![French panache dampened.by rain and ambitious route](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1722052284/articles/WfFVvk9om1722068627914/FRENCH-PANACHE-DAMPENEDBY-RAIN-AND-AMBITIOUS-ROUTE.jpg)
Spectators scattered along the Seine, rather than packed into the Stade de France, meant a frustrating viewing experience too.
And as Paris 2024 meandered through 12 tableaux of this floating parade, president Emmanuel Macron's words proved rather prescient.
Clearly craving an idyllic sunset and starlit sky in the City of Light alongside its River Seine backdrop, Paris left many wondering why it swerved from the conventional format.
"It seemed to be a crazy and not very serious idea," Mr Macron remarked on Monday. "But we decided it was the right moment to deliver this crazy idea and make it real."
He may privately concede it was a stupid idea after a relentless spell of rain tested the viewer's enthusiasm for its cultural adventure.
Those braving the elements cheered as Zinedine Zidane grabbed the Olympic torch inside the Stade de France before dashing across the streets of Paris to catch the metro. The short film included a power outage underground with the legendary footballer passing on the torch to a group of kids to plot their way through the pitch-black catacombs and the city's famous underworld.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 27, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 27, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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Draper hit by sickness in semi-final defeat to Sinner
Jack Draper was sick on court four times as his US Open dream ended in semi-final heartbreak following a straight-sets defeat to Jannik Sinner. The British number one was enjoying an incredible run in New York and had big hopes of emulating Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu by winning the title.
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San Marino's competitive.cherry popped by a toe poke
It goes some way to illustrating the pain and patience that fans of San Marino have had to endure that their winning goalscorer on Thursday night wasn’t even born the last time the landlocked nation tasted international success.
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Carsley's gamble leads to an audition with a difference
One of the game's brightest coaches has the chance to show he's more than a 'safe pair of hands', writes Miguel Delaney
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Warring neighbours have became eternally entwined
England meet the Republic of Ireland today, reigniting a rivalry that has shades of grey between the white and green
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Boeing Starliner heads back to Earth without its crew
Boeing's troubled Starliner space craft undocked from the International Space Station yesterday - without its crew - and began a high-risk return to Earth. The Starliner undocked shortly after 2300 GMT and is scheduled to touch down six hours later in White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico.
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Rape and death threats for Afghan taekwondo star
Online abuse of Marzieh Hamidi for criticising the Taliban hit new levels after she denounced her country's cricket team
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Super Typhoon Yagi makes landfall in 'China's Hawaii'
Super Typhoon Yagi landed in China’s Hainan yesterday, bringing violent gales and heavy rain that triggered widespread power outages, paralysing the tourist island province known as “China’s Hawaii”.
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'I did it': suspect admits to Georgia school shooting
The suspect accused of killing four people in a mass school shooting in the US, allegedly told investigators \"I did it\" while being questioned. Colt Gray, 14, who has been charged with four felony counts of murder, made the admission while being read his Miranda rights, Barrow County sheriff, Jud Smith, told CNN.
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Inside a city under fire as Russia advances in Donetsk
Residents of Kostyantynivka, perilously close to the front line, tell of the relentless shelling they are facing as Putin's merciless forces tighten their grip on the Ukrainian region
![England head coach will not sing national anthem today](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1824577/qlB3idcvI1725688557409/ENGLAND-HEAD-COACH-WILL-NOT-SING-NATIONAL-ANTHEM-TODAY.jpg)
England head coach will not sing national anthem today
England manager and former Ireland player Lee Carsley says won't sing either anthem for today's match in Dublin, because that's always been his stance throughout his career.