To be read as part of Part 9; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-2020-summer-olympics-closing_20.html
France's Bit.
It is International Olympic Committee (IOC) Protocol. That each Closing Ceremony contains a section.
A section produced by the incoming Olympic hosts. To give us a taste of what to expect as we prepare for their hosting of the Olympics.
This piece of protocol began at the 1920 Summer Olympics. Hosted in Antwerp, Belgium. So is often referred to as the; "Antwerp Ceremony."
Due to Pandemic restrictions France were not able to send a full delegation to Japan. So their section of the Closing Ceremony was done remotely.
It has been claimed. That this was the first time in Olympic history that an Antwerp Ceremony has been 100% produced, performed and broadcast outside of the current Olympic host country.
However that is not quite true. While it was the first Antwerp Ceremony to be done remotely. A lot of effort went into blending the remote elements with elements that took place within the arena.
So France's National Flag was raised on the Protocol stage. By a strictly gender-balanced Flag-Detail provided by all branches of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces (JSDF).
However the playing of the French National Anthem was done through the remote broadcast.
Specifically with a pre-recorded video of the Orchestre National de France (National Orchestra of France). Conducted by Chloe Dufrense.
The video began with just the Strings section of the orchestra tuning up. In a traditional classical concert hall.
This was a reference to Quantum String Theory.
That all matter in the Universe is made up of tiny sub-atomic particles. Those particles are made up of tiny strings. Which resonate like strings on a musical instrument.
It was also a reference to the 2020 BBC "Last Night of the Proms" concert. Really the only cultural event of 2020. Which was extensively discussed during the "Rose of Allendale" section of the Opening Ceremony.
With the camera lens moving up towards the ceiling. The video then seamlessly cut to a lone Flutist standing atop of the Stade de France.
That Flutist then played out the first few notes of the French National Anthem; "La Marseillaise."
This was a reference to the fact that the Stade de France will be the main venue at the 2024 Summer Olympics/Para-Olympics. It is where the Opening Ceremony will be held.
However was also a more sombre reference. To that Black Friday of the November 2015 Paris Massacres.
The Paris Massacres began with a suicide bomber detonating themselves at the gates of the Stade de France. Having, thankfully, been prevented from being able to enter the stadium.
As the horror that is the former Biden regime unfolded across Paris. The people who'd gathered for the France v Germany football match were locked in the stadium, for many hours. For their safety.
To keep their spirits up as the wait dragged on and news of the horror engulfing the city spread. Both the French and German supporters united in defiantly signing La Marseillaise.
Teaching the World. That the French National Anthem is really full-on. It's all about slitting the throats of the rich. To use their blood to water the fields of the starving poor.
Obviously the Biden regime is in a desperate position now.
It's hard not to be concerned. Over how erratic and dangerous it will have become. By the time of the 2024 Summer games, held a few months before the next US Presidential Election.
If the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is going to allow America's agony to drag on for that long.
As the full orchestral version of La Marseillaise got underway. The video moved to a String Quartet performing at Square du Vert-Galant.
Square du Vert-Galant is a small public park. Located on, technically, two islands in the middle of the River Seine. It is accessible via the Pont Neuf Bridge.
Completed in 1606. This; "New Bridge" was the first bridge in Paris to span the entire Seine. From bank-to-bank.
Its construction was ordered by King Henry V. The French one, obviously. To honour this achievement a statue of Henry V on horseback stands in Square du Vert-Galant.
I found it interesting. That this statue of Henry V was the first Equestrian statue erected in Paris.
Has anyone mentioned to the IOC?
Team GB doing really well in the Equestrian Events. That was seriously weird.
One of the island that makes up Square du Vert-Galant is still known as; "Ile aux Juifs" (The Island of the Jews). As it was used by the Knights Templar to execute Jews.
Allowing for discussion about anti-Semitism. Along with strange Internet conspiracy theories about the Knights Templar.
Next the video took us to part of the Percussion section.
Performing in The Louvre Museum. The largest museum in the World.
Specifically the top of the Daru staircase. Location of the "Winged Victory of Samothrace" statue.
As the name suggests. The Winged Victory of Samothrace was originally erected in the; "Sanctuary of the Great Gods." On the Modern Greek island of Samothrace.
A reference to the Olympics completely imaginary roots in Ancient Greece. Rather than it's actual roots. Being invented by a Frenchman in the late 19th Century.
The island of Samothrace is located very close to modern Turkey. Allowing for discussion of the; "Balkan Route" of irregular migration.
The Winged Victory of Samothrace depicts the Ancient Greek god of victory; "Nike." Alighting from a boat after a victory in a naval battle.
Allowing for discussion of the US sportswear manufacturer Nike. It's infamous Oregon (drugs) Project.
