Twitter users see the funny side of bizarre Olympics opening ceremony (2024)

Baffled Twitter users have managed to see the funny side of the bizarre and lengthy Paris Olympics opening ceremony, taking to the platform to mock the performance.

Hundreds of memes are poking fun at the smurfs, 'woke' performances and torrential rain which led to the crowd being clad in plastic ponchos.

With critics branding the four-hour show as the 'worst ever', its only expected that the opening ceremony in Paris was subject to brutal social media commentary.

Sharing a photo of the very stern-looking British Prime Minister, one X user wrote: 'You know what he is thinking - this Opening Ceremony is very much a meeting that could have been an email.'

One X user joked that the 'first two hours of the mechanical horse were the best'

Sharing a photo of the very stern-looking British Prime Minister , one X user wrote: 'You know what he is thinking - this Opening Ceremony is very much a meeting that could have been an email'

There are hundreds of memes are poking fun at the smurfs and 'woke' performances

With critics branding the four-hour show as the 'worst ever', its only expected that the opening ceremony in Paris was subject to brutal social media commentary

The opening ceremony in Paris was subject to brutal social media commentary

Many people shared footage of London's 2012 ceremony in comparison - where Rowan Atkinson performed one note on a keyboard in character as the iconic Mr Bean.

Social media users reminisced about the 'unforgettable' performance which left millions in stitches. This was pointed to as the gold-standard instead of the 'woke' yet 'boring' ceremony last night.

One X user joked that the 'first two hours of the mechanical horse were the best'.

A knight wearing the Olympic flag sat on top of a mechanical silver horse as it made its way down the River Seine.

It headed towards the Eiffel Tower - where all the athletes were gathered.

The elaborate scene had a jockey meant to represent Sequana - the goddess of the Seine in the Gallo-Roman religion - carrying the flag.

Athletes covered in plastic ponchos attempted to keep spirits high as they travelled down the river Seine in a huge flotilla of 85 boats but this was quickly torn apart by savage social media

One person wrote 'Catherine Deneuve should light the torch with a cigarette'

Many people shared footage of London 's 2012 ceremony in comparison - where Rowan Atkinson performed one note on a keyboard in character as the iconic Mr Bean

The Olympic flag had been raised at the Trocadero - upside down. This alone was something social media users pounced on, barely able to contain their mirth.

'Those who managed to stay awake [during the Opening Ceremony] were treated to the Olympic flag being flown upside down,' journalist Dan Wetzel tweeted on X.

'If you are having a bad day at work, it could be worse. You could be the flag team that hoisted the Olympic Flag upside down at the Opening Ceremony,' posted another Games fan.

Posting about the NBC commentary of the bizarre event, one person said: 'the tony is very 'the American mind can't comprehend this'.

One user posted a scene from the London 2012 event captioned: '12 years later and ten minutes in and this Opening Ceremony is clearly coming nowhere near to London.'

While many in the viewing stands chose to wear a poncho, Sir Keir was pictured amid the sea of plastic coverings determinedly refusing to wear such a garment

Joking about the absence of famous cartoon character in Ratatouille, one X user posted: 'Can't believe the French haven't paid homage to their greatest chef in the opening ceremony'

Others slammed the performance as 'millennial'

One user posted a scene from the London 2012 event captioned: '12 years later and ten minutes in and this Opening Ceremony is clearly coming nowhere near to London'

Even Irish singing due Jedward got in on the mockery and memes

The performers were forced to play in the horrible weather, with one posting 'save the piano'

6,800 athletes covered in plastic ponchos attempted to keep spirits high as they travelled down the river Seine in a huge flotilla of 85 boats.

But this was quickly torn apart by savage social media memes, posting an image of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at a podium reading 'Stop the Boats'.

Joking about the absence of famous cartoon character in Ratatouille, one X user posted: 'Can't believe the French haven't paid homage to their greatest chef in the opening ceremony. Nothing about Remy, they've erased him from their history.'

Sharing a photo of UK PM Sir Keir Starmer in the stands, a person wrote: 'Our Prime Minister bringing his own cagoule to the Olympic opening ceremony so he doesn't have to wear a silly poncho makes me proud to be British. We know how to do rain.'

While many in the viewing stands chose to wear a poncho, Sir Keir was pictured amid the sea of plastic coverings determinedly refusing to wear such a garment.

