Having the opportunity as a photographer to cover the Olympic Games is a privilege, even moreso when these Games unfold in Paris, a city renowned for its cultural significance and beauty.
The world’s best athletes are vying for the podium inside or next to some of France’s most iconic and historically significant monuments and venues.
For spectators and athletes alike, being part of the Olympic Games in Paris is not only about witnessing and achieving moments of athletic triumph. It is also about experiencing this blend of sports and history in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The aesthetic and historical significance of venues such as the Grand Palais, the Champ-de-Mars, the Tuileries Garden, and the Pont Alexandre III adds something unique to this most grandiose international sport event, set against such the breathtaking backdrop that is Paris.
Grand Palais, Champs-Élysées and Pont Alexandre III
Fencers stand in an en garde position at the start of a bout at the Grand Palais in the 8th arrondissement of the City of Lights, between the Champs-Élysées and the River Seine. Built in the late 1800s, its dome-shaped vaults of glass and steel elegantly dominate the skyline of the French capital. Spectators here enjoy the grandiosity of this venue, which was built to showcase art and technology, as their athletes compete for the podium.
Eiffel Tower and Champ-de-Mars
Beach volleyball is played at the Champ-de-Mars arena near the Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s most famous structures. On a clear day, the sun sets upon the players in a spectacular setting. It is hot now in Paris, and spectators – many shirtless – enjoy the Games under clear skies. It feels a little like a music festival, reminding one that this is a sport born on beaches, by the sea, on warm days.
Place de Concorde, Tuileries Garden and the Louvre
In the heart of the Tuileries Garden, between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde in the 1st arrondissement, thousands of people flock every evening to witness the Olympic cauldron rise above the city in a hot-air balloon in what has become a national and international sensation. Parisians are now petitioning for the installation to stay after the Games – just as the Eiffel Tower was not dismantled as planned initially, allowing it to become an enduring symbol of Paris.
The Paris dispatch: More Olympics coverage
The Decibel
Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh went to Paris with high expectations, but she had a plan. On The Decibel, Grant Robertson explained how the 17-year-old’s approach paid off and which of her teammates also made it to the podium. Subscribe for more episodes.
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