International TV Co-Editor

Good afternoon, Max Goldbart here, writing the newsletter on the day of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris. Read on to digest the happenings in the world of media and entertainment. And sign up here.

Olympic torch burns brightly

On your marks, get set…: We’re almost there. Tonight, the French capital will host a dazzling Olympic Games Opening Ceremony with dozens of boats on the Seine, and yes, Celine Dion will perform, as will Lady Gaga. Trouble in paradise, however, as Insider goes to print, France’s rail network has been crippled by arson attacks, with as many as 800,000 people expected to be affected. Almost immediately after the last Games, which were postponed until 2021 due to Covid-19, the International Olympic Committee set the wheels in motion for Paris 2024, and over the next three weeks some of the world’s ultimate superstars will compete in France, paired with one of the biggest broadcast and media operations you’ll ever see. And there’s plenty for us Deadliners to sink our teeth into this week, as the worlds of sport, media and TV rapidly collide. Mel was there, reporting from an eerily quiet Paris on Monday. She wrote that France's traditional summer exodus felt "more pronounced" than ever this year, with residents of Paris's affluent, central districts heading for the hills. With things still very uncertain due to the travel chaos, here's our guide to what to expect from tonight's ceremony.