Favourite Paris 2024 Venues

[Sir Rols]

I think we’ve seen all the venues come into play now, and there’s some pretty impressive ones to say the least.

What’s been everyone’s favourite, or has impressed you the most in Olympics mode? 

PS: I was wondering whether to make this multiple choice - I’m finding it incredibly hard to single out one. But I figured at the end to make it hard and force people to single out their fave.

Edited August 8, 2024 by Sir Rols

[krow]

probably cheating or too cliche to count, but i'll say des rues de paris.

if not, versailles probably edges it out over beach volleyball at the eiffel tower. grand palais is great but a bit busy in execution, if i can be as pedantic as a gymnastics judge.

[Sir Rols]

1 hour ago, krow said:

probably cheating or too cliche to count, but i'll say des rues de paris.

No way it’s a cheat. Les Rues were an obvious standout. The images of the crowds along the men’s road race around Montmarte are probably THE images of the games.  It’s almost too obvious.

The Grand Palais decked out was the first during the games to make my jaw drop.Versailles was just gorgeous. Funnily enough, I haven’t watched much Beach Volleyball. It goes on the entire games and I figured I’d wait till the end stage semi-finals and finals.

In the end, I’m voting Teahupo’o-o. Those crystal turquoise waters, the mountain backdrop, the tubes and the photobombing whale. Surfing couldn’t have hoped for a beter stage., 

Edited August 8, 2024 by Sir Rols

[FYI]

We can only vote for one (no multiple choice)?

[Sir Rols]

4 minutes ago, FYI said:

We can only vote for one (no multiple choice)?

No, that’d be too easy.

But of course do post you runners up and which caused a dilemma.

Edited August 8, 2024 by Sir Rols

[FYI]

5 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

No, that’d be too easy.

But of course do post you runners up and which caused a dilemma.

Well, like you, I was fascinated by many of the outdoor venues/sports decked out with all those crowds. That would've been my close second vote. And while beach volleyball in front of the Eiffel Tower was iconic, the star of the show there was really the ET, not the BV temporary venue. So that's why I didn't opt for that one at all.

But in the end, like you, I opted for something else, & for me that was the Stade de France. IDK what it was, but seeing that magnificent stadium just packed to the gills & hearing all those people roaring & cheering (which is something that you didn't hear as loud in the streets of Paris venues/sports), & glistening with the lights inside, with all those T&F athletes just running circles around it, is what ultimately won me over. Which is kinda of strange in a way, since Paris wanted to be so different with these Games, but yet I was totally enamored with a traditional Summer Olympic venue. 

[krow]

do i get a least favorite venue?

[StefanMUC]

So many great venues to choose from, and experiencing live makes this even harder to decide. 
 

Probably Tour Eiffel simply for the most amazing setting, though Invalides probably was the most confortable to use for us. Honorary mention for building the Champs de Mars Arena in such a way that the statue of General Joffre that stands in front of the École militaire just casually popped out on one side of the stands.

[AustralianFan]

Yes I agree, so many beautiful venues to choose from Stade de France looks magnificent as does the fencing venue even more so and the equestrian venue. Eiffel Tower beach volleyball fits into the surroundings nicely enough. The equestrian venue looks absolutely gorgeous too.

Leaving the brown Seine River aside, can we call these the Couture Olympics?

[Victorian]

Stade de France - those stairs up to the top level are a killer! I am finding the accessibility of a lot of things (stadia/trains etc) quite poor compared to the standard we have in Australia. 

La Defense arena seats were soft and had armchairs - very comfortable. 

I have been lucky to go to the Nautical Stadium, Stade de France, La Defense Arena, Aquatics Stadium. All have very good transport plans with either a stadium close by or a bus linking the station to the venue. Way-finding signage is second to none and very informative and helpful. Despite the big crowds, they are getting through into the stadium then back to trains very quickly all things considering. Maybe those issues with the soccer crowds were just soccer issues not Paris or stadium issues because it has been very superb so far!  

[StefanMUC]

1 minute ago, Victorian said:

Stade de France - those stairs up to the top level are a killer! I am finding the accessibility of a lot of things (stadia/trains etc) quite poor compared to the standard we have in Australia. 

La Defense arena seats were soft and had armchairs - very comfortable. 

I have been lucky to go to the Nautical Stadium, Stade de France, La Defense Arena, Aquatics Stadium. All have very good transport plans with either a stadium close by or a bus linking the station to the venue. Way-finding signage is second to none and very informative and helpful. Despite the big crowds, they are getting through into the stadium then back to trains very quickly all things considering. Maybe those issues with the soccer crowds were just soccer issues not Paris or stadium issues because it has been very superb so far!  

We had upper stand Stade de France as well, a nice workout to climb those stairs! And as I wrote elsewhere, I found the rows way too narrow to maneuvre when wanting to get in/out of your seats for a break and it was packed. Accesibilty, especially the older metros, is a problem indeed.

