After much anticipation, the Paris 2024 Olympics are here! This isn’t just an event; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle where history will be made, champions will rise, and the spirit of competition will ignite the world. I had the incredible opportunity of attending, and every moment was unforgettable. This is everything to know about how I spent a day at the Paris 2024 Olympics!
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A Brief History of the Olympics
The Paris 2024 Olympics
My Day at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Moving Around
Arriving at the Venue
At the Event
Exploring Paris 2024
Overall Thoughts
Important Information & Tips
A Brief History of the Olympics
The Olympic Games are more than just a sports’ competition. Steeped in history and tradition, they are a celebration of physical and mental endeavours of humanity, while promoting global unity.
Originating in ancient Greece in 776 BC, the Olympics were a celebration of athletic prowess and a means of fostering peace among competing city-states. Revived in 1896 by France’s Pierre de Coubertin, the modern Olympics have evolved into the world’s biggest and most exciting sporting event, showcasing the very best in athletic achievement and cultural diversity. While athletes are chasing gold, the Olympics symbolize the power of sports to transcend political and social barriers, promoting international friendship and mutual respect. Every four years, the grand spectacle of the summer Olympics reminds us of our shared humanity, the relentless pursuit of excellence, and the timeless values of fair play and perseverance.
The Paris 2024 Olympics
Paris is hosting the 2024 Olympics, the third time in history (previously 1900 and 1924), and the first time in a century! Officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, 329 events in 32 sports are taking place from 24 July to 11 August 2024. While Paris is the host city, there are actually events taking place in 16 additional cities throughout Metropolitan France (including Versailles, Marseilles, and Lyon) and Tahiti, French Polynesia. The opening ceremony took place on July 26, 2024.
Throughout this event, Paris is blending its rich historical backdrop with innovation. And an impressive commitment to being as eco-friendly as possible. New sports, like surfing and skateboarding are making a splash. Medals feature pieces of the Eiffel Tower. A true showcase of unity and progress on the global stage.
My Day at the Paris 2024 Olympics
I absolutely love watching Water Polo and I was lucky enough to snag a ticket to a Canada game! These games are taking place in the Saint-Denis Aquatics Centre, which is just north of Paris. It is accessible by RER and the metro. Diving also takes place at this location.
Besides the event, I also spent the rest of my day in the city visiting other Olympics sites. This is my experience that also doubles as a guide.
Moving Around
Arriving at the Venue
At the Event
Exploring Paris 2024
Overall Thoughts
Moving Around
My Olympics experience started the night before, where I nabbed just-released tickets from the official website. With no trains available, I booked a spot on a Flixbus. I was on my way first thing in the morning!
Arriving in Paris (as far away from the event venue as possible) I had to commute another hour to the stadium. It’s impossible to get lost. There are pink signs with arrows all over public transportation and on the streets for the venues. There are info booths everywhere with volunteers offering help and official Olympics maps. Closer to the venues, it’s possible to just follow the big crowds.
Honestly, I did not actually need to use my map, but it is a fun souvenir to have. It’s also useful if you want to visit several venues or points of cultural interest in the area.
Speaking of cultural points of interest, there are many interesting displays on the route to venues. They have lots of photos and information about the Olympics, history of sports, the behind-the-scenes of Paris 2024, and more. I highly recommend checking them out!
Arriving at the Venue
Outside
If the crowds and the signage don’t tip you off that you’ve arrived, look out for the unmissable pink lifeguard chairs! On them are turquoise-clad volunteers directing spectators. More volunteers are on the ground showing where to lineup for security and ticket checks.
Security checks include looking inside bags and body scans (typical for all French sports events). If you arrive with a water bottle, they make you take a swig of whatever liquid is inside. The checks are fairly quick.
Once through the gates, the ambience is electric! Fans wander the grounds displaying support for their countries. There are refreshment stands (alcohol-free) and lots of seating areas along the path to the venue. Oversize Omega clocks mark the time so you won’t miss your event. There are lots of places for photo-ops. The most notable is the Torch Tent, where you can get a photo holding a real Olympic flame!
Of course, there are several boutiques selling officially licensed merchandise. They sell more or less the same things. Pro tip: the first boutiques on the path are the busiest. The ones closest to the venue have virtually no lineups.
I see a lot of people online asking about toilets. There are incredibly clean WC facilities inside and outside the stadium. Outdoor facilities at the official venues are in trailers and feature several proper rooms with actual sinks for washing hands. There are water refill stations around each facility.
Inside
Getting inside the stadium is a breeze. There are signs everywhere directing spectators to the entrances written on their tickets. Seats are assigned and easy to find. There are more refreshment stands, with reusable or biodegradable packaging. Outside food and drinks are permitted, so I had actually brought my own.
