Opening Ceremony Press Conference Canceled 20 Minutes Before Due to Heavy Rain [Paris Olympics]

Emergency Assembly of Two Technical Directors
First Ever Outdoor and Water Opening Ceremony

The press conference scheduled ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics was abruptly canceled just before it was set to begin, posing challenges to the ceremony's progress amid inclement weather.

On the 26th (local time), police officers are patrolling the Seine River in Paris, France.
[Photo by TASS]

On the 26th (local time), the British media outlet Daily Mail reported that the Paris Olympic Organizing Committee urgently canceled the opening ceremony press conference 20 minutes before it was to start.

The committee did not specify the exact reason but it was reported that two technical directors were urgently summoned for fine adjustments related to the ceremony's technical aspects.

The Paris Olympic opening ceremony will be held outdoors for the first time in history, not in a stadium. The ceremony is scheduled for 7:30 PM on the 26th (local time) at the Seine River.

Unlike previous Olympics where athletes entered the main stadium in the order of participating countries, this time each country's delegation will parade on boats along the water to mark the start of the Games.

The water and boat parade of the delegations will start from the Ostelitz Bridge near the botanical garden and continue along a 6 km route to the Trocad?ro Square near the Eiffel Tower.

On the 26th (local time), police officers are patrolling the Seine River in Paris, France.
[Photo by EPA]

However, on the morning of the opening day, heavy rain fell in Paris from dawn, raising concerns about the event's progress. These concerns became reality when the Paris Olympic Organizing Committee suddenly canceled the media press conference scheduled for that morning.

The Daily Mail reported that journalists on site received the cancellation notice only 45 minutes before the event was to begin.

French authorities have acknowledged the possibility of a rainy opening ceremony. However, they emphasized that they are well prepared for weather-related situations and expressed confidence.

Am?lie Oud?a-Cast?ra, Minister of Sports, said in an interview with BFM TV, "The team organizing the opening ceremony has devised various scenarios," adding, "The festival will not be ruined."

Estanguet, President of the Paris Olympic Organizing Committee, also told France Inter, "We have prepared for all possibilities including extreme heat and rain," emphasizing, "The opening ceremony is planned to proceed even in rainy conditions."

If more rain than forecast or heavy downpours occur, the flow of the Seine River could accelerate, potentially causing problems with the speed and maneuverability of the boats carrying the delegations. Given that the weather conditions in Paris remain unfavorable leading up to the ceremony, concerns about the event's progress continue.