Paris gets the blues

As 2001 dawned, the Eiffel Tower turned blue... apparently

By James Coomarasamy in Paris

When the history books are written, the decision to use blue lycra bulb-coverings on the Eiffel Tower might be seen as the moment when things started to go wrong.

No one's arguing that it wasn't appropriate to give it a facelift for New Year's Eve. After all, the belle of last year's worldwide millennium ball couldn't come to this year's do wearing the same dress, could she?

But the decision to cover the tower's 20,000 light bulbs with a blue fitting may be a fashion howler with terrible consequences. For when midnight struck, it was a case of the emperor's new lycra.

There was some blue in there, but frankly not very much. Thousands of revelling Parisians checked that they hadn't turned colour-blind. They hadn't. As the rain poured down, it was clear that this New Year's celebration would be a pale imitation of last year's.

Auspicious sign

"What's the significance?" you might ask. Well, if you cast your mind back to 31 December 1999, the magnificent Paris millennium fireworks were the perfect symbol of the new, confident France.

The French millennium display was acclaimed as the best in the world

They were as effortlessly stylish and successful as London's overhyped and under-whelming River of Fire was, well, non-existent.

Surely it was no coincidence that what the display's designer called a "symphony of light" illuminated what turned out to be a fantastic year for the country - a booming economy, diminishing unemployment and - most importantly - a victory in Euro 2000, the European football championships.

But, if the signs in the night sky are to be believed, 2001 is not going to be such a good one for France. The blue-ish tower and a rather dated laser display on the Place de la Concorde were the highlights of this year's party.

Forget Prime Minister Lionel Jospin's message of New Year cheer, where he told the French how satisfied they should be feeling, and look instead at the omens provided by the string of unfortunate events, or non-events, of recent days.

2001 disasters

First of all, there's the new, ultra-modern European Hospital in Paris. When President Chirac inaugurated the building in December, the hype was that its patients would be waited on hand and foot. The reality is they can't even wash their hands and feet - well, not in the showers at least.

Is it all going wrong for France, or are these just the wishful thoughts of a jealous neighbour, looking for clouds inside the silver lining?

On New Year's Day, the hospital authorities revealed there'd been four cases of Legionnaires disease - one of them fatal. The shower curtains are remaining shut for the time being.

Poor Mr Chirac. To inaugurate one ill-fated project is unfortunate, but to be associated with a second in the first few days of the year is distinctly unpresidential.

But that's just what's happened with Nancy's new tram service. To be fair, it was actually Mrs Chirac who cut the ribbon on that occasion.

But - lo and behold - before the passengers began using the service, as they were due to on 2 January, a mysterious technical fault was discovered. The trams have been stopped in their tracks for an unspecified period of time.

And President Chirac's most illustrious predecessor - or at least the naval vessel named after him - hasn't done much better. The staff of the Charles De Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier saw in the New Year indoors, watching the television, rather than out in an ocean, testing its weaponry.

Many people were disappointed by London's millennium offering

It was due to be launched by - well you can probably guess who - on Christmas Eve, but the $3.5bn worldbeater was found to have a broken propeller. It's just the latest in a string of disasters for the ship - which will now be in dock until April, at least.

Just jealous

So is it all going wrong for France, or are these just the wishful thoughts of a jealous neighbour, looking for clouds inside the silver lining?

The new hospital may have had what the French call a "black series" of disasters, but the healthcare system here is still considered the best there is, by the World Health Organisation.

And even if I won't be taking that tram tour of Nancy in a hurry, I'll still be making plenty of relaxing trips on what is one of the most efficient train networks in Europe.

And as for football? Will there be as few fireworks on the field as they were in the air on New Year's Eve? The answer is - it doesn't matter. As the reigning World and European champions, the French national team doesn't need to qualify for anything at all in 2001.