32 years after I first fell in love with the Olympics it was finally time to witness the greatest celebration of sport up close and personal. The jubilation surrounding Gold medals for Linford Christie and Sally Gunnell along with the iconic Freddie Mercury performance in Barcelona formed some of my earliest life memories.
4 years later in Atlanta 1996 I was a fully-fledged sport addict and the Olympics captivated me like nothing before, new events to learn, the colourful flags and all the new countries I’d never heard of. I think I was the only kid at school who knew of the existence of Namibia due to the great sprinter Frankie Fredericks, so much to capture the imagination.
My sister and I would set up our high jump and long jump in the garden as Olympic fever took over the house. The closing ceremony left me in tears as I simply didn’t want it to end.
Fast forward 24 years and my idea of volunteering at Tokyo came just one day after applications closed, turns out Covid scuppered any chance of fan participation anyway. So Paris it was, only the second City to host the Olympics 3 times after London and 100 years on from the last occasion. This time I was determined not to miss out and was searching for tickets 18 months in advance ensuring I was ready for release date.
Who to go with?
With the Olympics being very different to Football tournaments following England, the crowd wouldn’t quite be the same so it wasn’t as simple as calling up the usual crew to join me. Such a long way in advance of an event most friends wouldn’t be prepared to commit so who better to join me on the adventure, than my Mum, a fellow sport lover who would happily get stuck into any sport hoping for an underdog win. Just as well as we ended up with tickets to 5 different events in total.
The origin of the Olympics dates back over 2500 years when Ancient Greece began hosting the event in honour of the Greek God Zeus. The Ancient Games were held on a mind-blowing 293 occasions showing that the joy of sport has always been such an inherent emotion throughout human history.
There is no doubt that Greece will always be the home of the Olympics but Paris can lay a strong claim to being next in the list. In terms of the modern Olympics, these were revived in 1896 by French Educator and Historian Pierre De Coubertin. His idea was approved in 1894 and he suggested the French capital as the host to align with the Paris Exposition in 1900.
However, to avoid dampening enthusiasm, it was decided the inaugural games should be earlier, and where better than Athens to kick things off. Paris did indeed host it at the turn of the 20th century and then again in 1924, the latter inspiring the 4-time Oscar winning film Chariots of Fire. Now a century on from the setting of this classic movie but the values still remain.
The values remain
The immense desire to strive for greatness, the sheer passion for sport and above all the sacrifice and dedication shown by not only the athletes but their families and coaches. These games also saw the introduction of the Olympic motto of Citius, Altius, Fortius, faster, higher, stronger which remains to this day. By now Paris had firmly cemented their place in Olympic folklore.
100 years later with three times as many athletes and an increase in competing countries from 44 to 204 this was a completely different spectacle. One that would be the first ever to have an equal amount of male and female competitors amongst the 10,000 athletes who had aspirations of gold, a far cry from the male only games in 1896.
After all the waiting and usual scaremongering headlines about the water quality of the River Seine for the swimming events and the security risks surrounding the ground breaking opening ceremony, it was time for the games to begin. The athletes were paraded on boats along the river in a truly unique event. Superstars of all kinds relayed the final stages of the torch, some absolute legends like Rafa Nadal and Zinedine Zidane, alongside some slightly less obvious candidates such as Snoop Dogg.
Incredible finale
Needless to say there was a epic finale on a rain soaked evening as Celine Dion showed she still had the star quality. She stole the show performing ‘Hymne à l’amour’ half way up the Eiffel Tower, an incredible sight that certainly left me with a tear in my eye and suitably inspired for the following day’s flight to Paris.
Textbook couple of pints at the airport, smooth Easyjet flight and soon enough we were arriving at our accommodation in France. A rather basic Airbnb where I didn’t read the small print and ended up on a sofa with towels for a quilt, not to worry, at 28 degrees overnight I didn’t need them anyway.
The hot temperatures continued in the morning as we jumped on the double decker train into the heart of Paris for our first event. And what a venue, the Beach Volleyball was to be played on the Champs du Mars. A temporary arena had been built in this gorgeous outdoor space where Parisians and tourists alike gather to marvel at the magnificence of the Eiffel Tower.