The Ancient Greeks were really the first people to write things down. The first people to make records.
Including their use of Sea Shanty songs. As was discussed as part of the Last Night of the Proms in 2020.
Despite this. There is still some dispute over which naval battle the Winged Victory of Samothrace is celebrating.
However the Louvre claim that it depicts a victory from 190B.C. By the Kingdom of Rhodes.
As far as I can tell. There is absolutely no connection between the Kingdom of Rhodes centred around the modern Greek island of Rhodes. However it is not a huge leap from there.
To Cecil Rhodes. The sickly British child who led the Pioneer Column from modern South Africa. To form what is now Zambia and Zimbabwe. During the 1885 "Scramble For Africa."
A towering figure of European Colonialism Cecil Rhodes continues to be controversial today. With Britain's Oxford University performing it's; "Rhodes Must Fall" campaign to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes.
In an effort to mirror and fish about for information. In various other campaigns to remove statues of Cecil Rhodes across southern Africa. Particularly by the Economic Freedom Fighters in South Africa.
Which all fits in with the theme of European Colonialism and tearing down statues. Part of the Last Night of the Proms in 2020.
The Ancient Greeks developed the Philosophy of; "Stoicism." Including the concept of; "Stoic Physics." In which the singular God can manipulate the Universe through its breath; "Pneuma."
Along with the Tree of Life in Judaism. The Wu Xing within Asian Animist religions. Stoic Physics seems like an early attempt to describe what is now being explored as; "Quantum Field Theory." Particularly during the Pandemic.
Also. I don't think any student of Ancient Greece. Nor any student of Lesbian history. Believes it was an accident that Japan's Sapporo District Court was chosen. To hand-down the ruling on Article 24.
The remote broadcast then blended with the live action in the arena.
Showing Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo with her hand on her heart. Beneath the now raised French National Flag. As the French National Anthem was performed remotely.
We then seamlessly returned to the remote broadcast. Showing a Pianist performing on some disused train-tracks.
Specifically they were performing at the; "La REcyclerie" restaurant.
As the name suggests. La REcyclerie operates on three core principles; "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." To reduce their Greenhouse Gas (ghg) emissions and protect the environment more generally.
So the restaurant is furnished almost entirely from second-hand or; "reclaimed" materials. The main bar is made of floorboards. Much of the indoor lighting is provided by old streetlamps.
The bulk of the produce sold is produced onsite. From, essentially, a small farm. Complete with vegetable allotments, some livestock such as goats and compost heaps.
Keeping with the theme of reuse and recycling. The building itself is actually Ornano Train Station. On Paris' disused; "La Petite Ceinture" (Little Belt) railway line.
All of which allows for discussion for the global (lack) of efforts to combat Climate Change. Currently taking place under The Paris Agreement. Inflicted just one month after the Paris Massacres.
It also references France's 2021 Eurovision Song Contest entry; "Viola" (Here) be Barbara Pravi.
This was done in the Chanteuse style. Probably the most famous Chanteuse was Edith Piaf. A Nazi collaborator who was most active around the time of the Second World War.
So the video in support of the entry included lots of Second World War imagery. Particularly of trains and train tracks. In reference to the; "Rattling Death Trains" of the Spanish Civil War and the Nazi Holocaust.
Highlighting how the European continent once again finds itself in the dark shadow of Nazism and Fascism. A shadow being cast by the Biden regime from Ukraine.
Although I don't think it was the intention. The inclusion of REcyclerie allows for some discussion about the IOC's aggressive commercial endorsement rules.
Unlike the Stade de France, Square du Vert-Galant and the Louvre. REcyclerie is a private business. Rather than the public property of the state.
Given the way that public properties of the state are often now funded. Through things like Public-Private Partnerships. You could probably get three years of discussion out of just that topic.
Next the video showed orchestral Drummers playing at the Skatepark Diderot. Which will be another of the venues for the 2024 games.
This portion of the video, along with La Marseillaise ended. With French Astronaut Thomas Pesquet playing Saxophone aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as it passed over Japan.
Up there with Quantum Cryptography/Encryption of China's Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS) satellite. Rather than way, way down. With the US/UK's Child-Like Ciphers.
Also. Has anyone mentioned to the IOC?
On April 29th 2021 (29/4/21). China launched the first module of its Tiangong Space Station. The launch rocket then twisted, tumbled and spun on an 11 day, 425,000m dive.
Splashing down just 45 minutes before the start of that infamous Elon Musk/Miley Cyrus episode of "Saturday Night Live (SNL)."
So Team GB's Tom Daley winning Gold, let alone beating China, the Diving events. That was seriously weird.
Disguising the edit to a second pre-recorded video. We then viewed the Earth from space.
