One week into the International Festival, we are prompted to reflect on our origins and how far we have come to get here. Not just the last twelve months of planning, but the very purpose of the annual gathering that is the world’s leading festival of the arts . This year we are responding to an overwhelming desire for togetherness that became clear when we asked ourselves, our artists and our visitors ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’ in 2023.
This year’s theme, Rituals That Unite Us, celebrates the collective experiences that bind us closer together with a life-affirming programme of performing arts and ideas. Against a global backdrop of war, displacement and civil unrest, it has never been more important to unite with our colleagues from around the world and take the time to understand their situations. The joyous spirit of internationalism and excitement that transforms our Festival City reminds me of the anticipation that builds in and infuses every Olympic host city.
And as the world enjoys the marvel that is the Paris Games, the parallels between the traditions and values of sports and culture come to the fore. In the lead up to the 2012 Games, when I worked for the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the promise of a once in a generation celebration of excellence and internationalism and the chance to meet people from all around the world in a summer of sport was intoxicating. Now, more than a decade later, I recognise that the Ol.