- French authorities raised the Olympic flag upside down
- The incident did not go unnoticed by bewildered sports fans.
- A similar incident involved Cathy Freeman in 2000.
It was a sense of déjà vu for many sports fans after French officials were left blushing when the Olympic flag was flown upside down at the Opening Ceremony.
Incredibly, a similar scene occurred at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Australian sporting legend Cathy Freeman, who later won gold on the track in the 400 metres at the same venue, was given the honour of lighting the cauldron.
The problem was that the iconic rings were placed backwards around his suit.
Twenty-four years later in Paris, the mistake quickly became a topic of conversation on social media.
“Those who managed to stay awake (during the Opening Ceremony) were able to see the Olympic flag flying upside down,” journalist Dan Wetzel tweeted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“If you’re having a bad day at work, it could be worse. You could be the team that raised the Olympic flag upside down at the opening ceremony,” another Games fan posted.
A third said: “I’m astonished that France would spend millions on a lavish ceremony culminating in the Olympic flag being sent down the Seine on a robotic horse for nearly half an hour – the centrepiece of the event – only to then be raised upside down.”
It was a sense of déjà vu for many sports fans after French officials were left blushing when the Olympic flag was flown upside down at the Opening Ceremony (pictured)
Incredibly, a similar scene occurred at the 2000 Sydney Olympics: Australian track star Cathy Freeman (pictured) was given the honour of lighting the cauldron – the problem was that the iconic rings were positioned upside down around her suit.
The Olympic rings lit up beneath the Eiffel Tower where Céline Dion performed at the opening ceremony
Torrential rain in Paris marred the opening ceremony and many spectators were seen wearing ponchos and holding umbrellas.
While French-Canadian singer Celine Dion’s performance was incredibly emotional, the event was marred by torrential rain that sent spectators, celebrities, politicians and royals around the world hiding under umbrellas.
France’s bold plan to hold the opening event outdoors rather than inside a stadium was criticised by many watching the historic night, with some calling it the “worst Olympic opening ceremony in living memory”.
In what French meteorologists called a meteorological “disaster”, athletes were forced to don plastic ponchos and umbrella shields as they tried to keep their spirits high while being battered by the elements.
Other bizarre elements of the four-hour ceremony included a performance by French “national treasure” Phillippe Katerine, who was seen lying in a boat, naked and painted blue, covered by a tray of fruit.
After her performance, which was marred by sound problems, pop star Lady Gaga told the crowd: “I feel completely grateful to have been asked to open the 2024 Paris Olympics this year.
“I am also honoured that the Olympic Organising Committee has asked me to sing such a special French song: a song to honour the French people and their tremendous history of art, music and theatre.”
Among those in attendance at the opening ceremony were a host of famous faces, including pop princess Arianna Grande, tennis legend Serena Williams and Hollywood royalty Stephen Spielberg.
Rock icon the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, basketball great LeBron James, actress Queen Latifia and rapper Snoop Dogg were also in the crowd.
Tony Estanguet, three-time Olympic medallist and president of Paris 2024, welcomed everyone to the Games, telling the crowd: ‘For the next 16 days, you will be the best version of humanity.
‘You will remind us that the emotions of sport form a universal language that we all share. Until August 11, we will be by your side.
“Your defeats will be our defeats. Your victories will be our victories. Your emotions will be our emotions.”