Arriving early, I was able to take lots of photos and selfies before the event started!
At the Event
There is nothing quite like a live event at the Olympics! First of all, it is SO COOL being at one of the venues that’s shown around the world on TV. The air is buzzing with anticipation; you can literally feel the jubilation of everyone around you. Expect a lot of flags and wild costumes. Motivational music blasts from the speakers and big screens show videos of competitions, highlights, and stats. There are French and English commentators explaining the matches and also pumping up the crowd.
Things that make a lot of noise (such as vuvuzelas) are prohibited, but one of the Canadian fans was allowed to keep his. As he blew the horn the entire match, every Canadian fan chanted and cheered along. Cameramen pop out of nowhere and I made it onto at least three different stations. It was so lively and a ton of fun!
A special bonus from arriving early was the chance to see divers practising for their upcoming competition. Diving is one of my all-time favourite competitions (including winter sports!) and it was impossible to get tickets, so this was a HUGE highlight for me!
The events more or less happen just like on TV. The athletes are introduced, they compete, and then they thank/congratulate each other and leave. Spectators are asked to leave after the event finishes. My ticket included two back-to-back matches. There was a 15-20 minute break between the two.
Overall, it is absolutely incredible to see these top-tier athletes competing in real life, just a few meters away!
Exploring Paris 2024
After the matches, there was NO WAY that I was going to go back to Reims right away! The hype was too real. Staying in Paris, I wanted to check out as many Olympic spots as possible.
Champions Park, Trocadéro, Eiffel Tower
First stop, Trocadéro. Famous for its spectacular viewing area at the base of the Eiffel tower, it is the entry point for Champions Park. This fan zone is open to all, free of charge, and without reservation. On the schedule are giant viewing screens, DJ concerts, concession stands, and all sorts of events. Around 17h45 every evening, Olympic medallists parade through the grounds. When I arrived, the park was closed for the weekend, but security was letting people enter to take photos of the Eiffel Tower with the Olympic rings. Security checked bags as usual and entry was very quick, despite the huge amount of people. Personally, I really wanted a photo with the rings, so I was very happy to be there. It’s also the emptiest I’ve ever seen this area, so it made fantastic photos! Far in the distance, the beach volleyball stadium can be spotted between the tower’s feet.
Champs-Élysées, Grande Palais, Pont Alexandre III, Les Invalides
With my plans for Champions Park thwarted, I had lots of time to do some exploring before another big event. Next up, the Champs-Élysées. Way past the shops and the Arc de Triomphe is a whole world dedicated to the Olympic Games.
Walking distance to five official venues , the street is closed to cars and surrounded by all kinds of activities and presentations. The biggest Olympics Boutique can also be found here. Note that there is a huge lineup to enter!
Across the street is the newly renovated, magnificent Grand Palais. Hosting fencing and taekwondo, it is incredibly popular. Expect to see huge crowds waiting to enter before events.
There is also a free exhibit about Olympics Culture at the Petit Palais right in front too!
Continuing on is the Pont Alexandre III. Partially closed for marathon and cycling events, it offers a spectacular flag-lined view of Les Invalides. This is where the archery events happen. It looks more crowded in the photo than it actually was in real life!
Crossing the bridge, I continued (left) along the Seine for fantastic views of the bridge, Grand Palais, and fan zones along the river. Pride House, a welcoming space for LGBTI+ supporters, athletes, and allies, can also be found around here.
At the end of the Champs-Élysées is Place de la Concorde. It hosts urban sports competitions, like BMX, skateboarding, and 3×3 basketball. It’s not possible to see anything through the barriers here, so it’s not worth the trek without tickets.
Hôtel de Ville Fan Zone
Paris’ city hall, Hôtel de Ville, transformed its great terrace into one of the city’s most popular (and free!) fan zones. Designed to accommodate up to 6,000 people, it has a lot to offer while being environmentally friendly:
- Two giant screens to live broadcast competitions
- Six sports practice areas, including a climbing wall
- A main stage for performances
- Food and drink options
Anyways, I arrived to watch French swimming sensation, Léon Marchand compete in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley. There were something like 10,000 people waiting to get into the already packed fan zone. Multiple lineups wound around the giant building and down several blocks. Impossible to get in, I found a spot on the street with a view of one of the big screens. Together with hundreds of neighbours, we cheered on Léon. The area EXPLODED when he won and it was an absolutely incredible experience! Another big highlight with a real spirit of the Olympic games!
You can watch the video of his win here. Admittedly, I was watching the screen and not my phone, so I didn’t record the best view of it lol! But the important part is the cheering anyways.
