SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Party atmosphere in Paris: "The craziest atmosphere"

Forget empty pandemic stands – the Olympic Games in Paris are the greatest spectator party of all time. The spectators flock to the arenas and the athletes are enjoying themselves.

» Updated: 10 September 2024

» Published: 04 August 2024

Party atmosphere in Paris: "The craziest atmosphere"
Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Two consecutive Olympic Games with pandemic restrictions, Tokyo 2021 and Beijing 2022, shook the Olympic movement to its core. The world's largest sporting event had lost its luster and there were those who believed that the Olympic Games would never recover.

That's why Paris was the best thing that could happen.

The audience is back – in record numbers. Even before the games, it was clear that Paris would break Atlanta's record from 1996 with 8.3 million sold tickets.

Full Stade de France

When the flame is extinguished in a week, the organizers expect around 10 million people to have watched the competitions on site.

Test passes in swimming and athletics are normally no crowd festivals, but in Paris, they have been sold out.

That means 65,000 spectators at Stade de France, where the athletics competitions take place.

"Mighty"

I just looked up at the stands and smiled, it was mighty, said Swedish 1,500-meter runner Samuel Pihlström.

Armand Duplantis added after the pole vault qualifying:

The craziest atmosphere I've experienced. Especially for a qualifying round, it can't be compared to anything else.

The fact that France is one of the world's best sports nations contributes to this. When home favorites compete, the pressure on the stands increases and it becomes almost a carnival atmosphere.

Even if everyone is against me, it's fun that there's such an atmosphere. It's not like ugly football supporters who spit on opponents. The spectators are nice and cheer on all players, the appreciation is very fine despite me losing, said table tennis player Anton Källberg after the match against Félix Lebrun.

National team colleague Truls Möregårdh, who will play in the Olympic final on Sunday, had two set balls in the quarterfinal against Omar Assar when the game was paused.

The reason? The audience went wild after swimming star Léon Marchand won his second Olympic gold in another part of Paris.

At first, I thought "what the hell is happening?". But then I almost enjoyed it and felt "what a sick audience it is here in France". They love sports so much that they can gather 7,000 people and scream out when they win Olympic gold in another hall. It was very cool, said Möregårdh.

"The horses like it too"

Also, at the equestrian events in Versailles, a few miles outside Paris, the atmosphere has been great.

The audience carries you through the entire course. As soon as you gallop, people really shout. I think the horses like it too, said eventing rider Louise Romeike.

Even those who didn't get a ticket have a chance to get close to the Olympic medalists.

Every evening, thousands of people gather in the "Champions Park" in Trocadero in central Paris.

The location itself is the coolest. We're right by the Eiffel Tower and thousands of people come here and cheer us on. It's a memory for life, says French rugby star Aaron Grandidier Nkanang according to AP.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Forests new success – drew against Liverpool
2 MIN READ

Forests new success – drew against Liverpool

Dream start for Graham Potter in the Premier League
2 MIN READ

Dream start for Graham Potter in the Premier League

Danish giant crush in the World Championship premiere on home soil
1 MIN READ

Danish giant crush in the World Championship premiere on home soil

Färjestad on the way to the first CHL final
2 MIN READ

Färjestad on the way to the first CHL final

Hector's success - on the podium in slalom
2 MIN READ

Hector's success - on the podium in slalom

Sevilla star arrested in match-fixing scandal
1 MIN READ

Sevilla star arrested in match-fixing scandal

Westman jumps again after severe knee injury
2 MIN READ

Westman jumps again after severe knee injury

NHL Swede injured in traffic accident
1 MIN READ

NHL Swede injured in traffic accident

Norwegian star takes a break from the World Cup
1 MIN READ

Norwegian star takes a break from the World Cup

Frida Karlsson back – racing in Les Rousses
3 MIN READ

Frida Karlsson back – racing in Les Rousses

The Verdict for the Arsenal Star: The Cruciate Ligament
1 MIN READ

The Verdict for the Arsenal Star: The Cruciate Ligament

"Svennis" died with large debts
2 MIN READ

"Svennis" died with large debts

Medvedev's outburst: smashed racket and camera
1 MIN READ

Medvedev's outburst: smashed racket and camera

Olympic Games star to Stockholm: "Thanks for the invitation"
1 MIN READ

Olympic Games star to Stockholm: "Thanks for the invitation"

The Dane advances after a thriller
1 MIN READ

The Dane advances after a thriller

"He didn't care about what he said"
4 MIN READ

"He didn't care about what he said"

Fascist Falconer Posts Penis Picture – Gets Fired
2 MIN READ

Fascist Falconer Posts Penis Picture – Gets Fired

After the Scandal – She Takes Over Canada
1 MIN READ

After the Scandal – She Takes Over Canada

Timrå signs U20 forward
1 MIN READ

Timrå signs U20 forward

Star's Unborn Child Threatened After Penalty Miss
1 MIN READ

Star's Unborn Child Threatened After Penalty Miss