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Will rain spoil Paris Olympics opening ceremony?

Paris woke on Friday to a wet and grey day - but will the rain continue and disrupt this evening's spectacular Olympics opening ceremony on the River Seine?

Published: 26 July 2024 11:16 CEST
Will rain spoil Paris Olympics opening ceremony?
An illustration image showing heavy clouds and rain over Paris' River Seine in 2017. (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP)

In the months before the Olympics a report by a group of Olympians and UK-based academics warned of the dangers of extreme heat at the Paris Games.

But the first weather-related challenge for the organisers is rain – namely will it rain during the opening ceremony on Friday evening, planned as a spectacular open-air event on the River Seine.

The day dawned rainy and cool in the Paris region, with French weather forecaster La Chaîne Météo saying that there is a 70 to 80 percent chance of “moderate to heavy” rain at the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony starting at 7.30pm.

“There is still uncertainty about the trajectory and exact position” of the rainstorm, meteorologist Cyrille Duchesne said in a post on the channel’s website, with “some models having Paris on the edge of this heavy rain, while others… see rainfall of 15-20 millimetres, or 10 days of rain in two or three hours”.

Meanwhile, Météo France wrote in their morning forecast that “the risk of showers during the opening ceremony cannot be ruled out”, while predicting light wind and temperatures near 22C in the evening.

One meteorologist and forecaster, Louis Bodin, told TF1 on Friday morning that “according to several weather models, the cloudy and rainy spell should be behind us by the time of the ceremony, with one or two hours to spare. We’re still within the margin of error, but the most significant part could well be over”.

The 2024 opening ceremony will be the first to not be held in a stadium, and it is expected to involve over 6,000 athletes who will board 85 boats to float down 6km on the River Seine, from Pont d’Austerlitz bridge in the east to the Eiffel Tower.

Meanwhile, up to 300,000 ticket-holders are set to watch from the built stands along the banks of the river.

READ MORE: What we know about the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

What happens if there is rain?

If there is rain, the ceremony is still expected to go ahead.

“The rain won’t spoil the party or the show in any way’, French sport minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra told the radio channel RMC.

“It’s always more pleasant when the weather’s nice, let’s face it. But there will be no impact. It won’t detract from the quality of the show,” she added.

The head of the Olympic organising committee, Tony Estanguet, told France Inter that “the event was designed so that it can be held in the rain (…) It may be a bit different. We will adapt. 

“But some people who are used to filming say that rain also adds an atmosphere that looks great on camera. We’ll see tonight,” he added.

The Olympics boss also told another French radio channel, Bonjour! La Matinale TF1 in a separate interview on Thursday that even if it rains, “on the whole, we’re going to get through it. We’re going to adapt, and it’s going to be a great moment.”

How to watch the ceremony

If you want to stay indoors, you can always watch on TV or online. The opening ceremony will be screened on France TV (France 2, 3 and 4) and the paid channel Eurosport from 7.30pm to 11pm on Friday, July 26th.

You can also watch the ceremony live online via the France TV website.

For those outside of France, you can find the list of TV channels across the world who will show the Olympics and opening ceremony live HERE.

Naturally the French coverage will be in French. If you want to watch with English commentary you can head to France 24 which will be providing some coverage, or watch some of the foreign broadcasters (subject to rights and accessibility) such as the UK’s BBC, Ireland’s RTE or the USA’s NBC.

READ MORE: How to watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics on TV in France

Fan zones 

For those planning to enjoy the ceremony in a fan zone, keep in mind that many in Paris will be outdoor, either in parks, athletic centres or in front of town halls. As such, you may want to pack your rain jacket. You can see the full list of fan zones here.

You can also see an interactive map to find fan zones and other free, celebration areas near you by scrolling down on the Paris.Fr website.

For those looking to avoid the rain, you may consider watching the ceremony in a bar or restaurant. You can find a list of those who plan to screen events HERE.

