For their second week of Olympic celebrations, certain Paris 2024 venues are transformed into hives and begin their transformation to move, without downtime, from basketball to handball, from tennis to boxing, from fencing to taekwondo or from gymnastics to basketball. A vast construction site day and night, a real race against time. “It’s a big challenge for us to continue to capitalize on these iconic sites,” summarizes Tony Estanguet, boss of Paris 2024. “So far, everything is going well, everything is under control,” breathes Édouard Donnelly, its executive director of operations.
At Roland-Garros, from clay to the boxing ring. Right in the center of the Philippe-Chatrier court at the Roland-Garros stadium, this Monday at the start of the afternoon, little hands are installing the white ropes around the blue ring. They're on the right track. From Tuesday, at 9:30 p.m., the 15,000-seat arena becomes the stronghold of the boxing finals after preliminary phases at the Arena Paris Nord.
At the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, from the basketball floor to the handball surface. At the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq (North), the basketball floor, trodden in particular during the first Olympic week by the American LeBron James and the Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, gives way to the handball court, a theater from this Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. of the final phase of the tournament.
At the Grand Palais, from fencing arenas to taekwondo mats. At the Grand Palais, the fencing events are being eclipsed in favor of the taekwondo fights scheduled from Wednesday. On the competition area, the transition, launched Sunday at midnight, must last 35 hours.
At the Arena Bercy, from apparatus to baskets. After barely an hour of dismantling, there is already almost no trace of the gymnastics or the exploits of Simone Biles this Monday in the middle of the afternoon. From Tuesday, baskets and orange balls will have replaced the equipment.
In addition to the sporting events, the Olympics have also highlighted significant social issues. Kimia Yousoufi, an athlete from Afghanistan, used her platform to advocate for women's rights, holding a sign that read 'Education. Sport. Our rights.' after her race, drawing attention to the plight of women under Taliban rule.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have also captivated audiences on television, with significant viewership numbers reported for various events, particularly athletics and swimming. France 2 claimed the top spot in ratings, showcasing the public's enthusiasm for the Games.
Meanwhile, the introduction of kayak cross has added a unique twist to the Olympic events, attracting attention for its thrilling competition style and exciting challenges, drawing comparisons to video game races.
Despite some challenges, such as fiber optic cable cuts in fan zones, the overall atmosphere and organization of the Paris 2024 Olympics have been praised, with transport systems functioning smoothly and spectators enjoying the events.
