The Eiffel Tower, adorned with giant interlocking rings, serves as a constant reminder of the Paris Olympics, a monumental event happening in the City of Lights. However, despite the iconic symbol and the city’s efforts, there’s a surprising lack of buzz surrounding the Games. The Venus de Milo, a symbol of classical beauty, now brandishes boxing gloves, a surfboard, and a tennis racquet in front of the Assemblée Nationale, a testament to the sporting spirit of the Games.
The Seine, once plagued by E. coli contamination, has been declared clean enough for Olympic swimmers, further emphasizing the city’s commitment to hosting the Games. There’s no shortage of impressive venues, with archers competing in front of the Esplanade des Invalides, a historic monument, and hockey players practicing at the Yves-de-Manoir stadium, a site of the 1924 Games. Even the weather has been playing along, offering pleasant temperatures and easing concerns of a heatwave. However, despite the meticulous preparations and the city’s best efforts, the overall atmosphere surrounding the Olympics doesn’t quite match the magnitude of the event.
The city is heavily guarded, with 45,000 military personnel stationed throughout, yet there’s a noticeable absence of excitement among the Parisians. This indifference is reflected in recent polls, with nearly 40% of French people expressing indifference towards the Olympics and 37% holding a negative view. While the Opening Ceremony will be held across the Seine, a first for the Olympics, the event will be ticketed and restricted due to security concerns. Even at Charles de Gaulle Airport, the usual Olympic fervor is missing, with only a few themed advertisements and announcements hinting at the Games.
Volunteers at the airport have created handmade posters of the official mascot Phryge, a testament to their dedication but also revealing a sense of anticipation rather than overwhelming excitement. There are even hints of unfinished preparations at some venues, with frantic efforts to complete work before the events begin. Some athletes, like Ashutosh Yadav, a physio with the Indian archery team, have noticed the lack of buzz compared to the Rio Olympics, where the excitement was palpable. However, seasoned athletes like PR Sreejesh, the goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team, advise their teammates to focus on their performance and not get distracted by the surrounding atmosphere.
Despite the less-than-expected enthusiasm from the public, the athletes remain focused on their goals. Sreejesh, participating in his final Olympics, emphasizes the importance of the Games, reminding his younger teammates that their primary objective is to win medals. While the lack of buzz may be disheartening, the athletes remain committed to performing at their best, recognizing the significance of the Olympics as a global sporting festival.
