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Paris Olympics opening ceremony praised on social media for highlighting female heroes

  • The ceremony was split into 12 phases, or ‘tableaux’, with an overarching theme conveyed with each performance

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The ceremony was split into 12 phases, or “tableaux”, with an overarching theme conveyed with each performance. Photo: Reuters

A section of the Olympics opening ceremony, featuring 10 illustrious women from French history, garnered a fervent reaction on Chinese social media.

The ceremony was split into 12 phases, or “tableaux”, with an overarching theme conveyed with each performance, such as synchronicity, liberty and equality, and fraternity.

“#Paris Olympics, Feminism” was a trending topic which headlined the Chinese social media platform Weibo on Saturday, where “Sisterhood” – the sixth of the 12 tableaux during the ceremony – received high praise.

During this tableau, 10 statues of illustrious Frenchwomen, emerged from the Seine as The Marseillaise, the French national anthem, was delivered by French mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel.

The figures included writer and feminist activist Simone de Beauvoir, pioneering sportswoman Alice Milliat, who championed the inclusion of more women’s events in the Olympic Games, and Simone Veil, who advanced the legalisation of abortion in France and several others.

French singer Axelle Saint-Cirel performs the “Marseillaise” on the roof of the Grand Palais during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games. Photo: AFP
French singer Axelle Saint-Cirel performs the “Marseillaise” on the roof of the Grand Palais during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

“The greatest part of the opening ceremony … The feminism on display really gave me goosebumps …” one Weibo user wrote.

Sylvia Ma
Sylvia Ma joined the Post in 2023 and covers China economy. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Hong Kong and a bachelor’s degree in English from Fudan University.
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