By: ZOE HAN

As anticipation built up for the 2024 Paris Olympics, a significant problem emerged: dancers scheduled to perform in the first outdoor opening ceremony announced a strike. The SFA-CGT union, one of the largest French entertainment sectors, filed the strike motion for July 26 — raising concerns about the events proceeding.

Union representatives have highlighted significant issues, including discrepancies in payment benefits between the 250 to 300 temporary dancers compared to the production’s full-time dancers.

A spokesperson for the union stated, “Blatant inequality between the workers hired for the ceremony cannot be ignored,” emphasizing the disparities faced by temporary dancers.

On Wednesday, July 24th, the SFA-CGT union stated that after a meeting with the Games organizers, the temporary dancers’ contracts were increased in pay. In a statement, the union said that the dancers had lifted their strike threat.

Although the union was successful in one of its many demands, it failed to increase housing and transportation salaries to ease financial stress for the dancers. Concerns over lead poisoning have also surfaced, stating that some dancers positioned on the French capital’s rooftops have not received proper protection from lead.

Despite these matters, however, preparations for the ceremony continue. The first outdoor opening ceremony promises to be a grand event, featuring athletes parading on boats along the Seine and performances by up to 3,000 artists and 400 dancers. With iconic landmarks like Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower as backdrops, the ceremony aims to showcase the beauty and culture of Paris.

The committee said in a statement, “The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be a unique moment of celebration and unit, and we are delighted that it will be held under satisfactory conditions for all those involved.”

The public remains hopeful for this year’s Olympics, and officials continue to work hard to execute an incredible event.