Twitter Users Roast Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony for Its Lengthy and Bizarre Performances Amid Torrential Rain and Upside-Down Flag Incident

When the Paris Olympics opening ceremony kicked off, it didn’t take long for Twitter users to start poking fun at the extravagant, and somewhat bewildering, performance.

The four-hour spectacle, which included smurfs, ‘woke’ performances, and relentless rain, became the butt of countless memes.

The sight of the crowd wrapped in plastic ponchos added to the comical atmosphere.

Critics were quick to label the ceremony as the ‘worst ever,’ and social media didn’t hold back in its harsh reviews. One Twitter user shared a photo of the stern-faced British Prime Minister, captioning it, “You know he’s thinking—this Opening Ceremony is very much a meeting that could have been an email.”

Meanwhile, many users compared the Paris event unfavorably to London’s 2012 ceremony, where Rowan Atkinson’s memorable Mr. Bean performance had everyone in stitches.

One of the most talked-about moments was the appearance of a knight on a mechanical silver horse, making its way down the River Seine towards the Eiffel Tower.

This elaborate display featured a jockey representing Sequana, the goddess of the Seine, holding the Olympic flag—which was, somewhat embarrassingly, raised upside down. The flag faux pas quickly became fodder for social media jokes.

Journalist Dan Wetzel tweeted, “Those who managed to stay awake during the Opening Ceremony were treated to the Olympic flag being flown upside down.”

Another user quipped, “If you’re having a bad day at work, it could be worse. You could be the flag team that hoisted the Olympic Flag upside down at the Opening Ceremony.”

NBC’s commentary also drew attention, with one viewer commenting on the disconnect, “The tone is very ‘the American mind can’t comprehend this.'”

Comparing the Ceremonies

Amidst the rain and the confusion, 6,800 athletes, donning plastic ponchos, floated down the Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats. This scene was soon humorously criticized, with one meme showing former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at a podium with the phrase ‘Stop the Boats.’

French Cuisine Left Out?

In another light-hearted critique, one user lamented the absence of Remy, the famous rat chef from *Ratatouille*, in the ceremony, saying, “Can’t believe the French haven’t paid homage to their greatest chef in the opening ceremony.

Nothing about Remy—they’ve erased him from their history.”

Sir Keir Starmer’s Rainy Day Choice

On a lighter note, a photo of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emerged showing him navigating the rain without a poncho, opting instead for his own raincoat.

One commenter proudly noted, “Our Prime Minister bringing his own cagoule to the Olympic opening ceremony so he doesn’t have to wear a silly poncho makes me proud to be British. We know how to do rain.”