This includes the popular food court, La Felicita, in the 13th arrondissement, which will offer 1,000 seats for people looking to watch the ceremony.

On top of that, several Paris bars have promised to remain open for 24 hours on Friday-Saturday.

READ MORE: Where to watch the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

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PARIS

Tickets and dates: All you need to know about Notre-Dame reopening

There are 100 days left before Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris will finally open its doors to visitors again. Here is what you need to know about getting tickets in advance, the reopening plans, and the status of the restoration.

Published: 30 August 2024 10:57 CEST
Tickets and dates: All you need to know about Notre-Dame reopening

August 30th marks a major milestone in the restoration of Notre-Dame in Paris, with just 100 days – or three intense months of work – remaining for the 500-plus artisans working against the clock to ensure the cathedral is ready in time.

The Cathedral has been closed to the public since it was badly damaged by fire in April 2019.

Since then, Parisians and visitors have been able to see a lot of the progress, as the outside work redefined the city’s skyline, but they have not been able to go inside.

But soon, visitors will be able to re-enter the famous cathedral. Here is what you need to know;

When exactly will the cathedral re-open?

The Cathedral is on track to re-open on time on December 8th – the Festival of the Immaculate Conception.

How can I get tickets?

Anyone planning to visit Notre-Dame after its grand reopening should be aware that, when it does throw open its doors to the public, you will need to have a pre-booked ticket to enter.

In anticipation of an estimated 15 million visitors a year, the diocese is taking steps to better manage the flow of people in the 6,000m2 of the building – which can accommodate 2,500 people at a time. 

A mobile app is due to be rolled out in the autumn, and the official website is being redesigned to allow visitors to book free tickets.

But officials are keen to point out that potential visitors do not need to rush to the website or app to book months in advance. Spaces are expected to be available probably a day or two in advance, and visitors will be able to book a visit at the cathedral itself on the day they intend to visit.

What about groups?

Be aware that admission will initially be reserved for individual visitors. Group bookings will not be possible until six months after the cathedral’s reopening, officials have said.

What is the status of the restoration work?

“We can see that we are close to the goal and that fuels our confidence that we will achieve the objective,”  Philippe Jost, president of the public institution responsible for the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris, told Le Parisien, in an interview to mark the date.

The vault of the transept crossing was completed in May, allowing work to start on finishes to the interior of the building, and the gradual removal of scaffolding from the outside. The cathedral’s renewed silhouette has been visible throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Spectacular steps” have been taken in the past six months, Jost said, including the completion of the solid oak frames above the nave and the choir, and the installation of the lead roofs.

But, he said, there are still “an incredible amount of things to do in every corner” – including restoring the flooring, connecting electrical networks and installing new liturgical furniture. In just 100 days. “There is no question of falling asleep and telling yourself that it’s in the bag,” Jost said.

What can I do in the meantime?

You can still walk around the site and read the posters explaining the restoration process, though you will not be able to enter. Photos of the fire-damaged cathedral and its restoration form an exhibition on the barriers keeping people out of the site.

Guided tours exist in the area, including one offered by Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral and CASA volunteers. These tours are free and they go around the cathedral, lasting about one hour. More info for booking here.

Will there be other work in the future?

Even though Notre-Dame is reopening, the cathedral’s restoration work will continue for another four to five years. 

“The City of Paris … will be carrying out work around the cathedral, notably on the forecourt, for at least three years,” the diocese said in a press release.

Starting in 2025, the cathedral’s stone exterior will begin to be refurbished, using surplus funds from the huge pot of donations that poured in after the fire.

The plans include adding trees and vegetation to the square in front of the cathedral, as well as a small stream that will help to cool the area during hot weather. 

The space behind the cathedral will also be transformed, adding in a lawn and grassy area. Under the monument, the underground parking lot will transform into a visitor centre, offering an interior walkway that will give access to the archaeological crypt and will open up onto the Seine.

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