The Louvre and The Cauldron
On the way to the final stop, I passed through the courtyards of The Louvre. Besides looking absolutely stunning at sunset, it is also a great backdrop for the Olympic Rings. There is a lineup to take a selfie with them, but I sneaked a quick photo between models.
My final destination is the Olympic Cauldron, known as the Vasque Olympique over here. Shaped as a hot air balloon (a nod to the famous French invention), it is located in the Tuileries Gardens just in front of the Pyramids of the Louvre. In theme with the rest of the Olympics, it is environmentally-friendly, using water vapour and lights to mimic a real flame. Originally, it was reported that visits are free and accessible during the daytime with a reservation. The reservations “sold out” within minutes of the announcement.
I arrived shortly before 21h20 to see the balloon’s proposed take-off for 21h27 (sunset). I read an article that the best viewing spot is in front of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. But it seems that half of Paris read that same article, so it is impossible to get a decent photo from this spot while the balloon is on the ground (unless you are very tall).
Unexpectedly, security opened the gates at the Tuileries Gardens to let people view the spectacle. It very quickly reached capacity, some 13,000 people. Up close, the balloon is huge and impressive. There is no official schedule of take-off times because it varies due to weather conditions. Unfortunately, the wind wasn’t favourable for a sunset launch. Half an hour later, someone announced that the take-off was postponed for another hour. I had to catch the very last bus back to Reims, glimpsing the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower on my way out.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, the Paris 2024 Olympics are absolutely epic. I loved every moment, from watching the athletes compete right in front of me to checking out the gorgeous venues to celebrating victory out in the open with thousands of other fans. Almost everything is well-organized, clean, and easy to navigate.
Surprisingly, there is almost no one in the city outside of the official Olympic spots. The streets are almost as quiet as when the borders were closed during the Covid pandemic! And the metro is emptier than I’ve ever seen: I rode it five times and had a seat each time, with no one sitting next to me. Wild!
If you can get tickets, 100% go. Even if you can’t, it’s really worth visiting the fan zones and venues just to bask in the spirit of victory. The Paris 2024 Olympics are an incredible feat and, to me, represent the true spirit of the Olympic Games.
Important Information & Tips
Transportation
- Follow the pink signs and ask official volunteers for information about getting to and from venues. Google Maps helps to get to and from general areas, but it’s best to follow the signs and crowds because of road closures and barricades.
- The easiest way to go between venues is by metro. There are a lot of road closures around the venues, leading to long detours by foot and bike. Also, bikes must be walked in pedestrian-heavy areas.
- Speaking of the metro, the easiest way to get tickets is on your phone! If your phone is NFC-compatible (double-check here), download the IDF Mobilites app. You won’t need to waste time waiting in line to buy tickets or a card. You don’t need to worry about losing them either, since you can just tap your phone. Plus, you can plan out your itineraries in real-time. I use it every time I am in Paris. Be sure to give yourself lots of time to get from one place to another!
- Don’t bother with taxis or uber to Olympic sites. The roads are closed off!
- If you are arriving by bus (Flixbus, Blablacar Bus, etc), note that the stations have changed. I arrived at Château de Vincennes, in the southeastern point of Paris. The stop is a sidestreet in the forest near the castle (Avenue Daumesnil), about a good 10-15 walk from two metro stops. Note that there is no signage indicating where buses are parked, so make sure to arrive early so you won’t miss your ride!
Official Merch
- If you want Olympics merch and are staying in France for a week or so, take a look online. The officially licensed t-shirts, tote bags, toys, etc are available online at discounted prices from Carrefour and Monoprix (yes, grocery stores). The logo t-shirt is around €35 from the Olympics boutique, but around €22 on the other sites (you might be able to find them in the big supermarkets in the suburbs). I ordered my logo t-shirt from Monoprix and it arrived 2 days later with regular shipping.
Other Tips
- Download the official apps for all the updates and information about venues/competitions. If you are in France, you can watch the Olympics live online here.
- Pack as lightly as possible because there are bag checks at every entry point. There is no storage for luggage etc at the venues or fan zones.
- You can bring your own food and drinks (no alcohol permitted), in “reasonable quantity”. Meaning snacks and formule-equivalent (eg lunch/sandwich deals you can find at bakeries or grocery stores). I recommend doing this so you don’t waste time waiting around in line.
- When things are cancelled or postponed (such as Champions Park or the Olympic Cauldron), they aren’t communicated anywhere online or on signs. You generally find out when you arrive and they make an announcement in person. This is pretty standard in France LOL
- Bring a portable phone charger, fans, and a reusable water bottle (plastic or metal only, no glass)!
- Thank the volunteers and wish luck/congratulations to the athletes you pass.
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