The Ultimate Guide to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

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Simply put, the fashion Olympics are the biggest sporting event the world has ever seen. Of course, the viewership and viewership figures of the World Cup will remain forever, however, the Olympics, in their complexity and ever-evolving mission, will invariably win.

Every four years, one more city in the world brings new energy and direction to a number of sports as old as prehistory: archery, athletics, sailing, swimming. For a brief summer, sportsmen who exercise and practice on the outer edge of our sports spotlight gain a heroic prestige comparable to that of the Greek gods to whom the ancient games were originally dedicated. Paris 2024 will be no other and, as with the Games, absolutely unique.

Welcome to your host city. Since its inception in 1896, the fashionable Olympics have been held elsewhere; The initial concept was to spread the game’s appeal on a global scale. Since those messianic days, securing the right to host the event and then gladly hosting it has become the driving force behind the festival that helps keep the Games going. .

When Paris first hosted the occasion in 1900, the occasion was a sporting complement to the much larger Exposition Universelle and was considered a failure; however, the city redeemed itself in 1924, when it became the first to host the Games twice, putting on a thunderous Chariot-of-Fire-style spectacle that impressed its former critics.

A century later, Paris hosted the Olympics again. Paris 2024 promises to reintroduce visitors to much-loved buildings in a new way and take them to spaces in the city they don’t see. You might think you know Paris, but those Olympics will give you a wonderful global city in unexpected ways. Consult our excellent advisor for the best tips and advice.

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The Olympic Games will take place between July 26 and August 11, 2024. The Paralympic Games will take place between August 28 and September 8.

Tickets have been rolling out in stages throughout paris2024. org/fr/price, and organisers recently announced that British enthusiasts have bought more than any other country except France. Even though sales have been smart and maximum on the prestigious occasions and athletics finals of Other top-tier sports are sold out, there are plenty of attractive sports to watch and from the second quarter of 2024, price ticket holders who will no longer attend the Games will be able to resell their price tickets through the secure Paris 2024 platform and at their original value.

There are also hospitality seats, priced at €5,000 (£4,270) to attend the opening ceremony, to give you an idea, and some very attractive holiday packages (see Hospitalitytravelpackages. paris2024. org) for around €500 for hotel and event. .

The most direct way to get to central Paris from the UK is via Eurostar, but with capacity already maxed out in the summer, it’s worth considering other options, adding flights to Charles de Gaulle Airport, which has good connections to major airports. Boxing enthusiasts attending fights at the North Paris Arena can walk at most to their stadium, and the Stade de France is just 35 minutes from CDG via RER.

Maybe you’ll even drive. Travel from Portsmouth to Le Havre with Brittany Ferries and then leave the car in a suburb or on the outskirts of town with parking and a smart RER connection like Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

Concerns about the European Union’s new Entry-Exit System (EES), which will require all non-EU passengers to have their fingerprints and photograph taken upon arrival, have eased as strict regulations have been delayed until November 6. It was scheduled to be published in May, but was delayed due to technical problems and lobbying by French officials who did not need the formula to implement the Olympics.

That said, given the large number of people traveling to France this summer, either for the occasion or for the summer holidays across Europe, delays are to be expected at the border. To avoid additional frustrations, check that your passport is valid and complies with the latest updates from your airline, Eurostar, Le Shuttle or ferry provider.

It’s a pleasure to travel around the SNCF. Si you travel to multiple destinations, get an Interrail pass.

A great idea has been given to this aspect. If you’re in the center of Paris, it’s worth visiting the Invalides. However, the most productive position is the Parc de La Villette, the superbly crazy park full of art. northeast of Paris, where the headquarters of Club France will be located, where French athletes and enthusiasts will gather to celebrate and cheer on their fellow athletes. Other nations will have similar positions to La Villette, which will be filled with giant screens broadcasting the events.

There are also public events, such as the marathon. The women’s marathon, intentionally chosen to close the Olympic Games, gives a glimpse into the thinking of the organisers. From the center of Paris to Versailles, it will commemorate the march of thousands of women. in 1789, which brought about the end of the monarchy. Rather than the city center or Versailles itself, a good place to see it is the Parc des Marnes, followed by a walk east along the Seine to catch runners returning to the city.

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Paris is your playground. This is one of the strategic lines that Games organisers have repeated in the bidding procedure and organisational stages, informing a strategy to rejuvenate and reinvent some of the city’s less-publicised buildings and neighbourhoods. Perfect for travelers looking for something extra in a city. You know that well.

The central squares are an organization of transitory structures to the west of the city that revolve around the École Militaire at the end of the Champ de Mars.

