Paris 2024 - Opening Ceremony: Smashing Success or Crushing Failure?

As leaders, what lessons can we draw from the management of the opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympic Games?

👏 First of all, kudos to the organising teams for the creativity deployed in designing the ceremony. It was clearly off the beaten track (stadium). Of course, when you take risks, you're not immune to technical glitches, but you can't make omelets without breaking eggs.

👏 Congratulations as well for the aesthetics of the whole, sublimating a magnificent natural setting.

👎But unfortunately, in my opinion, it was a failure in terms of communication and message. The event is supposed to be universal and defend Olympic values, including respect. This was far from the case.

😇 Among the billions of spectators, there are many religious beliefs and lifestyles. In many countries, the public display of intimate acts such as kissing, for example, is considered indecent. Blasphemy is also intolerable for many believers. And yet, what have we witnessed?

🥳 A show that mixed Olympic elements - very good - with aspects of French culture sometimes bordering on Emily in Paris type of cliché - why not - but also a parade combining gay pride, wokeism and blasphemy. I'm not judging these choices as such, but the mismatch between audience, moment and message.

🤮 You only have to look at the outpouring of criticism in the foreign press and on YouTube to realise the extent of the mismatch. And the words are not kind. Why impose a kiss between men, drag queens and bearded women, a child partying with all this fabulous company, to a multiple audience that absolutely does not share this model of values.

👉 Once again, my aim is not to judge this or that lifestyle. I'm not criticising the substance. But the context. This show wasn't meant to be foisted on billions of viewers and their children, and those responsible for the event failed to exercise discernment. It could be argued that the show was about inclusion. But is excluding majorities the best way to promote inclusion?

🗣️ In leadership, we learn a basic rule of communication. Before you communicate, you need to ask yourself two questions:

1- Who is my audience?

2- What reaction do I want to trigger? 

Clearly, these questions haven't been asked. Or we've deliberately chosen to ignore the answers.

Food for thought for all of us.