The director of the Paralympic closing ceremony wants to turn the Stade de France into a dance floor

PARIS (AP) — The final act of the Paralympic Games There will be a huge dance party in Paris.

This is a promise from Thomas Jollythe artistic director of the opening and closing ceremonies of this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Jolly says 24 DJs will play blaring techno and dance music at the Stade de France on Sunday as the curtain falls on the 2024 Paralympics.

“We want to transform the Stade de France into the biggest dance floor to celebrate the end of the Paralympics,” Jolly said in an interview with Associated Press.

Similar to the Paralympic Opening Ceremonywhich featured artists with disabilities and dancers on crutches or in wheelchairs, the dance floor will be open to everyone.

“There will be choreographic sequences that showcase the body,” said Jolly.

The closing ceremony marks the end of Paris' Olympic and Paralympic journey. For Jolly, a 42-year-old theater director, it is the final chapter of a busy summer.

Jolly led the July 26 Opening ceremony the Olympic Games in Paris on the Seine, which received much praise but also met with criticism.

Some viewers thought a scene featuring French singer Philippe Katrine dressed as Bacchus, the god of wine and partying in ancient Roman mythology, was a depiction of the “Last Supper,” a famous painting by Leonardo Da Vinci depicting Jesus Christ's final meal with his apostles. Critics considered it a mockery of the Catholic Church. Paris 2024 organizers said they were “sorry” when people felt insulted.

Although Jolly said it was not his intention to mock religion, he and his family were harassed on social media, including death threats and attacks based on his sexual orientation and falsely assumed Israeli roots. The French authorities then ordered a Investigation of hate speech.

“I've been doing shows for 20 years and have had critics in all my theater productions,” said Jolly. “Criticism can be gratifying, it can be hurtful. That's the job. But the attacks, the threats, the insults… that's another matter.”

Jolly, who received support from French politicians such as President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, said the controversy had not led to any changes in subsequent ceremonies.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “Nothing was changed and nothing should have been changed.”

He pointed out that all scenes had been approved months in advance by the French government, the city of Paris and the International Olympic Committee.

Jolly is from Rouen and moved to Paris to prepare for the Games. two and a half years to design the ceremonies. Much of the preparation for the previous ceremonies took place at night or in remote locations to maintain a certain level of secrecy.

Preparations for the closing ceremony on Sunday are no different. The Stade de France is hosting Paralympic Athletics While competitions take place during the day, many rehearsals take place at night.

“I have devoted myself to the task,” said Jolly. “I haven't celebrated anything yet, I haven't celebrated, I haven't even had time to rewatch the ceremonies on TV.”

Jolly said he is considering writing a book about his Olympic experience before returning to his roots in theater.

“I don't think I'll ever have an audience like that (at the Olympics opening ceremony) again in my life,” he said. “But it doesn't matter. Important things can happen in a theater with 50 seats.”

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