Surfers paddling out off Tahiti, 15,000 km from the Eiffel Tower, were part of the same Olympics as beach volleyball players spiking in its shadow. That odd geography came with a bigger claim to fame. Paris, which also held the Summer Games in 1900 and 1924, became only the second city after London to stage them three times.
Getting there took persistence. The city had lost its bids for 1992, 2008 and 2012. For 2024 it started as one of five candidates, alongside Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angeles and Rome. Budapest, Hamburg and Rome pulled out, and a deal followed: Paris would take 2024 and Los Angeles 2028. The International Olympic Committee confirmed Paris as the 2024 host in September 2017.
A spread-out Games
The 35th edition of the Summer Games ran for 19 days, from 26 July to 11 August 2024, with around 10,500 athletes from 206 nations in 32 sports and 329 gold medals on offer, according to DW. There were 35 venues, and not all were in Paris. Modern pentathlon and the equestrian events were staged in front of the Palace of Versailles. Football was spread over stadiums across the country, and handball went to Lille.
Tahiti was the outlier. Tony Estanguet, who headed the Paris 2024 organising committee, said it had “the smallest carbon impact” of the surfing options and would guarantee waves, with most surfers travelling from South America, Australia or North America. “From a sporting point of view it was by far the best choice,” he said.
The Stade de France, with room for 78,000, was the athletics venue and held the closing ceremony. The opening ceremony skipped the stadium altogether, sending athletes down the Seine on 160 boats.
New events, old record
Breaking, better known as breakdancing, made its Olympic debut, and so did kayak cross. Baseball, softball, karate and the 50-kilometer walk were dropped. The Olympic Village was home to 9,000 athletes.
The club of three-time hosts did not stay small for long. Los Angeles, which hosted in 1932 and 1984, is set to join London and Paris when it stages the 2028 Games.
Sources
- When and where are the 2024, 2028 and 2032 Olympics being hosted? – AS USA
- Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Everything you need to know (DW)