At London 2012, the beach volleyball stadium was playfully located on Horse Guards Parade, creating a charming juxtaposition with the magnificent Palladian architecture; A birthday party about how the game can create unforeseen continuities among other places.

The French have done something even more wonderful by installing it under their capital’s most enduring but even more compelling urban artifact: the Eiffel Tower. As a first echo of the past, it must be noted that the design was built for a very different but comparable world. More than any other city, the wonderful exhibitions have helped build Paris.

The historical echoes are advancing. The Grand Palais was also built for the World’s Fair and hosted that year’s Olympic Games. The partial reopening of the Grand Palais is welcome, as it has been closed since 2021, although it may not be fully open until 2025. However, the Palace nave is entire and more than enough: 13,500 square meters with a glass roof, and they host the fencing and taekwondo events.

Only one new venue is being built, which means that ephemeral designs will dot the city of Paris in 2024. Probably the most beautiful, located in the Grand Palais, its bentwood design echoes that of the older building next door. The Champ de Mars Arena has served as an area of choice while the Grand Palais is renovated and will be preserved for a few more months to host judo and wrestling.

One of the most important public spaces in Paris has been renovated and will feature several transitional stadiums designed to host some of the latest Olympic sports: the Olympic Games. On a site originally designed to house a statue of Louis XV, various fashion occasions – skateboarding, 3×3 basketball, BMX freestyle and, for the first time, breakdancing will also be played.

It may seem incongruous, but bringing new sports to transient venues in historic neighborhoods is a tried-and-true strategy for the Olympics, reifying the qualities of the particular European city: old and fashionable at the same time.

Whoever chose to host archery near the Hôtel des Invalides, now a museum and monument to the history of the French army, will be a winner. As usual in the first organization of positions, Les Invalides is located in the center of Paris, with the Esplanade, one of the city’s favorite recreational destinations, a place where Parisians and tourists pass by to walk and play. In 2024, it will be an area committed to the Games, a venue for combined athletes and spectators.

Where to stay: Part of a new era of luxury jazz-style hostels, the Yooma Urban Lodge Eiffel (double from £85) is a wonderful family-friendly location, a 15-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower along the Seine. The kitchens have been thoughtfully thought out, but there is still plenty of room for Parisian taste with a market-positioned rooftop garden and modern interiors.

Where to eat: Guy de Maupassant used to have lunch at a restaurant at the foot of the Eiffel Tower because it was the only place where he couldn’t see the design he so despised. It is not obligatory to pronounce on the aesthetic merits of the Tower to eat at Madame Brasserie on the first floor. Opt for the Gustave menu.

What to do: The Musée de l’Armée de Les Invalides has undergone a primary renovation and will reopen its doors, renovated, in June 2024. The tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte is located in the center of the Baroque church of Hardouin-Mansart, who also designed the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

Now home to France’s biggest football club, Paris Saint-Germain, the Parc des Princes is steeped in sports history. Older rugby enthusiasts probably won’t forget coming here to watch France’s Five Nations team while it’s being played. then. Further back in time, it hosted matches at the 1938 World Cup.

Roland Garros hosts one of the Grand Slam tennis tournaments, also known as Roland Garros. The place may not have the labyrinthine charm of Wimbledon, but its tree-lined avenues and public spaces make it feel like an integral component of the city.

Where to stay: The Hotel Botaniste (double from £157) in nearby Auteuil is one of the city’s best boutique hotels and captures the spirit of a domain that was a rural retreat for the aristocracy in the days of Louis XV.

Where to eat: The gastronomic offer at Roland Garros is one of the most productive of any sports venue in the world. Try the Food Court, as well as the stall selling rougail sausage, a rich tomato stew, made with sausages and aromatic spices. Football enthusiasts, gather before matches at the end of Trois Obus, if that’s your vibe.

What to do: La Tour aux Figures sits at the tip of the captivating Parc Départemental de l’Ile Saint-Germain on an island in the Seine. This monumental sculpture, designed by Jean Dubuffet and built in the 1980s, is the pinnacle of the outsider. art; Part graffiti, part medieval tower.

The Paris Expo Porte de Versailles covers more than 35 hectares, built in 1923 to house the Foire de Paris. It has been renovated over the years, and not in the most sensitive way, although the decorated columns of the original exterior are still visible. To be honest, it’s a bit monstrous, but with plenty of room for weightlifting, handball, volleyball and table tennis for the Olympics and boccia, para table tennis and goalball for the Paralympics.

Where to stay: The Hotel Moderniste (double from £157) on Rue de Langeac plays on the history of the Expo venue, with beautiful fair day posters displayed in its sublime halls.

