DESPITE ALL THE fabricated hype, the collective global mood entering the Paris Olympics was distinctly dour: two major military conflicts being waged; societal tensions flaring up across Western Europe; summer temperatures soaring; and a majority of Parisians angered by the disruption to their lives. The botched opening ceremony, with its faulty cultural messaging, seemed to follow the doomed script.
Yet as I walked off the air bridge into Charles de Gaulle on my way to attend the Games, I felt a blast of good vibes. The immigration lines in Paris can be torturous, but this time the wait lasted less than a minute. The officer at passport control had a warm smile and waved me through. Not what I was expecting at all.
I was a guest of Omega, which has been the official timekeeper of the Olympics since 1932, and things seemed to be working like clockwork. I boarded a special coach that whisked me to the Mandarin Oriental in the heart of the city in less than 45 minutes, miraculously avoiding the traffic snarls that the City of Light is notorious for. After a quick change at the hotel, I was back on the coach, this time heading to the iconic Stade de France, located in the gritty suburb of Saint Denis. Among our travelling cohort was Abhishek Bachchan, who has had a long-term association with Omega, and is also an unabashed sports nerd-in other words, perfect company for the occasion. We were seated in some of the best spots in the house: trackside and opposite the podium.
Denne historien er fra August - September 2024-utgaven av GQ India.
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Denne historien er fra August - September 2024-utgaven av GQ India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The 30 Best Watches Of 2024
Rounding up the best shapes, materials, complications and sizes from this year's horological novelty treasure chest.
Wes Lang's Heroes of Love...
Last month, LA-based artist Wes Lang unveiled The Black Paintings, a monumental series of works that play like storyboards to a raucous midnight horror movieand a spiritual quest. Here, GQ collaborates with the artist on a fashion story that brings his stylish characters off the canvas.
The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre Dame
In 2019, a fire nearly destroyed the crown jewel of France-and the nation set a breakneck five-year deadline to bring it back from the ashes. This is the story of how an army of artisans turned back centuries to restore Notre-Dame by hand, and wound up reviving something even greater than the cathedral itself.
"IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. IT'S ABOUT BEING REVOLUTIONARY."
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter talks business, legacy, art, and family
The Wedding Singers
Madboy Mink's dynamic duo, Saba Azad and Imaad Shah, redefine festive style.
A Watch Is More Than Just a Pretty Face
As collectors look to make their grail watches stand out, they're turning to unique vintage bracelets and paying thousands on thousands for straps on the secondary market.
The Fluidity of Cartier
Why Gen Z stars are obsessed with this historic maison.
A Princess with Passion
From restoring monuments to reviving hereditary crafts, Bhavnagar's Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil has her sights on the future.
THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ
The Coachella-slaying, multi-language-singing, genre-obliterating members of Ateez are quickly becoming load-bearing stars of our global pop universe.
DEMNA UNMASKED
He's the most influential designer of the past decade. He's also the most controversial. Now the creative director of Balenciaga is exploring a surprising source of inspiration: happiness. GQ's Samuel Hine witnesses the dawn of Demna's new era, in Paris, New York, and Shanghai. Photographs by Jason Nocito.
