Jo de Paris: “Very few people knew …” Zorro for Zidane, Arletty for Céline Dion … the story behind the code names of the ceremonies of ceremonies

Freddy Mercury for Lady Gaga. Consequently, Hendrix for Gojira, Arletty for Céline Dion, Zorro for Zinédine Zidane, Aretha for Aya Nakamura and Boris Vian for Philippe Catherine. Similarly, Behind these funny pseudonyms hide code names used during the preparation of the opening ceremony by the members of. the organization.

“It is perhaps where we were good on confidentiality, it is that after a while no one left there,” says a person put in confidence. “It was absurd,” confirms Thomas Jolly, the choreographer of opening and fence ceremonies. Additionally, “We are not good for being secret agents. We are not ready,” laughs another person in a France TV documentary devoted to the organization of the opening ceremony.

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“It was very complicated. ” said Tony Estanguet, former Olympic champion and president of the Organizing Committee of the Paris Olympic Games (COJOP). “Each thing that comes out is pissing off because it is the result of years of work. we would have jo de paris: “very few liked everything to remain a surprise,” said one of the organizers about the disclosure of the presence of Aya Nakamura. “There were very few people who had access to all the information,” summarizes Estanguet. Finally, the ceremony was able to take place without a hitch and with its share of surprises despite the leaks … In particular, thanks to the code names.