We were fortunate to see a French pair which gave us a taste of the passion felt amongst the home crowd, sadly the duo were thoroughly outplayed by their American counterparts but the atmosphere still entertained. With the hype man doing what he does, chanting from the fans and music in between each point it was a great way start to our games, not to mention one of the most photogenic settings in which I’ve ever watched any sport.
Post match sight seeing
After a lovely spot of dinner we took the opportunity to tick off a couple of tourist sites in the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe. The latter honouring those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its surfaces, a really impressive building that is well worth a visit on a sunny evening.
Another day of scorching conditions as we made the short journey from Épinay-sur-Seine towards our next event in Saint-Denis, dropping off our luggage at a local shop for the day as this was the only storage option available.
One of my travel goals in life is to visit the stadium of every World Cup Final, and with Stade de France having hosted the home side’s inaugural victory in 1998 it was a pleasure to tick off my 12th of the 22.
The stadium itself and the organisation around it took a huge amount of stick in 2022 when it botched the security of the Champions League Final with huge risk to supporter safety. Thankfully there were no such issues this time, apart from the odd person fainting due to the extreme heat, the entry was smooth and there we were for another new sport in a simply spectacular arena.
No medal chase
We took our seats for the Rugby 7’s supporting both our home team GB and that of our heritage in Ireland. Sadly these both lost the evening before meaning a medal was out of the question. Likewise the same fate befell the French team so unfortunately there would be no medal glory to cheer today as our battles were all for the lower placings.
Speaking of medals, this is where I realised my huge balls up. I’d cocked up my timings and the internet told me the shop we left out bags in closed at 8 and the final was at 7:45. FFS, what a nightmare, so after 5 hours of Rugby I left my Mum to enjoy New Zealand beat Canada in the Gold Medal match as I jogged off to retrieve our luggage. Aaaand in true Martino style, it was all completely unnecessary, turns out the internet was wrong and I could indeed have stayed to enjoy the final. Oh well, you live and learn, well, probably not learn but hey ho. The saving grace of the evening was discovering how cheap Taxis were around Paris which would come in handy throughout the week.
Feeling refreshed after a night’s sleep back in a proper bed it was up and off for an early start at the Hockey. Another new sport for me and a pleasant surprise in the build up to learn that the location for the Hockey was not only the Olympic Stadium of 1924 but the location of the World Cup Final in 1938. Stade Olympique de Colombes was now number 13 out of 22. A lovely couple of days for my target.
French beating
Once again we had the pleasure of seeing the host nation who even though scoring what I presume will be goal of the tournament, got trounced 5-1 by Germany. Despite the battering, the French girls got incredible support throughout and a standing ovation for their lap of honour at the end. This was just another example of the incredible support shown by the home fans.
They showed a real passion and pride in their nation and a huge desire to appreciate every moment. It wasn’t just about the winning for them but the opportunity to cheer on their compatriots which made for a wonderful atmosphere at every event. Whether they won or not, the fact they gave everything they could for their country was all that mattered.
The 35 degree heat and an early start meant a little afternoon siesta was in order but it wasn’t long until we were back at it to visiting the world renowned La Louvre. Inside is a remarkable display of art in a museum so large you could be in there for days and not see it all. The ‘pièce de résistance’ being the clamour to get a picture of the unmistakable Mona Lisa. God knows why as there a thousand more impressive things in the museum but that’s the way of the world sometimes.
Equally as impressive are the grounds surrounding the Museum, the buildings are breath-taking and worth a visit themselves even if not going inside. This area is also home to the Olympic balloon which holds the Olympic flame, this rises 60 metres above the gardens each day as the sun goes down creating a wonderful spectacle in which to relax.
A day of rest
Given the effort and distance to get to there we sold our tickets for the opening round of the golf tournament. This gave my Mum an opportunity to take a rest day as I ventured off on a boat tour of the city along the River Seine, one of my favourite things to do in a city where it allows. This took in all the iconic sights including alighting under the Eiffel Tower which never ceases to amaze no matter how many times you see it.