Where to eat: Yes, Mon General is closed on weekends, but it offers a good and reasonable example of how French cuisine, at least in Paris, incorporates (at a painfully slow pace, admittedly) other flavors, in this case other Mediterranean cuisines.

What to do: One of Paris’ biggest secrets is La Petite Ceinture, an old railway line extended long before the similar transformation of New York’s High Line. The 15th arrondissement, not far from the Expo, is the most beautiful. Waiting for a designed space: simply a genuine desert and a very un-Parisian tranquility and calm.

After the structure of the Centre Pompidou in 1971, carte blanche was given to some frankly far-fetched Parisian buildings that would endure for the next two decades. The Bercy is one of those buildings: a delightfully extravagant pyramid surrounded by steel beams and meandering fountains. It is normally a concert hall, but it will host basketball and gymnastics during the Games.

Where to stay: The community around the Bercy Arena sums up everything wrong with Parisian hotels: bland chains or upscale, expensive hotels. That’s why hostels, even if they offer double rooms, are a better option. Bercy (rooms from £46) has an amazing rooftop garden and a bar.

Where to eat: There is a large expanse of bistros and bars north of the Arena. Anco is huge but very popular, invariably packed at lunchtime. Further west are some noisier bars if you want to freshen up before events.

What to do: A parallel stop at the Vélodrome de Vincennes is a must. Stroll through the Bois de Vincennes and then enjoy this picturesque monument to the Olympic past. This captivating old track with wrought-iron columns is home to the main stadium from the 1900s. Summer Olympics. In addition, the wonderful Eddy Merckx crossed the finish line here in each of his five Tour de France victories, as it is the highlight of the Tour for many years. The adjoining restaurant, La Cipale, is also excellent.

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In other words: Saint-Denis is fascinating. One of the enduring barriers of French society is the border between it and Paris proper. The Stade de France is situated on the edge of a domain with the highest poverty rate in metropolitan France and the highest proportion of immigrants. The stadium itself is a maravilla. de modern architecture: a truly adaptable and multifunctional design that will host athletics and rugby.

The adjacent aquatic center is the only new permanent site where the games will be built and will host diving. A surprising structure, especially on the inside, which will later be remodeled to turn it into a net pool.

Where to stay: There are no recommended hotels in Saint-Denis, there are a few chains just outside the stadium. There are some wonderful Airbnbs in the area, but as footballer Thierry Henry used to say, “Saint-Denis is not Paris”. However, it is 10 minutes from Gare de Nord via the RER (not covered by metro tickets).

Where to eat: If you’re not afraid, head to Suzanne’s on Fontaine Street for a braised bird and banana.

What to do: The Basilica of Saint-Denis is perhaps the most important church in France, arguably the world. Not only is it the burial place of the kings of France, but it is also the place where, under Abbot Suger, Gothic architecture was first designed and executed. Abandoned for a long time, it is slowly recovering.

Located in the absolutely captivating, if a bit boring, suburb of Colombes (strong Richmond-upon-Thames vibe), this stadium was the place where the events described in Chariots of Fire, the victories of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell, actually took place. It’s also the point where the fictional events of Escape to Victory took place (although the movie was filmed elsewhere). It was the main stadium of the 1924 Olympics and the site of the second World Cup final. It will host hockey events at the Olympics.

This multi-purpose indoor stadium is located in the commercial district of Paris and is surrounded by some of the tallest buildings in the region. The stadium was opened in October 2017 to house the Racing 92 rugby club. It hasn’t become a component integral. de Parisian sports culture yet, but after the Olympics, where swimming will be held, it could be.

Where to stay: Hotels in La Défense (there is nothing in Colombes) are sometimes aimed at business tourists. If this is right for you, check out the Aparthotel Adagio Access Colombes La Défense (rooms from £57) or the Hotel Courseine (double from £96).

Where to eat: Colombes is full of good places to eat, but it’s the unique Local Bear, run by two brothers, Cameron and Brett, from Virginia. It serves burgers in France and also has a Star Wars-themed wine bar next door. door.

What to do: If you don’t find anything fun to do in the Bois de Boulogne in the southeast, there’s no hope for you. The amusement park is super captivating and the Hippodrome (one of the 1924 Olympics) offers Longchamp a place for its money as the most productive racecourse in Paris.

It’s to think that before Louis XIV, Versailles was little more than a hunting lodge. The Palace of Versailles is one of the largest palaces in the world; A monument to the end of the monarchy as well as to its way of life. In 2024, the esplanade of the Étoile Royale, in the centre of the château’s gardens, is temporarily adapted to host various equestrian and fashion activities. pentathlon events. There are also bike lanes nearby.

