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Hemingway once said, "Paris is a movable feast." The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics has once again set this feast in motion under the gaze of people around the world.

This is the first time that the opening ceremony has been held outside a stadium in the history of the Summer Olympics. Described as an ‘extraordinary venue,’ it stretches along 6 kilometers of the Seine River bank, completely open-air. The ceremony integrates iconic city landmarks and bridges in a linear arrangement, creating a ‘Olympic Riverside Scene’ that combines Olympic grandeur with everyday life in Paris.” 

As parkour athletes weave between museums and ancient buildings, it feels like stepping into the game world of “Assassin’s Creed: Unity.” When dancers perform at the Orléans dock, it’s reminiscent of scenes from “Moulin Rouge.” And when the Louvre hosts a “Night at the Museum” spectacle, it’s truly awe-inspiring—a departure from the ordinary.

Just as the artistic director of the Olympic opening ceremony, Thomas Joly, said, 'When I have the most beautiful backdrop in the world, why would I build one?'"

Paris did not construct many new venues for the Olympic Games; instead, the Paris Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (POCOG) turned its attention to existing sites and facilities. Some tourist attractions and historical buildings took on the task of hosting part of the competitions. In addition to the athletes' parade on the Seine River, the Grand Palais will host fencing and taekwondo events; the Paris City Hall will become the venue for track and field events; the Les Invalides and the Palace of Versailles will respectively host archery and equestrian events...

Many events will also be held along the city's central axis, such as beach volleyball under the Eiffel Tower and 3x3 basketball at the Place de la Concorde. Even the award ceremonies for many competitions will be held at the Place du Trocadéro, under the Eiffel Tower. Some temporary venues can be dismantled, and the occupied public spaces will be returned to the citizens after the events。

Many people maintain when the entire city becomes the setting for hosting the events, it will bring about a new round of "improvement" for this ancient city, Paris.

In fact, the street scenes presented during the opening ceremony remind everyone one of the great transformation of Paris in the 19th century. At that time, Paris also welcomed an international event, namely the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1855, and just before that, Baron Haussmann, who was appointed as the Mayor of Paris, led a subversive reconstruction of Paris.

Visitors were all captivated by the rejuvenated Paris. Paris even constructed the Grand Palais specifically for the Exposition Universelle, which immediately became a globally recognized large-scale "landmark" upon its unveiling.

"The newly constructed avenues and landmarks of Paris made a profound impression on Queen Victoria during her nine-day stay. She declared, 'This trip will remain unforgettable.'"

After a divisive election, this summer's Games will fire the starting gun on a vast project to transform the French capital.

According to reports in the Financial Times, a project called "Grand Paris" is underway, which for the first time closely integrates Paris with its suburbs. It is currently in the initial implementation phase, and the Olympic Games' renovation is the beginning of this project, including several suburban metro station projects that will be opened during the Olympics. According to its predictions, "Grand Paris" may bring about a greater urban transformation than the Haussmann era in the coming years.