The 2019 illuminations of the Champs-Elysées.

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SADAKA EDMOND / SIPA

  • The singer Louane is the godmother of the 2020 Champs-Elysées illuminations.

  • Faced with the health context and confinement, the organizers have adapted and are offering a digital device.

  • The partnership with Ferrero which was controversial last year is renewed.

    “Let's be clear, without Ferrero, the main financier, there are no illuminations,” recalls the Champs-Elysées Committee.

"Christmas will not be normal this year," said Sunday in the

JDD

, the Minister of Solidarity and Health, Olivier Véran.

A sort of consolation prize in the midst of the morose little music that rises: the Champs-Elysées will indeed be adorned with their famous illuminations.

For who ?

It's hard to say as tourists have been absent since March, shops closed and Parisians cloistered at home.

But the Champs-Elysées Committee, organizer of the event, unveiled this Monday the device which will begin on November 22 at 7:05 p.m. until January 6, 2021, with the sponsor of this 2020 edition, the singer Louane.

Because faced with confinement and threats on the end of the year celebrations, the organizers are keen to adapt.

"In the context, the preparation of the illuminations was more complicated than usual", recognizes this Monday at a press conference, Jean-Noël Reinhardt, president of the Champs-Élysées Committee, who never wished to abandon this event which has been held for years in the capital and last year brought together 70,000 people on the most beautiful avenue in the world.

"It was unthinkable to turn off the Champs-Elysées"

“We never considered this possibility of abandonment.

We are in a depressed economic context, an anxiety-provoking context.

It therefore seems obvious to us to continue living as we have always lived on the Fields, looking ahead and with confidence in the future.

It was unthinkable to turn off the Champs-Elysées, ”he comments.

And to clarify: “We did not want to deprive Parisians of this moment which is not only the illumination of an artery but the launch of a festive and commercial season in Paris.

"

Finally, the event will be more digital.

“The constraints of confinement mean that gatherings are prohibited, but filming is authorized.

The illuminations will therefore give rise to an image capture and a physical inauguration of the illuminations with few people, including the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo and the godmother Louane.

"

Finally, the organizers wanted to involve tourists and Parisians in the event via digital animation.

People will be able to leave a message on a website that will appear on the day of the inauguration on screens with live images.

“Each Internet user will thus be able to light the Champs-Elysées.

We will all be there.

It is not because we are confined that we are isolated ”, welcomes François Barral, Managing Director of Havas Digital Factory, at the maneuver.

Total cost of the operation: 800,000 euros disbursed by the Champs-Elysées committee, the City of Paris and above all Ferrero.

The return of the controversial partnership

Last year, Anne Hidalgo, actress Ludivine Sagnier and Jean-Noël Reinhardt, kicked off these Christmas lights which lasted just over six weeks.

An event in partnership with the Italian company Ferrero, making Nutella, which had not been to everyone's taste.

Regularly accused of deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia for its palm oil production, Ferrero, had in particular been in the sights of the former green candidate and now deputy of Anne Hidalgo, David Belliard.

"Christmas lights under the sign of deforestation and childhood obesity," he reacted.

For the second year in a row, Ferrero is once again a partner of the Christmas lights in Paris.

“Ferrero is coming back this year and is the first financier.

Let's be clear, without Ferrero there are no illuminations ”, reacted Jean-Noël Reinhardt who welcomes an event which will allow“ to maintain social ties ”.

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20 seconds of context

20 Minutes 

is a partner of the Champs-Elysées illuminations for the 2020 edition.

  • Lights

  • Champs-Élysées

  • Confinement

  • Covid 19

  • Paris

  • Christmas

  • Louane

  • Festivities