One thing outside of the events themselves that had me intrigued was the ‘Parc des Champions’, a fanzone where medallists would be paraded the day after their successes. One of my pet hates in these huge events though is the sponsorship which in this case meant only Visa cards were eligible, of course mine were both Mastercard, typical. Some 30 minutes later I managed to get half a litre of Kronenbourg for a mere 9 Euros and a ham and cheese baguette for the same price, not cheap but needs must.
The party atmosphere was in full flow at the free event, the dance show and hype man had the fans singing and dancing. This created a lovely environment for the medallists to come and parade their pride and joy. The beaming smiles showed what an amazing and unique moment this was for the triumphant athletes.
Awesome fanzone
As the sun went down and a few more beers with it, it was time for some live sport. I was praying for them to show Murray’s last stand but I had to follow his eventual demise over live updates as we watched any event with French interest, understandable I guess, but this is Muzza!! The highlight of the night was the unbelievable atmosphere for Léon Marchand racing to another victory. The real poster boy of the games was cruising to another victory and the light show combined with the Eiffel tower shining down over us was a spectacle to remember. Another example of the sheer elation and happy vibes that this Olympics was bringing to the French people. A great finale to the night which was almost bettered by a beautiful thunderstorm to round off a bloody lovely evening.
A late kick off for today’s event meant a nice leisurely start and a jaunt around the centre for a spot of sightseeing. The reconstruction of Notre Dame, le Centre Pompidou and another great little fanzone at the Hotel de Ville were all remarkable buildings within walking distance of each other. But soon enough it was time for the big event. When people asked which events we were going to in Paris, I always left this until last for maximum effect….The Athletics. The event above all that epitomises the Olympics, four years out of the limelight and then all of a sudden, the eyes of the world are on you knowing it will be four years before another such opportunity could arise, if ever.
Brilliant atmosphere
Another opportunity to visit the impressive Stade de France, this time with the magnificently presented violet running track giving the arena a whole different feel from the Rugby 7’s. Once again the place was full to the brim with all 80,000 seats taken up. The French fans as always set the tone with an incredible atmosphere, great encouragement for all participants and sheer pandemonium in the stands to cheer on any French athlete.
We had a great view of the Decathlon high jump which was great fun but out of the corner of your eye you were watching for the Triple Jump, the shot put and intermittent track events throughout the evening. As one of the 400m Decathlon heats was awaiting the starting gun the announcer politely shushed the crowd for silence. But the audience had other plans, the French Superstar Léon Marchand was aiming for an incredible 4th Gold medal in the 200m individual medley and there was no way the crowd was going to be silent throughout this. They gathered round their mobile phones and roared him on to victory creating an incredible scene of 80,000 people celebrating a result in a different stadium
As the sun set beautifully we were about to see the first gold medal on the track. The 10,000 metres had a plethora of African stars gunning for Gold but the real star of the show seemed to be Frenchman Jimmy Gressier. It was such a unique event where there was a constant roar in whichever part of the stadium the leaders were running through. Chants of ‘Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy’ encouraged him to a stellar performance but as he faded it was left to the other athletes to battle it out for the medal places with gold eventually going to Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegai.
Magical lap of honour
As Jimmy set off on the loudest lap of honour you will ever see for a 13th place finish, Joshua would ring the bell that has become a great addition to these Olympics. It is rung by every gold medallist and will be housed in the restored Notre Dame Cathedral on completion of the games, another really nice touch from the Olympic organisers.
A phenomenal night in the Stade de France, it wasn’t the biggest events or the most famous of races but the sheer emotion in the stadium was something special, the thought of being in the Olympic stadium in London on Super Saturday almost brought a tear to my eye, I couldn’t even imagine how insane that would have been. The sheer ecstacy of sport at its finest and without doubt our favourite event so far.
After a long day a nice couple of beers were due, we found an intriguing little Moroccan pub near our hotel with an interesting mix of clientele, all part of the fun. Once back at the hotel we heard a few little shrieks of joy and saw that it was the proudest girlfriend you could ever imagine. Her boyfriend stood next to her was none other than Akira Komata who was sporting his splendid Silver Medal that he had just picked up in the Team Fencing. I managed to get a couple of selfies but stopped short of asking to try on the medal so as not to be too much of a pain as he seemed keen to get to some rest. I must admit though I do regret not chancing my arm.
