By: Rachael Tan

Hundreds of dancers threatened a walk-out of the 2024 Paris Olympics last Wednesday due to unfair payment.

Thousands of dancers, artists, and musicians in France prepared themselves on the bridges and banks of the Seine River for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, which was held outdoors for the first time.

Everyone was ecstatic to be participating in the Olympics and representing their country. Some dancers however, were angry about unfair pay, and threatened to walk out during the ceremony. If this would happen, it would disrupt a major, highly anticipated event watched by millions around the world.

Earlier this week, about 200 dancers briefly interrupted a rehearsal on the bank to protest. They stood motionless with their fists in the air during their eight minute routine.

Labor unions complained that 250 to 300 dancers were angry about being unfairly paid by their dance or ballet companies despite being on the same temporary contracts.

Labor unions are also worried that the dancers are not protected from the lead dust accumulated there due to erosion and the 2019 Notre-Dame Cathedral fire.

Ghislain Gauthier, the secretary general of the C.G.T.-Spectacle, an umbrella union for cultural and show business performers, said that it was unclear whether construction workers had completed the correct safety measures to prevent lead contamination or not.

“Normally, an expert laboratory has to come to evaluate the toxicity,” said Mr. Gauthier. “We don’t know if that was done.”

For years, French officials had boasted that some 600,000 people would attend the Opening Ceremony, but that number might be decreasing or increasing, all depending on those dancers and their supporters.