We didn‘t have armchairs at La Défense 

The shuttle buses at nautical stadium were a bit of a mess the day we were there, but fully agree that the signages and volunteers at the venues/stations made it very easy for the crowds to find their way. Football thugs are football thugs also at the Olympics, sorry…

[Victorian]

27 minutes ago, StefanMUC said:

We had upper stand Stade de France as well, a nice workout to climb those stairs! And as I wrote elsewhere, I found the rows way too narrow to maneuvre when wanting to get in/out of your seats for a break and it was packed. Accesibilty, especially the older metros, is a problem indeed.

We didn‘t have armchairs at La Défense 

The shuttle buses at nautical stadium were a bit of a mess the day we were there, but fully agree that the signages and volunteers at the venues/stations made it very easy for the crowds to find their way. Football thugs are football thugs also at the Olympics, sorry…

Hmm the shuttle busses worked pretty well the few days i was at the canoeing but perhaps it could have been because I waited until Jess and Noemie got their medals before exiting. 

[Victorian]

29 minutes ago, StefanMUC said:

We had upper stand Stade de France as well, a nice workout to climb those stairs! And as I wrote elsewhere, I found the rows way too narrow to maneuvre when wanting to get in/out of your seats for a break and it was packed. Accesibilty, especially the older metros, is a problem indeed.

We didn‘t have armchairs at La Défense 

The shuttle buses at nautical stadium were a bit of a mess the day we were there, but fully agree that the signages and volunteers at the venues/stations made it very easy for the crowds to find their way. Football thugs are football thugs also at the Olympics, sorry…

Even just with my heavy suitcase I am having difficulty going through metro stations that don’t have good accessibility and it is a problem when I am having a suitcase weighing 25kg!

[Daze]

I would take the Invalides Ensemble, Invalides > Archery > Pont Alexandre > Grand Palais

But as a single venue I voted for the Grand Palais. Amazing Building inside and outside 

[AustralianFan]

5 hours ago, Victorian said:

Hmm the shuttle busses worked pretty well the few days i was at the canoeing but perhaps it could have been because I waited until Jess and Noemie got their medals before exiting. 

Brilliant that you were there @Victorian, it must have been magical.  Do you have any pics/memories to share?

[Victorian]

2 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Brilliant that you were there @Victorian, it must have been magical.  Do you have any pics/memories to share?

I do but can’t add the photos on my phone as I can’t find a way to insert photos using a URL? Will need to wait another week before I get home!

[Victorian]

Attended the Bercy Arena yesterday for the women’s basketball semi final. Was clearly the worst stadium I have attended these games. Made us walk in a big circle to enter the stadia. Once in the stadium, my seats were blocked with a black bar across half the court despite when selected my seats did not list anything about obstructing views. Then had a volunteer stand in front of the fence in the way of the game. Was quite disappointed and will be contacting Paris 2024 for a partial or full refund. 

[AustralianFan]

3 minutes ago, Victorian said:

Attended the Bercy Arena yesterday for the women’s basketball semi final. Was clearly the worst stadium I have attended these games. Made us walk in a big circle to enter the stadia. Once in the stadium, my seats were blocked with a black bar across half the court despite when selected my seats did not list anything about obstructing views. Then had a volunteer stand in front of the fence in the way of the game. Was quite disappointed and will be contacting Paris 2024 for a partial or full refund. 

That must have been very frustrating and awful especially coming all that way from Australia and to have this galah stand in the way of your view of the game

[Olympian2004]

I voted for the streets of Paris as well. Out of the many iconic and highly impressive venues, that venue probably impressed me the most during these Games. The thousands of enthusiastic supporters lining the streets of Montmartre during the cycling road races was probably the most indelible picture I will keep in my head of these Paris 2024 Games. 

[StefanMUC]

1 hour ago, Olympian2004 said:

I voted for the streets of Paris as well. Out of the many iconic and highly impressive venues, that venue probably impressed me the most during these Games. The thousands of enthusiastic supporters lining the streets of Montmartre during the cycling road races was probably the most indelible picture I will keep in my head of these Paris 2024 Games. 

The funny thing for me about that one was that last Thursday we were doing a bit of Montmartre sightseeing before going to events and walked around Sacré Coeur, Place du Tertre etc and had no idea there would be the race two days later (no barriers at all yet). We were on the way home during the men‘s race but was also funny to see these places during the women‘s race on TV so different to only a few days earlier when we were walking on that route unknowingly.

[Lee]

Streets of Paris for me. However, I did notice that the crowds lining the marathon were significantly down on the crowds lining the marathon route during London 2012. That's not o say they weren't well supported, just an observation. 

[Lee]

Versaille also looked wonderful during the equestrian. What a backdrop. 

Edited August 14, 2024 by Lee

[AthleteJames]

For me, Roland-Garros is the best, and historic because of Rafael Nadal.