![Tourists take a picture with the Olympic rings displayed on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower on June 28. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3DCJQBQZIXLWZBHT6C6RSAYPUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=58955fded168fe86b4b8ae62d95e74b2179def390c63831fe9dfdef31311028c&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors take photos next to the Olympic and Paralympic rings near Plaza de la Bastilla before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 15. All Photos unless credited: Getty Images](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JWQXP2P2ES5UBUBQNMX2I5BHYY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a50c5808f154d13df4ecf41edb22666efdc7522ef760117ae4a0d0186cb8460&width=400&height=225)
![Workers prepare the venue of the Olympic Aquatics Centre ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 16](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5AZAEPD3V7E3EUMKD2ASI7B7LU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f9c1446d088ec1b12ff5ccaf5468a105f33785d527835e8ec06c5dcf9e43ef5c&width=400&height=225)
![The Stade de France will host rugby and athletics in Saint-Denis](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BYT3KYMIRZ33RLGU53TJFJXZOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d5ce3f060fcf61feacea27c8921379a1a53604a0ee55b4a9d7c15cf40ce62724&width=400&height=225)
![Tourists shop at the the Bouquinistes, booksellers of used and antiquarian books and rare vintage postcards on July 14](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WZG33PZIYTKOLGGHGL4QSNRLVQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=19259d7d41fe20ed354e85d7c80735db07527f3bd8afb3df6f3c18afd067faf3&width=400&height=225)
![Police stand on the Champs-Elysees before the Paris Olympic Games on July 13](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JBYSOJJFSGUBCXU6L7LDOSNO5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=de5a36afa32acb246ae974e4fb17e622a49eb61103037bf25f909503a5ef6a74&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors shop in the Paris 2024 megastore on the Champs-Elysees before the Olympic Games on July 13](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63QE7QGPZQ7BIAHCGSPVA7XAHI.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab3b96e33dcf625c65343f6ca51420cb6380263438631e82f520d737bba5b1d1&width=400&height=225)
![An industrial climber works on the facade of the Stade de France before the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games begin, on July 13. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZGK57YBVDBGHLS5ABUSQ4X627E.jpg?smart=true&auth=b128aa764fff4a743a610b54cf74063f410c53a70580e225eeb82997d899484d&width=400&height=225)
![Olympic rings are displayed in front of Bercy Arena. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULEIZYW66XTYTBSYL52Z4G67JU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3c35aadfee2b9491d21e6ea084b99ef50f348cda3ec5f8a5df7ee864bcdc3c7&width=400&height=225)
![A general view of Champ de Mars, under construction for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/COWTXR5PCYX2EYIQ6FCWJNH5UU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c218d06f566d15fe8fa94ab98f089d6ba1c228e4215fd8f6abb4ce872249a098&width=400&height=225)
![Tourists take a picture with the Olympic rings displayed on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower on June 28. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3DCJQBQZIXLWZBHT6C6RSAYPUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=58955fded168fe86b4b8ae62d95e74b2179def390c63831fe9dfdef31311028c&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors take photos next to the Olympic and Paralympic rings near Plaza de la Bastilla before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 15. All Photos unless credited: Getty Images](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JWQXP2P2ES5UBUBQNMX2I5BHYY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9a50c5808f154d13df4ecf41edb22666efdc7522ef760117ae4a0d0186cb8460&width=400&height=225)
![Workers prepare the venue of the Olympic Aquatics Centre ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 16](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5AZAEPD3V7E3EUMKD2ASI7B7LU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f9c1446d088ec1b12ff5ccaf5468a105f33785d527835e8ec06c5dcf9e43ef5c&width=400&height=225)
![The Stade de France will host rugby and athletics in Saint-Denis](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BYT3KYMIRZ33RLGU53TJFJXZOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=d5ce3f060fcf61feacea27c8921379a1a53604a0ee55b4a9d7c15cf40ce62724&width=400&height=225)
![Tourists shop at the the Bouquinistes, booksellers of used and antiquarian books and rare vintage postcards on July 14](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WZG33PZIYTKOLGGHGL4QSNRLVQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=19259d7d41fe20ed354e85d7c80735db07527f3bd8afb3df6f3c18afd067faf3&width=400&height=225)
![Police stand on the Champs-Elysees before the Paris Olympic Games on July 13](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JBYSOJJFSGUBCXU6L7LDOSNO5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=de5a36afa32acb246ae974e4fb17e622a49eb61103037bf25f909503a5ef6a74&width=400&height=225)
![Visitors shop in the Paris 2024 megastore on the Champs-Elysees before the Olympic Games on July 13](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63QE7QGPZQ7BIAHCGSPVA7XAHI.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab3b96e33dcf625c65343f6ca51420cb6380263438631e82f520d737bba5b1d1&width=400&height=225)
![An industrial climber works on the facade of the Stade de France before the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games begin, on July 13. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZGK57YBVDBGHLS5ABUSQ4X627E.jpg?smart=true&auth=b128aa764fff4a743a610b54cf74063f410c53a70580e225eeb82997d899484d&width=400&height=225)
![Olympic rings are displayed in front of Bercy Arena. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULEIZYW66XTYTBSYL52Z4G67JU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3c35aadfee2b9491d21e6ea084b99ef50f348cda3ec5f8a5df7ee864bcdc3c7&width=400&height=225)
![A general view of Champ de Mars, under construction for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/COWTXR5PCYX2EYIQ6FCWJNH5UU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c218d06f566d15fe8fa94ab98f089d6ba1c228e4215fd8f6abb4ce872249a098&width=400&height=225)
![Tourists take a picture with the Olympic rings displayed on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower on June 28. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3DCJQBQZIXLWZBHT6C6RSAYPUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=58955fded168fe86b4b8ae62d95e74b2179def390c63831fe9dfdef31311028c&width=400&height=225)
Paris Olympics opening ceremony to celebrate immigration by mocking cliched France
Organisers want to push positive image of multiculturalism at Friday's extravaganza on Seine
![Sunniva Rose](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fd93fbde0-cf2f-4d2e-acc7-b14e52792d7e.png?smart=true&auth=57edc0da25baac19cd43f67c9290ec8b1bbaefeb3d446f19573f3fc84057b92e&width=70&height=70)
Sunniva Rose
July 22, 2024
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic
July 22, 2024