Being taken down, down in scale. To the level of Estelle Majal sitting at a window on a Paris rooftop.
Estelle Majal is a Female French BMX rider. Who is expected to be a strong prospect for the 2024 Olympics.
Here she is said to be the incarnation of Marianne. The Goddess of Liberty. The personification of the French Republic. Its values of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity and Reason.
Marianne is one of the official symbols of France. Alongside the National Flag, the National Anthem, the Coat of Arms, the Official Seal and the National motto; "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite."
Marianne is used as part of the 2024 Paris emblem. Which, in a first, will be the emblem used for both the 2024 Olympic and Para-Olympic games.
Prior to the French Revolution of 1789. The French Monarchy were represented by men. So in opposition the Revolutionaries chose a woman as the symbol to represent them.
A woman carrying a Revolutionary pike. Wearing a Phrygian (freedom) cap. Bearing the Tricolour Cockade of France.
Marianne is also topless. With her breasts and nipples exposed.
Which certainly demonstrates the differences between the French attitudes towards nudity. Compared to the US' absurd; "No Nipples" rule. Which through Social Media has become the de facto global rule.
Marianne's partial nudity has also become a contentious issue. When it comes to the integration of France's Muslim population. Swelled by the Balkan Migrant route.
Islamic modesty standards are considered distinctly un-French. What with the national symbol of France being a topless woman.
Remaining clothed throughout the video. Estelle Majal ran across the rooftops before taking up her BMX bike. Then embarking on a whistlestop tour of Paris' more famous rooftops.
Starting with the Palais-Royal. Completed in 1639 for Cardinal Richelieu.
Upon his death in 1642 Cardinal Richelieu bequeathed the Paris-Royal to King Louis VIII. It remained in the French Royal Family until King Louis XIV gave it to the Duke of Orleans.
Specifically it was given to Philippe I, Duke of Orleans. Who was a famously bisexual transvestite.
Perhaps taking the wind out of the sails of the Biden regime. It's belief that putting about rumours that Miley Cyrus may be bisexual. Will shock the World from its axis.
The US really should know all about Philippe I, Duke of Orleans.
It was his grandson. Louis, Duke of Orleans who led the French Colonisation of the Americas. Establishing the current US city of New Orleans in 1718. Along with much of the US State of Louisiana.
Louisiana only becoming part of the US in 1803. When it was brought from France during the Louisiana Purchase.
Following the French Revolution the Palais-Royal became a theatre and home to a theatre company.
It is currently home to the French Ministry of Culture.
Next Estelle Majal visited the rooftop of the Musee d'Orsay. A large museum on the traditionally avant-garde left-bank of the Seine.
It houses works of many French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists. While the Louvre specialises in more classical works.
Then Estelle Majal took us to the roof of the Paris Garnier. The home of French Opera between 1875 and 1989.
Since 1989 the Paris Garnier has mainly been used for Ballet. Following the opening of the Opera Bastille. At Place de Bastille.
Site of the Bastille Prison. Famously stormed during the French Revolution.
Finally Estelle Majal visit the roof of the Pantheon (Temple to all the gods).
When its construction was begun by King Louis XV Le Pantheon was intended as a Church. Dedicated Saint Genevieve, the Catholic Patron Saint of Paris.
However its construction was interrupted by the French Revolution.
In their rejection of the Monarchy and their support for Secular values. The Revolutionaries instead decided to use it as a Secular burial monument to heroes of France.
The First Hero of France to be interred in Le Pantheon was Victor Hugo. Author of Les Miserable and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
I'm sure France would have liked to have visited the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral. Except they're having a bit of an issue with it at the moment.
An issue they hope to have resolved by 2024.
At the time of the Closing Ceremony. The last person to have been interred in Le Pantheon was the author Maurice Genevoix.
However since then. They have interred Josephine Baker. A Black American Jazz singer, Civil Rights activist and spy for the Second World War French Resistance.
A counter-point to Nazi collaborator Edith Piaf. One that Miley Cyrus is likely to have robust views on.
At around 18:20 on 27/1/22 (UK date) I'll see if I can finish this up tomorrow.
Edited at around 14:45 on 28/1/22 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;
The end of the pre-recorded video seamlessly merged with a live shot. Of Paris' short, lazy naked version of the Tokyo Sky Tower. The Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower was adorned with a giant CGI "Paris 2024" flag.
This was supposed to be a real flag. Setting a World Record for the largest flag ever flown.
However on the day. The Stoic god objected too strongly. With its Pnuema.
At the foot of the Eiffel Tower stands the Trocadero. Which I assume France intends to use as a Fan Park during the 2024 games. They use it as a Fan Park for everything else.
