Pinch me! I still cannot believe I was in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Not only was I physically in the city but I was at the center of the action and fortunate enough to attend six Olympic events: day and night sessions of beach volleyball, women’s rugby, men’s gymnastics, tennis, and women’s soccer.
To say the experience was surreal is an understatement. I typically spend the entire 17 days of the Olympics holed up in my home, watching hundreds of hours of TV coverage, refusing to miss a minute of the action. This time, I got to live it, a dream come true.
Luckily, it’s not over! The 2024 Paris Paralympics begin August 28th!
As we approach the start of the Paralympics, I can’t help looking back on the incredible memories made at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Paris was the perfect host for the 2024 Olympics, and I have confidence they will knock the 2024 Paralympics out of the park too.
Before we make new memories at the Paralympics, here’s a look back at my top 10 favorite highlights from the Olympic Games.
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony on the Seine was the most unique and revolutionary to date, starring Paris’ most famous landmarks and inviting the entire city into the event.
Blocks away, we watched on television as we sipped on Aperol spritz and Côte du Rhône vin and snacked on frites at Restaurant Le Presles. Highly recommend by the way!
The pomp and celebration were palpable and surrounded us, a welcome embrace even as the sky spit precipitation all around. As the Ceremony reached peak culmination, as if summoned by the Eiffel Tower herself, a group of us spontaneously sprinted to her, standing in her luxurious shadow, soaked in her gravitas and the rain pouring down.
We merged with the larger crowd, humans from all around the globe, mesmerized by the crescendo of the evening and the initiation of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. All standing at the foot of the Iron Lady, our energy mixed, compounding and igniting the Olympic Spirit within, linking us forever to that moment.
Tears of joy streamed down my face mixing with the raindrops, a waterfall from my eyes to my cheeks. It was one of the most glorious events of my life thus far and I wish for everyone to experience that level of joy and elation.
With that start to the Games, Paris was off to a transcendent start.
Beach Volleyball
The magic continued at the beach volleyball venue, the Eiffel Tour Stadium, residing at the center of the Champs de Mars and under the glamourous eye of the Eiffel Tour. UNREAL was the only way to describe it. With the Iron Lady herself overlooking the proceedings, each session was a party, with the crowd chanting “Ace, ace” and “Monster block, monster block” in unison.
Phryge!
When I tell you three grown adults sprinted after Phryge as if we’d spotted Simone Biles, it is not an understatement. Phryge is based on the Phrygian cap, a symbol of freedom and liberty from the French Revolution. She is a STAR. Everywhere we went, Phryge bopped around spreading love and friendship to all, a true representation of the Olympic spirit.
Women’s Rugby
Everyone loves watching women’s sports! Don’t ever forget it. With women’s basketball on the rise, as it should, I loved seeing another women’s sport, rugby, be elevated and adored. Prior to Paris, I did not know anything about rugby and it was a random happenstance that we attended the session that day but I left changed. I am now a rugby superfan. Ilona Maher and the entire field of rugby athletes were full of heart, prowess, grit, grace, and pure athletic ability. I may not understand all of the rules (yet!) but I definitely understand the passion for the sport. Women’s rugby and all women’s sports are the moment and deserve all the glory and more. Get on board.
Team USA House
We planned a day trip to Versailles but at the last second, canceled and ran to Team USA House instead and it was beyond the right choice. We spent the day surrounded by fellow Olympic lovers, savoring never-ending international cuisine, some adult beverages, and taking in the festivities. The day was a revolving door of Olympic athletes, celebrities, media, and other notable faces, connecting with fans and sharing their love for sport. Along with Stephen Nedoroscik, Shannon Miller, Cullen Jones, Matt James, Asher Hong, Brody Malone, Maria Taylor, and so many more, there were athlete panels, interviews, and epic watch parties. As long as I live, I will never forget watching the U.S. women’s gymnastics team winning gold, in Paris, in a room full of American fans, alongside legend Shannon Miller and the men’s bronze-winning gymnastics team. The experience was a bit pricey but worth every penny and I’m left with memories of a lifetime.
Paris Street Events
The Olympics meandered through and popped up all over the city which made venturing out on foot exciting and new, never knowing what was just around the corner. The first full day of competition saw the men’s and women’s cycling road races where we stood at the barriers, cheering on each cyclist as they took their turn speeding through the streets of Paris. The vibe was electric and you could feel the crowd’s energy urging on all the athletes.
Later, we bumped into a Coca-Cola event plastered with their signature red branding, set in a dining hall-type venue where guests could taste food and drinks from around the world. As we sampled the different cuisines, we listened to live music, spotlighting Mexican music artists rapping and singing infectious tunes. While we grooved to the music, the TVs displayed throughout the venue showed different Olympic sporting events around the city.
Paris had other free events sprinkled around called Club 24 which were fan fests open to the public and kept the Olympic spirit buzzing about. Super cheese moment: there was magic in the air for sure.
The Seine River
Surprisingly, a controversial topic! The locals were baffled that anyone would get in that water. I asked every French person that would listen about the #JeChieDansLaSeine “Shit in the Seine” campaign which occurred right before the start of the Games. Most shared a sinister laugh and some snarky commentary regarding the Parisienne Mayor dipping into the water as promised, wishing her illness as a result. I took it as dark humor…But supposedly the river will be open to the public for swimming and such in 2025 so the story is still developing.
The Red Clay of Roland Garros
As a former tennis player and longtime tennis superfan, it was a dream come true to grace the grounds of Roland Garros, the home of the French Open. The experience was surreal watching GOAT Novak Djokovic win his semifinal match as well as the mixed doubles gold medal match. Novak thrilled the crowd with his emotional play, dominating the match on his way to gold, winning the last big tournament he had yet to win. On Novak’s match point, a spectator in our section screamed “Free Palestine!!!” which resulted in an interesting crowd reaction, proving how torn the world is over the Gaza War. By the time the evening was over, Novak made it to the finals, Chechia won gold and we all cried happy tears throughout the medal ceremony.
The Olympic Megastore
I don’t know what got into me, but I was ravenous for every single Official Olympic Boutique, specifically the megastore on the Champs-Élysées. We made a special trip to the megastore, waited in an extensive queue that wrapped along the exterior of the building, and then exploded into a feverous supermarket sweeps-esque shopping spree. The moment we made it inside, our group split off into a million different directions, joining the throngs of international tourists wanting a piece of the Olympic Games. It reminded me of old-school Black Friday sales at the crack of dawn, shoppers waiting in line only to burst through the doors and grab anything they could get their hands on and it was glorious. Normally, I would avoid these types of scenarios but there was something oddly comforting about being surrounded by fellow Olympic lovers. Those are my people.
Closing Time
On our last night in Paris, we returned to our favorite Restaurant Le Presles for one final dinner, sitting amongst groups of French fans cheering on their swimming relay team. Oddly enough, I was wearing a “France” shirt and gleefully cheered with them, feeding off their enthusiasm. When the race had finished, the large table next to us inquired in English where we were from, the jig was up. I told them how I am American and we laughed about my failed attempt to blend in as a native Frenchman. This opened the door to a great conversation about France and their thoughts on hosting the Games. This group of friends and family had traveled from Brittany on the northwest coast, wanting in on the action. The group told us how most French people were hesitant about the Games with many avoiding them altogether. But after hearing from people who attended, they found themselves envious, suffering from FOMO. We talked with them until the restaurant closed and it was the perfect way to end our time at the Games. That is what the Olympics are about, bringing people together from all over the world, making connections, and sharing experiences. I’m grateful and my heart is full.
Thank you, Paris for being a wonderful host of my first Olympic Games!