Turbulence at the Olympic opening ceremony: Artists threaten to strike

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is facing turmoil after a union of French performing artists announced a strike amid an escalating dispute with organizers.

Just nine days before the start of the Paris Olympic Games, the advocacy group for actors, dancers and acrobats claims that complaints about pay and inequality are being ignored.

The union’s complaint states that there are “contractual practices that do not conform to collective agreements” and “blatant unequal treatment”.

“At this moment, the dress rehearsals for the ceremonies are taking place and we regret to announce that we have announced a strike for the show on July 26, 2024, as well as for the next rehearsals of the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games,” said a statement from the French Union of Performing Artists (SFA).

“While the slogan ‘Achieving more together’ is now everywhere on the streets of Paris, we find that our working conditions have not been discussed together or for the better.”

The union says it has “several times” raised concerns about “contractual practices” with Paname 24, an events company that played a leading role in organizing the opening ceremony on the Seine.

“We have also highlighted questionable practices, blatant inequality and a lack of social dialogue in the preparations for the ceremonies,” the union adds.

About 600,000 visitors are expected

The group said it had received no response to a number of questions about the fluctuating wages “from 60 euros for intermittent workers in the entertainment industry” to “1,610 euros for employees who have benefited from successful collective bargaining.”

The group also criticizes the fact that Parisian artists are not “compensated and accommodated” to the same extent as artists from other areas.

“We have proposed an open discussion to find solutions acceptable to all within the time constraints associated with the upcoming ceremonies,” the union’s statement said. “But so far, Paris 2024 and Panama 24 seem to be playing for time by not scheduling new meetings.”

Telegraph Sport has contacted both organisations for comment. It is not clear how many performing artists the union is representing at the opening ceremony. No names have been announced for the event, but 3,000 artists and 400 dancers are expected to take part.

Instead of the usual stadium setting, the athletes will parade along the Seine, with each nation assigned its own boat.
In addition to the 10,500 athletes who will be on site, 600,000 spectators are expected in the streets of Paris.

Paris was hit by a series of strike threats in the months leading up to the Games, but most were called off. On Tuesday, Paris airport workers called off a strike that would have disrupted travel after reaching an agreement on bonuses, labor and benefits.

Charles de Gaulle airport is expecting peaks of 300,000 travelers in a single day, well above the summer average of 200,000. The busiest days are expected to come after the Olympics closing ceremony on August 11, when spectators, officials and most of the 10,000 athletes head home.