Paris 2024 Olympics: from the opening ceremony to the start of the competition, these Gard figures who make these Games shine

Une magnifique médaille de bronze pour la Gardoise, la première de ces JO pour l'équipe de France. MAXPPP – MATTHIEU BOTTE

De Michaël Guigou à Shirine Boukli, le début de ces Jeux Olympiques Paris 2024 porte haut les couleurs du Gard.

He appeared, apparently not paying attention to the rain, proudly holding the Olympic flame. One of France's most decorated international players, Michaël Guigou from Nîmes lit up the television screens of millions of viewers by participating in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. And shines the spotlight on the Gard by being among the last relays who passed on the precious flame to Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner.

“I experienced a special moment”

With an emotion that he did not try to contain : “I learned it yesterday morning (Friday), confirmed to our colleagues at RMC the one who will become a consultant on this radio. Tony Estanguet sent me a message. He told me: “We need you tonight.” That was all it took for Michaël Guigou to put on his sneakers: “I had a special moment,” admitted the three-time Olympic champion in 2008, 2012 and 2020.

Shortly before, more than 23 million French people, in front of their television screens, not forgetting those present on site, were able to admire an extraordinary spectacle that brought back many memories for those who had already come across them near the Pont-du-Gard. “We fell head over heels for them”, admitted, on set on France 2, the presenter Daphné Burki, commissioned by the Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be director of “Styling and costumes” opening ceremonies.

The poetry of Gratte Ciel

“Eux” is the Gratte-ciel company, with its artists perched on rods, for a staging of exquisite poetry on the Pont Neuf in Paris.

And how can we not give a nod to DJ Barbara Butch, who set this ceremony alight on her turntables with her superb Madonna costume. We remember her in the Nîmes arenas, very recently, during the party that launched the Contemporaine de Nîmes last April. Also present very recently in the Nîmes amphitheater, the pianist with perfect pitch Sofiane Pamart, who wonderfully played on a burning instrument "Imagine" by John Lenon, accompanying Juliette Armanet.

Finally, after the ceremony, it was time for sport. With intense emotions this Saturday, July 27, since, with great pride, the first medal of the French team was brought back to the tatami, in judo, by a Gardoise, Shirine Boukli. Beaten by the Japanese and future Olympic champion, in the quarter-finals, in -48 kg, the young woman from Aramon was able to remobilize herself to go and win a beautiful bronzed trinket, jumping, in tears, into the arms of her parents at the end of her match won against the Spanish Martinez Abelenda.

A start to the Olympics on the hats of wheels then. And more than promising!