Where to stay: It’s time to channel your inner Louis XIV and opt for a suite at Cernay’s L’Abbaye des Vaux (double from £239). The complex of buildings began in the 12th century and slowly expanded over six hundred years. Abandoned for a century after the revolution, the site was acquired by Charlotte de Rothschild, who stored the ruins of the church and part of the buildings, restoring the abbey completely. Now it’s a very giant hotel.

Where to eat: La Perle de Saint-Louis is the best little place to eat fish in the center of the old Saint-Louis district, which is located east of the palace.

What to do: If you haven’t noticed the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, you haven’t lived.

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In addition to being the headquarters of France’s National Shooting Center, this charming and little-known city, right in the center of France, is known for being the birthplace of Gérard Depardieu.

Where to stay: This is the land of castles, so why not stay here?Especially if it has an indirect link to the Olympics through the late driver and rugby player Yves du Manoir, as does Château du Boisrenault (double from £86).

Where to eat: Ici Chef is a wonderful little stall that prides itself on its formula and simple, straightforward dishes.

What to do: Châteauroux is simply a very old and charming French town. There are lovely woods all around, but the most important thing is the town itself, a bit historically bland, but lovely to wander around and appreciate in detail.

Nantes is the border between the north and south of France: the point where agricultural land is no longer used for livestock or cultivation, yet for the planting of vines. La Beaujoire is an elegant old-fashioned stadium, ideal for football.

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Where to eat: The Ch’ Ti Breizh Bar brasserie is as affordable as the fries and the position to prepare the local speciality of Welsh rarebit with Maroilles cheese.

What to do: A monument to the abolition of slos angelesvery, the Quai de los angeles Fosse commemorates the key role the city played in slos angelesve’s foreign trade.

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Where to stay: The interiors of the clos angelesssic Bordeaux are incredible. Book an evening at the Acanthus (double from £63) near the Los Angeles Stock Exchange, close to the city centre and the tram to the stadium.

Where to eat: Soif, in the Saint-Pierre district, is a wine bar that serves simple but unique seasonal dishes, based on what the chef discovered at the market of the day.

What to do: Skip the wine tours and head to Saint-Émilion by exercising from Bordeaux’s Gare Saint-Jean. In just 35 minutes you will be in wine heaven.

Stade de Lyon and Stade Geoffroy-Guichard are less than an hour’s drive from each other, and the organizations that use them, Olympique Lyonnais and Saint-Étienne, collectively have 17 Ligue 1 titles. This area, after the suburbs of Paris, is the centre of French football, a favourable position for the stages of Olympic organisation of this sport.

Where to stay: The Hotel des Artistes (double from £66) on Place des Célestins on the Lyon peninsula is a serene experience.

Where to eat: La Madone in Lyon is a former parsonage converted into a bar with a rooftop terrace and, of course, delicious food.

What to do: The Parc des Angeles Tête-d’Or in Lyon is the closest to Central Park for the French and a hub of Olympic activities during the Games.

If you want an excuse to head to the South of France in the summer, then organised football matches or sailing from Marseille’s marina are the solution.

Where to stay: In a lovely location, Tuba is a renovated diving school from the 60s. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to get your hands on one of the five delightfully designed cottages, available from £138 per night.

Where to eat: Located on the Kennedy Corniche with its stunning views, Le Rhul has been serving the local specialty, bouillabaisse, since 1948.

What to do: The Chateau d’If sits off the coast of Marseille and was once a prison, which animated Alexandre Dumas in The Count of Monte Cristo.

Nice is not a football meeting point, but who complains about it?The stadiums of the Olympic football organization are an excuse to visit one of the most beautiful cities in France.

Where to stay: Choose the right room at the captivating Hotel Suisse (double from £281) and enjoy a direct view of the Promenade des Anglais.

Where to eat: La Lavomatique is a laundromat in the old town where you can enjoy high-end cuisine in a friendly, casual atmosphere.

What to do: The Matisse Museum is a remodeled villa with an elegant wing dedicated to the paintings of the wonderful artistic genius who lived in the city from 1917 to 1954.

Here we broaden the definition of France a bit, as did the organizers of Paris 2024, who chose to host the surf festival in Teahupo’o, in Tahiti, in French Polynesia, French territory. the most powerful waves in the world, so they can hardly be blamed.

Where to stay: Punatea Village in northern Tahiti is an amazing series of beach bungalows with terraces and direct beach (from £56 a night).

Where to eat: Brasserie De La Remparts in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, serves French bistro cuisine — a timely reminder of the ties between those lands and the old country.

What to do: The Paul Gauguin Museum closed for renovations in 2013 and hasn’t reopened since. Instead, stop by and look for the petroglyphs or rock carvings on the coast of Te Pari.

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This short story was first published in February 2024 and has been revised and updated.

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