Lively home fans again
An early start took us to the beautifully named Paris Arena South 6 for our first indoor event of Handball. Luckily we again got a France match. Their women had already qualified comfortably but this didn’t prevent a lively and loud atmosphere as the commentators and music got the crowd going. Not that they needed any help but once again a cracking atmosphere as the home side entertained the fans with a comfortable victory
We headed back into the centre in search a spot to watch the culmination of the Men’s Cycling road race. Popping out at Madeleine Metro station I was taken aback to see how bloody wonderful the church was, and even more surprised that I’d never heard of it before. Along with the Theatre Garnier just along the road it was another building that would be the star centrepiece in any ordinary city. But on the contrary, Paris is quite an extraordinary city.
The sheer beauty and craftsmanship throughout the city is breath-taking. This was my 5th time in Paris but my longest stay and it was a pleasure to visit different areas and it still baffles me just how beautiful it is.
Ahead of the cycling we enjoyed another tasty kerbside lunch and a brief spotting of the PSG owner Nasser El-Khelaifi before hanging our flags to the railings. We roared on Ireland’s Ben Healy as he passed through in the lead before 3 laps of Montmatre, sadly when they returned towards the magnificent final approach at Trocadero he was nowhere to be seen as Remco Evenepoel took gold.
And that was that!
We were done in and in the blink of an eye, that was that, our Olympic adventure had come to a close.
What an incredible experience, and a wonderful one to share with my Mum. I have been to plenty of international sporting events, most in fairness with great organisation, but this one was near faultless. Brilliantly organised from the start. Smooth and simple ticket purchasing process, great apps for schedules, detailed event descriptions of rules, hints and venues. Clean public toilets, water refills everywhere, great security without the jobsworths, transport whether it be metro, regional trains or Taxi’s were all perfect. There was a huge security presence in place wherever you were in the city which reassured the fans and everything seemed to go off without a hitch.
This was a prime example of the benefits of using a host city that already has the infrastructure and experience of hosting large events. Venues like the Stade de France and Roland Garros being the standout examples. The organisers made use of the stunning backdrops such as the Eiffel Tower to create some of the best Olympic venues ever seen. This has also allowed Paris to halve the carbon footprint of previous editions in London and Rio and reduce the overall cost of hosting the games, despite still spending up to an estimated $10billiion.
The people were the highlight
Above all the scenery, costs, venues and infrastructure, it’s the people that make any major event. And boy did the French turn up. We were lucky enough to see the French team in every event, this meant full houses and incredible atmospheres on each occasion. I’ve never known an easier place to start a chant in the world as people instantly joined in with whatever was put in front of them. The passion, spirit and national pride was a pleasure to witness whether it be in the arenas or the fanzones. There’s nothing quite like sport to get the emotions flowing and the Olympics has it all, diversity, adversity and incredible stories of lifes sacrificed in search of glory. The festivity of the atmosphere also meant they respectfully cheered on all nations and athletes and I have no doubt these vibes will continue through to the Paralympics.
A huge benefit of the Olympics over my usual football events is that it truly is open to everyone, rather than your team needing to qualify, there are over 200 countries that would be able to find at least one athlete they can get behind. The sheer positivity of the Olympic spirit was so strongly felt everywhere, everyone was cheering everyone. It was hard to lose, you see an event with one of your compatriots that you’d never heard of five minutes ago in a sport where you don’t even know the rules fully, yet you cheer them on like your life depends on it. If they win you are overwhelmed with emotions, if they lose…a round of applause and on to the next
Jusqu’à la prochaine fois
A genuine pleasure to have experienced an Olympics, something I’d encourage any sport lover to try at least once in your life, I’ll sure be aiming to head to Los Angeles in 2028 for the next Olympiad. But for now it’s back off to Great Britain to savour the rest of the events in the tranquillity of my own house, and as enjoyable as it all was, if I never hear the bloody words ‘Allez les Bleus’ again, I’ll die a happy man.