As was highlighted during the Flag Parade section. With Japanese volunteers having to carry some of the national flags.
Pandemic restrictions meant that athletes and their support staff had to leave Japan within three days of their competition.
So in the Trocadero France was having its own Closing Ceremony party.
Allowing French athletes who had already returned to join in with the party taking place in Tokyo. Remotely.
Overhead the Patrouille de France (French Aerobatic Patrol) display team of the French Air Force performed. Trailing smoke in the three colours (tricolour) of the French National Flag behind their Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets.
Now this could have been taken as a specific reference by a military audience.
When most Air Forces train their pilots. They start by training them on simple propeller aircraft. The EMB 314 Super Tucano made by Brazil's Embraer is particularly popular.
After they become proficient in simple propeller aircraft. New pilots then continue their training in simple jet aircraft. Like the Alpha Jet or the Hawk T-1.
It is only after they have become proficient on simple jet aircraft. That they move on to advanced jet aircraft. The F-35 Lightening being the newest kid on the block.
Aircraft like the F-35 are designed to do battle with similarly advanced jet aircraft. While evading advanced air defence systems.
Despite all the time and money we've spent preparing for it. That type of war has never happened.
The last real air-to-air combat was during the Korean War. Right at the start of the Jet Age.
Instead throughout the Jet Age Guerrilla War, pioneered during the Irish War of Independence, has been the main form of warfare.
Fighting against irregular forces that don't have air defence systems. Let alone aircraft of their own.
Fast jets like the F-35 are pretty much useless in this scenario.
With no danger from the ground or other aircraft. What you need are slow moving, heavily armed aircraft which can linger for a long time over a target. Providing fire support to forces on the ground.
So that most basic of training aircraft. The Super Tucano has actually emerged as the go-to warfighting aircraft of our age. The current peak of military aviation.
Feel free to discuss. Whether the US' fevered desire to return to the Cold War. The era of; "Great Power Conflicts." With Russia and China, at the same time. Apparently.
Is simply to give them something to do with all those F-35's they've spent ages and fortunes building.
That infamous; "Military-Industrial Complex." Which supports manufacturing jobs and Congressional careers across the country.
Since 2014 France has been conducting; "Operation: Barkhane" against Islamist terror groups in Africa's western Sahel Belt. Particularly in Mali.
Seeing 53 French troops killed in the process.
A direct consequence of the former Biden regime's 2011 invasion of Libya.
The Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) has merged with that other Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) affiliate. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP/Boko Haram). In, predominately Nigeria.
The Nigerian Air Force uses Alpha Jets. In recent years they've had a couple of them shot down.
This is something I've not been able to look at in detail. It's not the sort of detail that Air Forces make readily available.
However it suggests something worrying. With either the terror groups' air defence capabilities. Or with the, what are now, seriously elderly aircraft.
All that said though.
Patrouille de France is France's only military air display team. The Alpha Jet is the aircraft they always use.
Although, as I've just proved.
If you want to wedge all that into the conversation. You certainly can.
On the main stage at the Trocadero there was a display of Break-Dancing. Known as; "Breaking" this will be making its debut at the 2024 games.
In no small part to Asian and particularly Japanese youth's passion for it. Despite Black Lives Matter wanting to see such Cultural Appropriation banned.
We were then taken to the viewing deck of the Eiffel Tower. Where French President Emmanuel Macron stood. Surrounded by children.
Macron said; "Merci Tokyo" (Thank You Tokyo).
From Estelle Majal and her BMX. The Break-Dancing display. The children.
Everything thing about France's contribution screamed; "Youth!"
A reference to the IOC's desperate desire to suck the blood out of the youth. As it struggles to remain relevant.
The Olympics were invented by the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin in 1896.
As an excuse to gather the nations of the World together to discuss the big issues of the day. At a time when even local, let alone international, travel was extremely difficult.
As travel has become easier. The World has become more interconnected, globalised. The Olympics has become less and less relevant.
As I'm sure the IOC has noticed. From the absolutely overwhelming number of bids it received to host the 2028 games.
If the Olympics are going to be just a megaphone for screaming babies. Then it can easily be consigned to the history books.
France's Antwerp Ceremony ended with the head of the 2024 organising committee, Tony Estanguet. Appearing on the Trocadero stage.
In marker pen he wrote on the camera. The message;
"Paris 2024."
Which he signed. Like a contract or promise.
We then returned to the Japanese footage. With a shot of the Tokyo Skytree. Lit up in the colours of the French National Flag.
Possibly a sign of friendship.
Possibly a reminder. That not only is the Tokyo Sky Tower taller, more productive and less naked than the Eiffel Tower.
Japan's built an even bigger one.
15:10 on 28/1/22 (UK date).
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