It is a romantic interlude, a stroll through the national library which features a loving trio, Jules and Jim style, to music by Cassius, among others and which ended with a red heart drawn in the sky by the French patrol. For this new “picture” of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, numerous dancers, but also circus artists perched on stilts, delivered an astonishing and lively show on the theme of Parisian love. Everyone was dressed in colorful creations designed by the young designer Charles de Vilmorin.
At just 27 years old, this French talent, who worked for the house of Rochas, made a place for himself in the world of fashion even though he was barely 22 when he presented his first collection. In 5 years, he was able to impose his unique universe, made of creatures seeming straight out of a fantastic tale, with intense and marked colors. Beyond his fashion shows, which take place during Parisian haute couture week, the young man with a slender silhouette has gotten used to working on various projects. He notably recently decorated Yannick Alléno's ephemeral restaurant, Moët in Paris by Alléno, at Beau Passage, in Paris. And he designed hundreds of costumes, each more marvelous than the last, for this major ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which showcases the talent of French designers. And so is his.
Yes, Céline Dion, Lady Gaga and Aya Nakamura will be there. But hundreds of French athletes will also be the stars of the opening ceremony of the Games. A historic parade on the Seine, a show that is expected to be grandiose, the lighting of the Olympic cauldron... out of the question for them to miss the global event, which will officially launch these Olympic Games at home. “In Rio, we wanted to do it and we missed our first match, in Tokyo we didn't want to go out of superstition and we missed our first match... This time we are in France, and we have the chance to only play July 28, so we're going to go. It’s an incredible opportunity to experience these Games at home. We’re going to enjoy it,” assures volleyball star Earvin Ngapeth.
But taking advantage of this memorable moment, and leaving there with “a boost” says kitesurfer Lauriane Nolot, or with stars in your eyes, cannot be improvised. The French athletes had to take every precaution not to botch their last training sessions and take the risk of spoiling their entry into competition, which they have been preparing for months or even years.
