An Olympic disaster? Au contraire – the Games are gaining popularity with both visitors and grumpy Parisians

The French in general, and Parisians in particular, are a difficult bunch at best. I've lived here most of my adult life and have found that unbridled exuberance their specialty; not bad (not bad), for example, is considered a very enthusiastic form of praise. I had a hard time convincing my fellow Parisians, both French and foreign, that they would love the Olympics and Paralympics.

It was the same dynamic in 2012, when I lived in London. Before the Games began that year, similarly negative Londoners were convinced that they would be poorly run, a waste of money and, well, ...