Meet the Golden Women of the Olympic Opening Ceremony

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Meet the Golden Women of the Olympic Opening Ceremony
The Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony was breathtaking, with a multitude of memorable moments—from Lady Gaga in an explosion of pink plumes on the Île Saint-Louis … to the silver stallion defying gravity as it skimmed the surface of the Seine … to the dancers floating and bending atop towering poles on the Pont Neuf … to Céline Dion singing L’Hymn à l’Amour, while rain (and emotional tears) poured forth in the crowd. Lady Gaga. Courtesy of Olympics Instagram. Certainly in the top 10 of creative moments was the segment entitled “Sororité,” where 10 golden statues of illustrious French women rose dramatically — one by one — from the Seine. The scene was accompanied by Axelle Saint-Cirel singing La Marseillaise on the roof of the Grand Palais in a Dior-designed gown that paid tribute to the tri-colored French flag.  La Marseillaise accompanied the 10 golden women rising from the Seine. Courtesy of Olympics Instagram. A Test of French Culture  Whether you saw that segment of the opening ceremony or not, take a moment now to name 10 iconic French women who have made an impact on the course of history. This exercise is a fun test of French culture and a window into France’s current focus on gender equality.    Can you guess who the 10 mystery icons are? © Meredith Mullins. You might have thought of Joan of Arc or Marie Curie or activist Louise Michel (one of the few women who have had a metro station named after her). You might have conjured any one of the many women writers that have influenced French art and culture, such as Simone de Beauvoir, Françoise Sagan, or Colette. Or you might have identified those to whom the French have given high honors, such as stateswoman Simone Veil (one of only six women Panthéonized) and one of only 11 women immortals of the Académie Française. Some of the women are well-known, some less so. © Meredith Mullins
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Lead photo credit : © Meredith Mullins

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Meredith Mullins is an internationally exhibited fine art photographer and instructor based in Paris. Her work is held in private and museum collections in Europe and the U.S. and can be seen at www.meredithmullins.artspan.com or in her award-winning book "In A Paris Moment." (If you’re in Paris, a few rare, signed copies are available at Shakespeare and Company and Red Wheelbarrow.) She is a writer for OIC Moments and other travel and education publications.