"How can anyone hoist a flag upside down"; "Total disaster"- Fans express disappointment in the organization of Paris Olympics opening ceremony

The Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony held at the River Seine has come under the radar of some fans due to some disarray during the inaugural festivities on Friday.

The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, or the Paris Olympics 2024, started with an extravagant opening ceremony along the River Seine on Friday. The ceremony was filled with a blend of live and recorded performances to highlight the culture of Paris, one part of which was the glittering Eiffel Tower adorned with the Olympic rings.

However, amid the spectacular celebrations, the rain came as a downer. Some spectators left the riverside slowly to seek shelter and avoid getting drenched.

Later on in the celebrations, the Olympic flag was mistakenly hoisted upside down, making it a potentially embarrassing moment for the organizing committee. A video of the flag being raised incorrectly was shared by Aaron Rankin, the former Conservative parliamentary candidate and Northern Ireland Conservative Executive, on his X handle (formerly Twitter), who shared his take on the arrangements, writing:

"The big spectacle was washed out by the weather, the display was cringe & to top it all off the Olympic flag was hoisted upside down at the zenith of it all. This event is like a microcosm of modern France, an utter shambles."

Some fans shared their opinions on the Opening Ceremony in the replies to Rankin's tweet. A fan expressed surprise at the error and wrote:

"How can anyone hoist a flag upside down?"

Another fan conveyed their dissatisfaction with the execution of the opening ceremony, commenting:

"Total disaster WTH is happening over there???"

Here are some more reactions from fans:

"All the years to prep and this happens Sochi you’re relieved of your debacle." A fan tweeted

"It was indeed pathetic! Waiting for a glorious opening event only to be upended by a feeling of intense nausea!" A fan wrote

"They had one thing to do" Another fan wrote

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Celine Dion makes her musical comeback at the Paris Olympics

Celine Dion pictured here at the 2024 NHL Draft [Getty]

Celine Dion performed at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, marking her return after a hiatus of two years due to Stiff Person Syndrome. All the rumors of her comeback and sighting at the Le Royal Monceau hotel came true when she appeared on the River Seine to conclude the ceremony.

Dion performed French musical icon Edith Piaf's “L’Hymne à l’amour” to conclude the inaugural event in a melodious fashion. Notably, this was her first performance since being diagnosed with the neurological condition in 2022. Apart from Dion, Lady Gaga was another artist who welcomed athletes and audiences to the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, singing 'Mon truc en plume.'