figure 5. Opening Performance, Paralympics, Paris 2024
Jolly conceived of the ceremony as a move towards the reconciliation “(of) 15% of the global population who have a disability and the societies that ignore their needs.” For Jolly, “(D)isability is not a flaw in the person, it is the architecture (and) attitudes .. of society that create the ‘situation’ of disability for these people.”
Lucky Love, the singer at the Paralympics wore a suit jacket with no shirt. When he took his jacket off, he had only one arm. (Figs 6, 7) It was one acknowledgement among many that the performers had much in common with the athletes. And reminded us that perfect bodies are not a requirement for perfect performances.
Figure 6. Lucky Love, singing at Paralympics, Paris 2024
Figure 7. Lucky Love, singing at Paralympics, Paris 2024
The closing ceremony was held, in the rain, in the Stade de France. But unlike the opening ceremony of the Olympics when spectators and performers alike were drenched, it was only the performers in the Stade upon whom the rain fell. This led to some pretty funny scenes - like soloists getting their groove on while volunteers held umbrellas over them and tried to be inconspicuous (they weren’t!).
As the stadium lit up in the blue, white and red of the French national flag, the French trumpeter, André Feydy, (Fig 8) who has only one hand, played France’s national anthem, beautifully, movingly, hauntingly. The Republican Guard Band, which had been such good sports at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics when they met up with Aya Nakamura on the Pont des Arts, for a celebration, according to one commentator of “…the equality between eras and between cultures, both academic and pop.…” played again. This time it was their own repertoire, (Fig 9) which included Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive,’ and “Chariots of Fire” by Vangelis to which the Paralympic flag bearers made their way into the stadium.
Figure 8. André Feydy playing Le Marseilles at Paralympics Closing Ceremony, Paris 2024
Figure 9. Republican Guard Band at Closing Ceremony Paralympics, Paris 2024
Tony Estanguet, the head of Paris Olympics 2024, told the Paralympians that, “Thanks to you, everyone has seen what an inclusive world looks like. You have launched the Paralympic revolution and now there is no turning back.” After the chants of ‘Tony, Tony, Tony’ died down, the International Paralympic Committee president spoke. “Paris 2024 (he said) has set a benchmark for all future Paralympic Games…For a country famous for its fashion and its food, France is now famous for its fans.”
The passing of the torch to Los Angeles was much cooler than it had been for the Olympics closing ceremony. A recorded segment took place in the Venice Beach Skate Park with skateboarders on crutches and wheelchair motocross riders careening around the park.(Figs 10, 11)They were daredevils, it was exciting to watch.
Figure 10. Musicians at Venice Beach Skate Park, Paralympics Closing Ceremony, Paris 2024
Figure 11. Venice Beach Skate Park which figured in Paralympics Closing Ceremony Paris 2024
Once the Paralympic flags had been passed from Annie Hidalgo to the Mayor of Los Angeles, Ali Stroker, the first person in a wheelchair to win a Tony Award (for her role in Broadway revival of “Oklahoma!”) sang the American national anthem. (Fig 12)
Figure 12.. Ali Stroker singing American National Anthem, Paralympics Closing Ceremony, Paris 2024
The evening concluded with the Stade de Paris becoming a giant open-air dance party to which the Para Olympians were invited. Jean-Michel Jarre, the internationally renown French electronic music composer got the party started, spinning tunes as if he was in a “Parisian nightclub, oblivious to the rain lashing down.” Other DJs followed and eventually so did a grand fireworks display, (Figs 13, 14)
Figure 13. Jean-Michel Jarre gets the party started, Paralympics Closing Ceremony, Paris 2024
Figure 14. Fireworks at Stade de France, Paralympics Closing Ceremony, Paris 2024
I watched some of the competitions, too. As with the Olympics, these were athletes whose victories made me proud to be a human being. Among them, Aurélie Aubert, the young French woman, born with cerebral palsy who won the gold medal for Boccia, a sport which has no equivalent in the Olympics. (Fig 15) The Brazilian swimmer Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araujo, whose arms and legs are stumps, yet who moved through the water like a dolphin, winning medals along the way.(Fig 16) The football games played by blind men. Those not profoundly blind wore black out masks. Spectators remain silent as the the players track the whereabouts of ball by the sound it makes as it moves. (Fig 17)The French team won the gold. As they and the silver and bronze medal winners came to the podium to accept their awards, each player had his hand on the player in front of him, led by the single sighted player on the team. On the final day of the Paralympics, I joined my neighbors to cheer the marathon cyclists and runners. The cyclists propelled only by their strong arms, the blind runners with their guides alongside them. (Figs 18, 19)
Figure 15. Aurélie Aubert, Gold Medal winner of Boccia, Paralympics, Paris 2024
Figure 16. Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araujo, Brazilian Gold Medal Swimmer, Paralympics, Paris 2024
Figure 17. Blind Football Game, Paralympics, Paris 2024
Figure 18. Blind marathon runner with her guide, Paralympics, Paris 2024
Figure 19. Paraplegic Marathon, Paralympics, Paris 2024
In the year leading up to the Paris Olympics 2024, the city did its best to generate enthusiasm for them. Museums joined the effort by offering exhibitions.
