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The opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games happened last Friday, July 26, being marked by its boldness and originality. The ceremony was unique for several reasons, but one of them caught our attention. In the first edition of the Olympic Games marked by gender equality, there was an important tribute to 10 women that changed the history of France. These women were honored with statues positioned close to the Sena River, which aroused the curiosity of many people to know who they are.
Were you also curious? Check out who the 10 women who marked the history of France and their significant contributions.
Opening ceremony: Sororité
The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was divided into chapters titled Nice to meet you, Synchronicity, Free, Égalité, Sorority, Fair-play e Festivity, which represented different aspects of the culture, values and spirit of France and the Olympic Games. However, the highlight is the fifth chapter — “Sorority” (or “Sorority” in Portuguese) — which had as its main focus the fundamental role of women in the history of France.
It all started on the roof of the Grand Palais, one of the venues for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the presentation of a version of the French national anthem by the voice of Axelle Saint-Cirel. With this spectacle that began another chapter of the ceremony, the public was able to watch the statues appear on the banks of the River Seine.
During this time, we were able to recognize and celebrate the contributions of great women, including and craftspeople, activists, journalists, writers e sportsmen, which marked the history of France and feminism. Each of them received a statue that will remain permanently in the French capital.
Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793)
The first to receive greater prominence in the presentation was the writer e political activist Olympe de Gouges, known for her work “Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizens”, which defended women's rights during the French Revolution. She was one of the first feminists in history and ended up being guillotined for her political views.
Alice Milliat (1884-1957)
Alice Milliat is another that was highlighted at the opening ceremony. She was the pioneer in women's sport and responsible for founding the International Women's Sports Federation. Alice fought for the inclusion of women in the Olympic Games and organized the Women's Olympics, promoting gender equality in sport.
Gisèle Halimi (1927-2020)
Another prominent name was attorney, political e feminist activist French-Tunisian, Gisele Halimi. Gisèle became known for her work defending women's rights, including the legalization of abortion and gender equality, as well as her defense of Algerian militants during the Algerian War.
Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986):
A philosopher, writer e feminist, author Simone de Beauvoir also got his statue near the River Seine. The author is responsible for “the second sex“, an inspiring work of the feminist movement that explores in detail the oppression of women and the social construction of gender.
Paulette Nardal (1896-1985)
Paulette Nardal was one of the first black women to study at Sorbonne, one of the oldest higher education institutions in Europe. A writer e activist French played a fundamental role in the movement of Blackness and in the development of black literary consciousness in the country.
Jeanne Barrett (1740-1807)
Jeanne Barrett was the first woman to circumnavigate the world. The botanist and explorer disguised herself as a man to serve as a botanist's assistant on a French expedition, defying the gender norms of her time.
Louise Michel (1830-1905)
Louise MichelAlso known as enjolras, it was one teacher, writer e anarchist. During the Paris Commune, Michel identified himself as an anarchist and became one of the most important figures among the Communards. She was a great supporter of women's and workers' rights.
Christine de Pizan (1364-1431)
Writer e medieval poet, Christine de Pizan was considered the first woman to make a living from her writing. She is known for her works advocating for women, including “The City of Ladies“, which challenged the misogynistic perceptions of its time.
Alice Guy (1873-1968)
Alice Guy was the first female filmmaker in history e fiction film screenwriter. She was responsible for introducing innovative techniques, such as narrative, editing, close-up, synchronized sound, primitive special effects and manual colorization. Additionally, he has directed and produced hundreds of films, exploring themes such as genre, religion e popular culture.
Simone Veil (1927-2017)
Simone Veil it was one political e attorney, Holocaust survivor, known for her fight for women's rights, including legalization of abortion in France. She was elected first President of the European Parliament and, in 2010, she became the sixth woman to join the French Academy.
Conclusion
Paris came to revolutionize the Olympic Games and, according to the organizers, the statues aim, in addition to celebrating, to highlight these women who, for the most part, were little known by the general public. They also play a fundamental role in correcting a historical disparity, since in Paris, as in many other cities around the world, the public representation of female figures has historically been lower. With this, the city not only celebrates its achievements, but also sends a powerful message about the importance of equality and inclusion.
A Paris 2024 Olympics will be the first to guarantee gender equality, with the same number of men and women participating in the competitions. This milestone not only reflects the event's commitment to inclusivity, but also highlights the fundamental role of women in sport, promoting a fairer and more representative competition environment for all athletes.
It is important to remember that the games of Paris 2024 Olympics will be broadcast on the day July 26 to August 11. The complete Olympic schedule can be viewed on official event website. After that, it's the turn of the Paralympic athletes to fight for medals between days 26 August e September 8 of 2024.
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reviewed by Enzo Sapio Monello on 28/07
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