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ON THE GROUND
Olympic fervour in pictures: ‘My friends who left Paris now regret it’
After weeks of grumbling, Parisians have finally embraced the carnival spirit of the Olympic Games. From café terraces to fan zones, residents of the French capital are joining thousands of visitors from abroad for a celebratory weekend, marked by a cycling race through the heart of Paris.

Issued on: 04/08/2024 – 16:40
Modified: 04/08/2024 – 16:44

4 min
Thousands of people have attended the Olympic road cycling event in the centre of Paris on August 3, 2024.
Thousands of people have attended the Olympic road cycling event in the centre of Paris on August 3, 2024. © Mehdi Chebil, FRANCE 24
By:
Mehdi CHEBIL
No QR codes, no expensive tickets, no long queues. The Olympic road cycling event in the heart of Paris on August 3-4 gave thousands of people an opportunity to see the athletes with their own eyes, without having to surmount any budget or security hurdles.

Cycling fans cheer as the Olympic peloton arrives in Pigalle, on August 3, 2024.
Cycling fans cheer as the Olympic peloton arrives in Pigalle on August 3, 2024. © Mehdi Chebil, FRANCE 24
Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel made history by winning the men’s cycling race on Saturday after winning gold in the time trial the previous week.

Parisians enjoy the Olympic road cycling event from their balcony.
Parisians enjoy the Olympic road cycling event from their balcony. © Mehdi Chebil, FRANCE 24
The men’s road race was 273km long with 2,800 metres of climbing. It went through several iconic areas of the French capital, including northern districts like Ménilmontant, Pigalle and Montmartre, where the Olympic peloton climbed steep hills on streets lined by thousands of ecstatic fans.

The Games organisers said that half a million supporters gathered along the streets of Paris to watch the Olympics cycling road race on August 3 – 4, 2024.
The Games organisers said that half a million supporters gathered along the streets of Paris to watch the Olympics cycling road race on August 3-4, 2024. © Mehdi Chebil, FRANCE 24
It was an unforgettable show for Chantal Mansfield, a British woman living in France, who came with her 10-year-old daughter Sasha.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her,” she said. “We were a bit worried about the organisation of the Olympics, but everything is working out really well!”

Chantal Mansfield (centre) and her daughter Sasha watch the judo mixed team Olympic event at the Arènes de Lutèce fan zone on August 3, 2024.
Chantal Mansfield (centre) and her daughter Sasha watch the judo mixed team Olympic event at the Arènes de Lutèce fan zone on August 3, 2024. © Mehdi Chebil, FRANCE 24
After watching the cycling, Mansfield and her daughter went to the Arènes de Lutèce, a Gallo-Roman amphitheatre where a small fan zone has been set up. Olympic competitions are broadcast live on a giant screen as a mix of local families and visitors enjoy the intimate setting of this arena built in the second century.

Overview of the Arènes de Lutèce. The Gallo-Roman amphitheatre has seen shows ranging from bloody gladiator fights to peaceful games of pétanques. It now hosts an Olympics fan zone.
Overview of the Arènes de Lutèce. The Gallo-Roman amphitheatre has seen shows ranging from bloody gladiator fights to peaceful games of pétanques. It now hosts a fan zone for the duration of the 2024 Olympic Games. Mehdi CHEBIL
The crowd suddenly erupts in cheers when French judo legend Teddy Riner beat his Japanese rival, giving France the judo mixed team title. Mansfield quickly grabbed her phone to film the rapturous celebration around her.

“My friends abroad think that the French shun the Olympics, so I send them videos to show them the festive atmosphere here,” she says.

A Brazilian samba dancer arrives for a festive interlude at the Arènes de Lutèce fan zone.
A Brazilian samba dancer arrives for a festive interlude at the Arènes de Lutèce fan zone. © Mehdi Chebil, FRANCE 24
The local Olympic fervour is also a nice surprise for Marie Heyraud, a project manager living in Paris.

Patrons watch the Olympic competition in a restaurant located near the Invalides sports venue.
Patrons watch the Olympic competition at a restaurant near the sports venue set up at Invalides. © Mehdi Chebil, FRANCE 24
“I wanted to rent out my flat for the duration of the Olympics, and it’s a very good thing I didn’t manage to do that in the end,” says the young Parisian. “A lot of my friends left and now they regret it … it’s really something you have to experience once in your life.”

Manuel Brand and Inès Rivero, a German-Spanish couple, join a crowd waiting for the Olympic cauldron to rise near the Tuileries garden.
Manuel Brand and Inès Rivero, a German-Spanish couple, join a crowd waiting for the Olympic cauldron to rise near the Tuileries garden. © Mehdi Chebil, FRANCE 24
She watched the cycling race earlier in the streets of the capital along with three friends who had come from the UK just for the Olympics. Following on the heels of the opening ceremony, they said the cycling event also put forward a “very good image of France”.

Marie Heyraud, a 28-year-old project manager, told FRANCE 24 she was glad she stayed in Paris for the Olympics
Marie Heyraud, a 28-year-old project manager, told FRANCE 24 she was glad she stayed in Paris for the Olympics © Mehdi Chebil, FRANCE 24