But as the rain increased, he opted to put the hood of his raincoat up instead.

Twitter users see the funny side of bizarre Olympics opening ceremony (2024)

FAQs

How many people watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics? ›

The 28.6 million is a huge jump over the 17 million who watched the kickoff of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed a year by the pandemic and took place mostly without spectators. Paris' opening numbers also bettered the 2016 Rio ceremony by 8%, Deadline noted.

How would you describe the opening ceremony of the modern Olympic Games? ›

In accordance with current Olympic protocol, the opening ceremony typically begins with the entrance of the host nation's head of state or other representative, and the president of the International Olympic Committee followed by the raising of the host nation's flag and the performance of its national anthem.

Where is the opening ceremony in Paris? ›

Friday July 26, 2024 from 19:30 p.m. to 23 p.m., the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be held. This event will take place on the Seine between the Pont d'Austerlitz and the Pont d'Iéna.

What do they say to open the Olympics? ›

Then the IOC President gives a speech and invites the HOS to proclaim the Games open. The HOS proclaims the Olympic Winter Games open without any further speech by saying: “I declare open the Games of ... (name of the host) celebrating the … (number) Olympic Winter Games.”.

How many people watched the Olympics 2024 opening? ›

Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Draws More Than 28.6 Million US Viewers. Teddy Riner, French Judo champion, holds a torch near the Olympic Cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26.

What was up with the Olympics opening ceremony? ›

Comprised of drag queens, a transgender model and a singer made up as the Greek god of wine, it provoked outrage among Catholics, Christians and Muslims around the world.

What is the point of the opening ceremonies? ›

They showcase international Olympic ideals and also communicate things about the host country's identity and culture. However, it took decades for Olympic opening ceremonies to reach this scale.

What does "Olympic" stand for? ›

The Olympic symbol (the Olympic rings) expresses the activity of the Olympic Movement and represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.

Who created the Olympic opening ceremony in 2024? ›

The event was broadcast to 80 giant screens along the route of the Seine. Organised by theatre actor and director Thomas Jolly, it was the first opening ceremony held outside of an Olympic stadium since the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires. The choreography was created by Maud Le Pladec.

What are people saying about the Olympic opening ceremony? ›

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics has drawn significant backlash for its depiction of Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper" with a "drag queen" performance, which many view as disrespectful to religious beliefs.

How much did the Olympic opening ceremony cost? ›

It wasn't just the rain that dampened proceedings, but the perplexing artistic choices made by the organisers, and the lacklustre performances of so many of the people involved. The French media said it cost around $130m, some four times the cost of London's critically acclaimed 2012 offering.

Who lit the Olympic Flame in 2024? ›

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Torch bearers French Athlete Marie-Jose Perec and French Judoka Teddy Riner light the Olympic Cauldron at the Gardens of the Tuileries during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France.

Did France apologize for the opening ceremony? ›

Paris Olympics organizers apologized to anyone who was offended by a tableau that evoked Leonardo da Vinci's “The Last Supper” during the glamorous opening ceremony, but defended the concept behind it Sunday.

Did France apologize for The Last Supper? ›

Paris Olympics organizers have apologized for a scene in the opening ceremony that depicted a modern version of Leonardo Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'.

What was controversial about the opening ceremony? ›

During a tableau, drag queens and dancers lined a long table in an image that sparked controversy, some initially believed resembled Leonardo da Vinci's “The Last Supper” portrait of Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles.

How many people watched the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony? ›

The Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games ceremony had 26.5 million viewers, while 40.7 million watched the London 2012 Olympics opener.

How many viewers watch the Olympics? ›

The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics drew nearly 29 million viewers Friday night, the highest viewership since the 2012 Games. Why it matters: Ratings for the Olympics were depressed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was unclear whether they would ever rebound.

What is the largest TV audience for an Olympic Games? ›

The 2008 Beijing Olympics in China drew the largest television audience in the history of the Olympic Games, with 4.7 billion people across the globe tuning in to the spectacle between 8 and 24 August.

How are the ratings for the 2024 Olympics? ›

For more of our coverage from the games head to our latest updates. If you're finding yourself drawn into watching the Paris Summer Olympics, you're far from alone: An average of 34.5 million viewers tuned in over the first three days, according to preliminary TV and streaming numbers shared by NBC.

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