Paris Olympic Balloon Meets Sailing

Richmond sailor Jeff Cook was recently in Paris and noted that the Olympic balloon that was lit at the opening ceremonies had tapped rigging expertise from the world of sailing. He says, “The Olympic balloon is still going up in the evenings in Paris. Ten lines control its movement. Now there may be an assisted method, but look what is ready for action: a self-tailing, two-speed Harken!”

Jeff, who sails his custom 33-ft cutter Annie out of Richmond Yacht Club, walked by the control lines and noticed the rigging set up by sailors. While the actual sailing competition was held in Marseille, sailors still made things work in Paris.

The opening-night display was designed by Mathieu Lehanneur, who was says he was inspired by the ancient Greek Olympic flame ceremony; it was to represent freedom — one of the three words in the French national motto: “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.” The ring is seven meters in diameter (about 23 feet), and the balloon is 30 meters (about 100 feet) tall and 22 meters (about 72 feet) wide.

Apparently the Olympic-sized balloon continues to rise over the Jardin des Tuileries near the Louvre in Paris. Many Parisian locals want to see the display continue to be lit, like the “temporary” lighting on the Bay Bridge, .