WITH the extravagant Olympics opening ceremony taking place in Paris, France, today (July 26) a Thai contingent of 25 athletes accompanied by six supporting staff are gearing up to join a procession of barges taking nearly 7,000 athletes along the Seine river passing Paris’s most famous landmarks, Naewna newspaper and Reuters, published by CNA, said.
With the Games officially kicking off at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, some 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers and 2,000 private security staff will ensure the safety of the parade along the river Seine, its banks and surrounding monuments, in an unprecedented display of security.
More than 300,000 spectators will be watching the procession from the banks of this river
French President Emmanuel Macron along with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will be joined by over a hundred leaders from around the world at the Games opening ceremony with Thailand represented by Tourism and Sports Minister Sermsak Phongpanich.
Flag bearers of the Thai team are Mr. Puribol Boonson, an 18-year-old a sprinter, and Ms. Vareeraya Sukasem, a 12-year-old a skateboarder. The Thai delegation is headed by Mr. Thana Chaiprasit
All 31 members of the Thai contingent will be joining the barge procession but as of last night no details were given about which of the 70 to 80 barges they will be boarding nor other teams joining them with everything kept under wraps for security
The host had revealed that the procession heralding the start of the Games, running from July 26 to August 11, will be divided into 12 sets, arranged by nearly 4,000 people, to celebrate French cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity.
The river parade will follow the course of the Seine, from east to west over six kilometres, departing from the Austerlitz bridge beside the Jardin des Plantes at 7.30 p.m. (00.30 a.m. July 27 in Thailand) and make its way around the two islands at the centre of the city (the Île Saint Louis and the Île de la Cité) before passing under several bridges and gateways.
This grand opening ceremony is being broadcast live in Thailand on T sports 7, PPTV HD 36, Channel 7 HD including AIS Play and True Vision, starting at 00.25 a.m. onwards.
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