PARIS – First lady Jill Biden praised Paris' “spectacular” Olympics opening ceremony and looked ahead Saturday to how the U.S. can similarly dazzle audiences when the Games are held in Los Angeles in four years. One word: Hollywood.
Leading the U.S. presidential delegation to the Olympics, Biden snapped photos at the ceremony along the Seine River on Friday night after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte.
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The show combined elaborate performances from the likes of Celine Dion, Lady Gaga and French-Malian pop star Aya Nakamura with French flair. The landmarks of Paris became backdrops for fantastical song, dance and surprises like a hot air balloon carrying a ring of fire into a rainy Paris sky near the Eiffel Tower.
The show's pizzazz wowed despite heavy rain that drenched the athletes parading on boats down the Seine and the crowds gathered on the river's banks and bridges to cheer them on.
But Biden made it clear that “the rain did not dampen our spirits.” Speaking at a reception at the U.S. ambassador to France’s official residence, she mused on how the U.S. could top the show in 2028.
"OK, so Paris has the Eiffel Tower, but we have Hollywood, right? And the magic of Hollywood that makes all dreams come true. So I think we’re gonna be OK,” she said.
Biden was already feeling the celebrity buzz in Paris, hugging and taking photos with hip-hop icon Flavor Flav when she stopped by to watch a women’s water polo match. They both grinned, decked in red, white and blue USA outfits, Flavor Flav wearing a custom USA Water Polo clock around his neck — his signature accoutrement. She also met and took photos with athletes from the U.S. team.
The founding member of the groundbreaking hip-hop group Public Enemy is the official hype man for USA Water Polo. His connection to the small sport came after his PR team saw a post by an athlete drawing attention to the financial difficulties for most Olympic athletes. He made an undisclosed financial contribution to the women’s program under a five-year deal.
“This is quite an experience for me right now, you know, because the only time I’ve ever seen the Olympics was on TV,” Flavor Flav told The Associated Press this week.
As for Biden, who escaped a tumultuous political atmosphere in Washington after President Joe Biden ended his campaign for a second term, she also watched the men’s gymnastics qualifying round at Bercy Arena.
The first lady applauded American star Frederick Richard’s floor routine before meeting with the team shortly after it finished second in its subdivision, behind Britain.
“That was pretty sick,” the 20-year-old Richard said. “I did not expect today that I would meet the first lady, but I’m very thankful for the opportunity, and I’m glad they’re watching. I mean, that’s powerful, too.”
Richard’s only regret? He didn’t “show her a cooler floor routine” after he scored a little below his usual standard.
Biden also stopped by the Grand Palais, the venue that hosts fencing. Earlier this week, she visited athletes on the U.S. women’s rugby and the track and field teams at a training center in the northern Paris suburbs.
She traveled to Paris with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, whose city will host the Games for a third time — the last coming in 1984.
“At the 2028 Games, Olympians and fans will see themselves reflected in Los Angeles — add that to our American warmth, hospitality and leadership, not to mention experience,” Biden said.
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AP writers Will Graves and Jay Cohen contributed from Paris.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games