Opinion | Legacy of Paris Games will live on far beyond 2024

As fireworks went off and breakdancers were spinning on the stage of the Stade de France, Paris 2024 concluded last Sunday after seven weeks filled with marvel witnessed by the world. However, their legacy will live on.

The Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 26 reinvented the genre. For the first time, it was organised outside a stadium, enabling the creation of iconic moments.

We will never forget the knight on a robotic horse crossing the Seine River, the flying torch-bearer with reference to video games for which France excels, the incorporation of heavy metal and electronic music into theatrical performances highlighting the modern history of France, the festive fashion show emphasising the values of tolerance and diversity and Celine Dion singing L’Hymne à l’Amour on the Eiffel Tower.

As for the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games with a parade on the Champs-Elysées on August 28, the involvement of performers with disabilities created a unique show with a strong message in favour of inclusiveness.

Sports competitions were brought to heritage sites where they have never been before, from equestrian riding at the Palace of Versailles to Cycling BMX Freestyle and skateboarding at the Place de la Concorde. They embodied the motto “Games Wide Open”, showcasing France not just in Paris but also in Marseille where windsurfers and sailors from Hong Kong experienced the sunlight and waves, in Lille for thrilling basketball competitions and surfing on the waves of Tahiti.

The stage was set for breathtaking performances. I would like to congratulate all Hong Kong athletes who participated in the Games, with fencers Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong bringing home two gold medals from the Grand Palais.