I’m an opening ceremonies fan. My connection to the Olympics goes back to the 80’s. I worked in the offices of Bud Greenspan, the great sports film documentarian.
I was there when we worked on the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games (look up the film…it’s a brilliant account of those two weeks). I arranged plane travel. Transcribed athlete interviews. Was in the office when some of the greats of those games came by to check out some of their footage. Those opening ceremonies were pretty darn spectacular.
Jump to Paris 2024. A spectacular city that I had the good fortune to
visit twice. It’s like no other. The Paris Olympic Opening ceremonies reflected the French esthetic. All the boats on the Seine transporting those amazing thoroughbreds who dedicate their lives to sport and competition. All the nations coming together. How can one not be Inspired? Lady Gaga…the Can Can…a fashion show…and no I did not remotely feel the Last Supper was denigrated. NAY SAYERS CHILL OUT FOR GOSH SAKES
And then after 4 hours we heard the voice. Celine. There she was on the Eiffel Tower. The dress (Dior, of course). That song (look up the translation…just beautiful). The laser display. All of it collided to make one spectacular and historic Olympic moment. I keep rewatching it. Hard not to. Different clips of her performance are all over the internet. That moment made me forget all that is going on in the world. That moment united us.
She triumphed. With her health issues and not having performed in 4 years…who knew how it might have gone? Would she be physically up to the task? Would she vocally be up to it? And live…anything can happen (Faye and Warren announcing the wrong best picture winner…I’m just saying)
And then the miracle. She opened her throat. I guess no one knew it was her until her name came across the screen. Then we heard the cheers. Not sure how many times perfection is reached. Or how many times we get to witness it. I witnessed it then. I was in awe and holding my breath.
My husband and I talk about how the world seems off it’s axis. All of the political turmoil. Trash talking. Mud slinging. But for those brief few minutes Ms. Dion gave the world a well needed chiropractic adjustment and put it back in alignment. She was Olympian. She touched the wall first. She jumped higher. She swam faster. She made the three point shot. And she made me feel something other than anger and despair. She reminded me of the power of the human spirit.
Rough for those athletes and spectators who had to weather the weather. But they were at the Olympics. Joyous to be there. But even the rain made Ms. Dion’s triumph more dramatic. SHE WASN’T DETERRED. She carried on. She was Joan of Arc (her armor was a beaded couture gown). She moved molecules. I think the weather gods said, “if anyone can overcome this Parisian rain it’s you Cherie’.”
When I saw it was her I was wary, for just a brief moment, that her voice might not be what what it once was. But that fear disappeared oh so quickly. Her voice soared high and loud over the city of Paris. I FELT PURE, UNADULTERATED ELATION AND JOY AT HOW SPECTACULAR HER PERFORMANCE WAS.
I thank her for helping me remember what perseverance, dedication, bravery, and the simple joy of watching someone who knows how to do what they do and meet the moment and DO IT. That’s Olympic. And watching it happen was my honor. In the city of lights the one that shown the brightest that night was Celine Dion.
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