JO Paris 2024 – This is one of the most significant moments of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. On July 26, at the very end of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, Céline Dion appeared by surprise on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, just under the Olympic rings, to perform theHymn to love by Edith Piaf. A moment full of emotions when the Quebec diva had not sung in public for four years, and whose behind the scenes are transcribed in a documentary, The Great Seine, available on the website of the IOC, the governing body of the Games.
Celine Dion suffers from “stiff man syndrome”, a very rare neurological disease
In an extract from this making-of of the opening ceremony, which follows the preparations for the show designed by Thomas Jolly, Céline Dion arrives at the Trocadéro for a final rehearsal, just before the big day. “We didn’t know until the end if she could, either”reveals the director in the film. The singer is in fact suffering from a rare neurological disease, stiff man syndrome, which causes painful muscle spasms that even prevent affected people from walking. This illness forced Celine Dion to cancel part of her world tour, not being able to travel and sing as she wanted.
2:30 a.m., Celine Dion begins her rehearsal, in the greatest secrecy. “She is luminous, what a gift for the whole world”marvels Thomas Jolly. Listening to the words ofHymn to love performed by the Canadian star, and tears from Celine Dion herself, the entire team is overcome with emotion. The tears of the man who imagined the four opening and closing ceremonies of the Games were not long in coming.
Coming off stage, Céline Dion then joins Thomas Jolly. “There is no entourage at all anymore, it’s really human to human, and Céline Dion is particularly magnetic” recalls the director in voice-over. “It is an honor for all of us to be here (…) while the sky bears us”reacts the singer in the extract, before singing the song alongside Thomas Jolly in a lovely moment of sharing.
Dive into the heart of Games
Directed by Frenchman Manuel Herrero, the documentary The Great Seine takes us to the heart of the preparation for this unique ceremony along the Seine, and the management of D-Day by Thomas Jolly's teams, during 90 minutes of unpublished extracts.
If you are nostalgic for the Games, an exhibition is also starting this Saturday, December 21 at Paris City Hall, entitled Happy days. Enough to relive (a little) the atmosphere of this summer 2024 by discovering in particular the Dior dress worn by Céline Dion on the evening of the opening ceremony. Entrance is free but by reservation, and it will be possible to see Phryges, the real stars of these Games, and even to take a photo alone or with loved ones on an Olympic podium, like the champions of Paris 2024.
For the most music lovers, the different compositions of Victor Le Masne for the opening ceremony were put online on the platforms on Wednesday December 18 in an album which brings together 18 tracks. Other flagship Games titles have already been present for several weeks on the platforms, such as Nightcalltaken up by Angèle and Phoenix with Kavinsky and of course the famous Hymn to love.
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Aya Nakamura was supposed to sing Édith Piaf, but not for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games
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