Here are a few examples. At the Musée Carnavalet, the subject was the 1924 Olympic Games. At the Musée de la Libération, the athletes who risked their lives by joining the Resistance during the Second World War were celebrated. At the Musée de la Vie Romantique, the fabulous paintings of rearing, charging steeds by Théodore Géricault who died 200 years ago this year, were on exhibition. Horses were also the topic of a grand exhibition at the Chateau de Versailles which took over the entire chateau to tell its story. At the Maison Victor-Hugo, fencing was the subject. The Musée Bourdelle focused on archery. The Musee du Luxembourg took as its subject, the equipment that enables athletes to continue breaking records. The Louvre’s exhibition focused on France’s central role in establishing the modern Olympics. Exhibitions were held at two of my ‘go-to’ museums in Paris. The Musee des Arts Decoratifs and the Palais Galliera. At the Musée des Arts Decoratifs the exhibition was called ‘Fashion and sport, from one podium to another.’ (Fig 20) The exhibition explored the links between fashion and sport, from Antiquity to the present, to show how two apparently distinct universes connect. It’s the body, of course! The exhibition was an unexpected mix of clothing and accessories, with photographs, posters and paintings; sketches, sculptures and videos. Unexpected because of how many ways the evolution of sports clothing influenced fashion. There were outfits by fashion design pioneers like Jean Patou, Jeanne Lanvin, Gabrielle Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli. Working between the two world wars, these designers translated aspects of sporting attire into their haute couture creations.
Figure 20. Mode et Sport. D'un podium a l’autre, Musée des Arts Décoratifs
The exhibition shows how clothing created for specific sports morphed their way into the daily wardrobes of non-athletes. Sometimes at the initiative of the wearers, more often because fashion designers appropriated certain materials and cuts and made them stylish enough for their customers’ daily wardrobes. Comfort is the thread that wove its way through the exhibition and, as the website for the exhibition states, “allows us to understand…why jogging and sneakers have become fashion essentials, both for everyday life and for haute couture…”
At the Palais Galliera, the three part exhibition of which Part II is on display until through December, is called Fashion on the Move. (Fig 21) It traces the history of fashion from the 18th century to the present day, focusing on the body in motion. The exhibition questions the place of clothing in the practice of physical and sporting activities, its relationship to the body and movement and the social consequences of its evolution. Clothing designed for physical and sporting activity is compared to everyday clothing. The introduction of specialized sports clothing, the adaptation at the end of the 19th century of women's outfits for physical activity, the masculinization of women's clothing and the introduction of sportswear for everyday wear is considered. The exhibition also reflects upon how the liberation of the body through physical activity has contributed to the evolution of mentalities and canons of beauty. On display are bathing suits and jogging suits, cycling and riding outfits, motorist coats and accessories and, of course, the ubiquitous sneakers. (Figs 22-31)
Figure 21. Fashion on the Move, Palais Galliera
Figure 22. Cycling bloomers for female cyclists. No sitting side saddle on a bicycle
Figure 23. Women Cycling ad, dress about ready to get caught in the spokes, if her boa doesn’t first
Figure 24. This ad is a lot safer, sensible bloomers PLUS a strong man to keep her on course
Figure 25. Outfit for playing croquet
Figure 26. Outfits for Tennis
Figure 27. Women’s Bathing Suits
Figure 27. Casual Outfits, Coco Chanel
Figure 28. Casual Tops, Jean Patou & Elsa Schiaparelli
Figure 29. Lacoste Alligator dress and tennis vest
Figure 30. J.W. Anderson, Broken Skate Sweater
Figure 31. Tennis Shoe Wall
And now Paris is back to normal. The President has finally nominated a Prime Minister, something he was supposed to do two months ago. The price of a metro ticket is back to what it was before the Olympics, something that Parisians, thought would not happen. And there are new exhibitions to see, the one on Surrealism at the Pompidou before it closes until 2030. Masterpieces of the Borghese Collection, at the Musée Jacquemart-André, which has just reopened after renovation.
This past week I saw an exhibition of costume jewelry at a place I had never been, which has never held an exhibition before. At a beautiful 18th-century town house, now home to the École des Arts Joailliers. Through mid October, you can see their first exhibition, mounted in partnership with the Comédie-Française. The subject is the stage jewelry worn by actors and actresses since the 18th century. With paintings, drawings and manuscripts telling the story, the jewelry, mostly of non-precious materials, celebrates the jeweler’s craft. (Figs 32-36) Gros bisous, Dr. B.
Figure 32. Actress known as Rachel
Figure 33. Diadem worn by actress known as Rachel
Figure 34. Crown worn by Talma in role Britannicus
Figure 35. Pectoral worn by Julie Bartet
Figure 36. Headdress for role of Queen Esther
Thanks to everyone who took time to send a Comment, They are much appreciated.
New comments on Dordogne Redux:
Absolutely wonderful descriptions and pictures! Good to read while sweltering in California. I miss France. The market scenes are always beautiful and the ancient buildings also. Thank you so much and take care. Dianne, CA
Thank you for sharing your wonderful trip to the Dordogne with your cousin! I loved getting to revisit, through your words and photos, some of the places that I loved seeing on my visits there. Those were also thanks to you!) Things have changed since I was there last too but it is still beautiful, full of history and good memories. I loved seeing your cousin's sketches too - again more reminders of good times spent there. Sydney, Portland, OR
Bonjour Beverly! I absolutely loved today’s piece about the Dordogne. St. Émilion will be our first stop when we get there on the 25th. I hope I take pictures as lovely as yours. À bientôt, à Paris.. Liz
Hi Beverly, Just finished reading your blog about the Dordogne. Brought back so many wonderful memories! Your cousin is a great artist. Ellen, New York City
For those of you who enjoyed my cousin Katherine’s watercolors, here’s a link to her website. https://www.katherineshock.co.uk/