A Glimpse into the 2024 Paris Olympics
This year, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, spending three exhilarating days at the Stade de France. From the moment you step into the stadium, you're enveloped in a vibrant sea of lilacs and deep purples—the Olympic colours of Paris. The fluorescent purple track glows with an ethereal light as athletes blazed around it, setting remarkable times. Your eyes darted between the pole vault, long jump, hammer throw, and discus, as these thrilling events unfolded simultaneously, each more awe-inspiring than the last, leaving no room for boredom. The stands were a lively mosaic of national flags and memorabilia, creating an atmosphere charged with festivity, unity, and shared excitement. When your country won a medal, it felt like a personal victory. The pride that swelled while witnessing Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson receive her gold medal in the 800 metres was so profound, it could bring anyone to tears.
As the final events of the day approached, the stadium's energy intensified. Spectators were handed flashing wristbands that lit up in brilliant purple, signalling the countdown. When the stadium lights dimmed, the sea of purple transformed the arena into a magical, starry sky. Despite a DJ whose song choices occasionally veered into cringeworthy, the crowd was on their feet, dancing to all the classics, united in celebration. Unlike the often tense atmosphere at football matches, there was no aggression or hostility here. I found myself cheering for athletes from France, Jamaica, Spain, Botswana, Ireland, and beyond, regardless of nationality. The stadium's alcohol ban likely contributed to the peaceful environment, with no violent outbursts or frantic rushes to the exits. There was an overwhelming sense of goodness and humanity, watching people achieve their dreams, represent their countries, and witness history in the making. As you left the stadium, you carried with you a profound sense of satisfaction, elation, and euphoria, shared with fellow spectators who had all experienced something truly special.
Paris: A City Transformed by the Olympics
Paris spread its Olympic events throughout the city, with the Stade de France just 10 minutes from St. Denis and about 20 minutes from the city centre. The Aquatics Centre was directly opposite the stadium, and other events were held in iconic locations—equestrian events outside Versailles, archery at Les Invalides near Napoleon’s tomb, fencing at the Grand Palais, and beach volleyball right in front of the Eiffel Tower. Football matches took place across France in cities like Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, and Lyon. This approach effectively
encouraged tourism and exploration, allowing spectators to experience both the Olympic events and the beauty of Paris. Unlike London’s 2012 Games, which concentrated activities in Stratford, Paris created a network of intertwined venues that spread the Olympic spirit across the city. The efficient transport system, with multiple metro lines, trams, buses, and even hire bikes and scooters, made it easy to get anywhere within an hour. However, Paris lacked a central communal space like Stratford, where an interactive hub was created with activities like timed 50m sprints and football challenges. While this hub heightened the Olympic atmosphere in London, Paris’s decentralised approach encouraged people to explore the city’s culture, architecture, and history alongside the Games.
This spirit of exploration and connection was particularly poignant given the context of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which took place just three years after the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games. Paris’ Games became a powerful symbol of global resilience and renewal. They felt extraordinary not only because of the numerous world records, personal bests, and national achievements but also because they marked a return to normalcy after the isolation and fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike Tokyo’s empty stadiums and isolated athletes, Paris allowed Olympians to share their victories with family, friends, and fans, amplifying a global moment of hope and recovery that resonated throughout the city’s vibrant streets and venues.
Challenges and Controversies
However, despite its successes, the Paris Olympics faced significant challenges, many stemming from the city's own Olympic committee. Kaylia Nemour, a French-born gymnast who ultimately won gold on the uneven bars for Algeria, is one example. Originally slated to compete for France, Nemour was dropped from the French team after a life-altering injury. When she attempted to return, the French Gymnastics Federation refused to allow her to compete unless she relocated to their facility and trained with their coaches. Nemour declined, leading to her exclusion from the French team. Fortunately, she was able to switch nationalities through her father and compete for Algeria.
