Charalambos Stylianou
Limassol brought the excitement of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to its shores with an outdoor broadcast of the Opening Ceremony at Molos Park on July 26. This special event, organized by the French Embassy and the French Institute of Cyprus, attracted a diverse crowd of locals and visitors eager to experience the global celebration.
The evening began at 7:45 p.m. with music and speeches, setting the stage for the live broadcast at 8:30 p.m. Sponsored by TotalEnergies, the Limassol event brought the Paris Olympics spectacle to Cyprus.
"Events like these strengthen the ties between our nations," says Limassol Mayor
The Knews team enjoyed the show and interviewed Mayor Armeftis and Ambassador Grenet-Catalano. French Ambassador Salina Grenet-Catalano praised the collaboration, saying, "We have a very strong partner here in Limassol, the Alliance Francaise" and expressed hopes for more open-air events in the future.
Watch the video and listen to the interviews below:
Limassol Mayor Yiannis Armeftis highlighted the city's readiness to host international events, noting, "Events like these strengthen the ties between our nations."
The broadcast provided a memorable night of community and global unity, showcasing Limassol’s vibrant spirit and its connection to worldwide celebrations. Highlights from the Paris ceremony included Beyoncé introducing Team USA in a custom outfit. Lady Gaga opened the event with a dazzling performance celebrating French cabaret, designed by Dior.
Celine Dion also captivated audiences with a moving performance, despite controversy over a scene inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s "The Last Supper." Featuring drag queens, a transgender model, and a singer dressed as Dionysus, the performance aimed to highlight the absurdity of violence but faced backlash from Christian groups and conservative politicians, prompting an apology from the organisers.
The event in Limassol not only brought the Paris Olympics to Cyprus but also demonstrated the city’s role in global celebrations and community spirit.