Another incident involved sprinters Sha'Carri Richardson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who encountered transportation issues en route to the women’s 100-metre final. They were forced to walk an hour to the stadium, leaving them without sufficient warm-up time. Fraser-Pryce withdrew from the final due to injury, while a flustered Richardson, the favourite to win, finished with a silver medal. Many speculated that her result might have been different with proper preparation.
Additionally, despite Paris spending 1.5 billion euros to clean the Seine, the river became contaminated with E. coli and other harmful bacteria after the opening ceremony's intense rainfall, causing severe flooding. Although there were discussions about cancelling the swimming marathon and converting the triathlon into a duathlon, all events due to take place in the Seine proceeded as planned. The situation escalated when Belgian triathlete Claire Michel athlete contracted E. coli after her individual race and had to pull out of the mixed relay, while Canadian athlete Tyler Mislawchuk became violently ill after his race, quoted saying “I vomited ten times after the race,”. Some athletes described the water conditions as horrifying, particularly under the bridges “While swimming under the bridge, I felt things and saw things that you shouldn’t think about too much,” said Belgian competitor Jolien Vermeyle. In retrospect, many of the issues Paris faced stemmed from the operational nature of the Games. By spreading events across the city and setting ambitious sustainability goals with one of their main objectives being the clean up of the Seine river, the organisers created logistical challenges that proved difficult to manage.
Compounding these challenges, the 2024 Games were also overshadowed by ongoing global conflicts and domestic unrest. The riots across the UK cast a shadow over the celebrations. As a British citizen, the pride in supporting our athletes was mixed with disappointment and concern for the turmoil at home. It was disheartening to witness the contrast between the remarkable achievements of our athletes and the unsettling events back in the UK, which undoubtedly affected their sense of pride and accomplishment.
Olympic Triumphs: A Global Perspective
Yet, despite these challenges, the Olympics remain one of the few events that bring people together on a truly global scale. With 184 countries competing and over 10,000 athletes participating, the Games offer a rare occasion where patriotism transcends divisiveness. We cheer not just for our countries, but for the athletes themselves—many of whom juggle full-time or part-time jobs to support their Olympic dreams. These athletes often have personal connections to their communities, making the Games feel more intimate and accessible. Whether it’s knowing an Olympian personally or hearing about their journey through a friend, these human connections are foundational to its success. The camaraderie between athletes, many of whom have trained together or competed against each other for years, is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Olympics. For instance, Armand Duplantis and Sha'Carri Richardson, who both attended Louisiana State University, brought this shared history to the world stage, with Duplantis winning gold in the men’s pole vault and Richardson earning silver in the women’s 100m. The Games also highlight incredible stories of perseverance and triumph, such as Pakistan’s first-ever gold medal in men’s javelin, with Arshad Nadeem simultaneously breaking the world record, or Simone Biles’ inspiring comeback after taking a mental health break in Tokyo, winning three golds in Paris.
The Olympics embody a wide range of emotions—hope, suspense, joy, and heartbreak—while pushing the limits of what we believe humans can physically achieve. Every four years, we witness the evolution of human performance, talent, and ability. The origins of the Olympics date back over 3,000 years to Ancient Greece, with the first recorded Games held in 776 BC. Organised by the Greek people of Peloponnese, the Games were held in Olympia every four years and were dedicated to Zeus. The four-year interval, known as an Olympiad, was even used for dating purposes in Ancient Greece. These Games were not only athletic competitions but also a time of truce throughout Greece, allowing safe travel and promoting peace among the city-states. This spirit of resolution continues in today’s modern Olympics, as emphasised by the United Nations’ commitment to “building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal.” The modern Games were revived by Pierre de Coubertin in 1896, with the first events held in Athens.The 2024 Paris Olympics were a celebration of human achievement and global unity. Despite the ongoing challenges in the world, the Games offered a glimpse of hope, connection, and the enduring spirit of the Olympic ideal.
Edited by Atlanta T
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