Paris 2024 Venue Guide: In Paris
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have an impressive backdrop of iconic landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais, Hôtel de Ville and more. The city of Paris is the heart of the Games–15 Olympic venues catering to 21 sports (out of 32) are located within 10km of the Olympic village.
Porte de La Chapelle Arena
Situated in Paris’ 18th arrondissement, the newly built Porte de La Chapelle Arena is home to badminton and rhythmic gymnastics during the Games. The arena is designed with sustainable materials and accessible design principles (a total of 80 per cent of the venue’s surface is covered with greenery). After the Games, the arena will become home to Paris Basketball, as well as serve as a venue for mid-sized sporting and cultural events.
Grand Palais
The Grand Palais is one of Paris 2024’s historic venues. Originally built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition (Exposition Universelle), the site had undergone regular renovation but never a full restoration, which it received in advance of the Games. During Paris 2024, the Grand Palais is home to fencing and taekwondo events. Following the Games, the venue will continue to serve as a landmark venue for cultural events, drawing more than two million visitors each year.
Place de la Concorde
An important aspect of Paris’ Olympic bid was ensuring that urban sports, many of which are relatively new to the Games, take place within their natural environment–the cityscape. During the Games, Place de la Concorde is temporarily transformed into an open air arena to host skateboarding, BMX freestyle, 3×3 basketball, and breaking.
Pont Alexandre III
Pont Alexandre III is a bridge that connects the banks of the Seine. Like the Grand Palais, Pont Alexandre III was also built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition and is an architectural monument serving as a Games venue. The Pont Alexandre also connects two other Paris 2024 venues to each other: the Grand Palais and Invalides. For Paris 2024, the Pont Alexandre III serves as an iconic finish line for the road cycling time trials as well as the location for marathon swimming, and triathlon.
Hôtel de Ville
The Hôtel de Ville is another one of Paris 2024’s historic venue locations. The current neo-renaissance structure was designed by architects Théodore Ballu and Édouard Deperthes and stands on the exact location of the former Hôtel de Ville, which burnt down in 1871. Prior to its destruction, the venue had housed Paris’ City Hall since 1357. For Paris 2024, the Hôtel de Ville’s facade is the impressive backdrop for the marathon start.
Bercy Arena
Bercy Arena was built in 1984 and renovated in 2014-15. Since its construction, the arena has served as a premier sporting and concert venue, hosting more than 30 million spectators since opening. During the Games, Bercy Arena is hosting artistic gymnastics and trampoline as well as the final tournament rounds for basketball.
Invalides
Hôtel des Invalides was built in 1687 as a military hospital and retirement home for veterans. Now, the site features French military history exhibits and monuments, as well as the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. Esplanade des Invalides, the green space opposite Hôtel des Invalides, is hosting the archery events during the Games.
Champs de Mars Arena
The Champs de Mars Arena was constructed in 2021 to host art, fashion, and sporting events that were usually held at the Grand Palais, while the latter was being renovated. Architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte designed the arena to aesthetically reflect the Grand Palais while showcasing sustainable design and materials. For the Games, the venue is far more than the “Grand Palais Overlay,” hosting judo and wrestling events.
Trocadéro
Trocadéro refers to the area across the Seine directly facing the Eiffel Tower. The Pont d’léna is the bridge connecting the two areas. During the Games, the bridge will be fitted with overlay facilities to make it a spectating site with iconic views for visitors. The site allows for spectating of the triathlon, marathon, 20km race walk, marathon swimming, and road cycling events.
Eiffel Tower Stadium
Eiffel Tower Stadium is a temporary outdoor venue boasting views of the iconic tower on one side and École Militaire on the other. Like the Champs de Mars Arena, the Eiffel Tower Stadium is located on the Champs de Mars grounds, a gathering place for tourists and Parisians alike. During the Games, Eiffel Tower Stadium is hosting the beach volleyball competition.
Roland-Garros Stadium
For tennis fans, Roland-Garros needs no introduction as the stadium is a legendary tennis venue, hosting the French Open, one of four Grand Slam tournaments, each year. The stadium was built in 1928 and named after the French aviator, Roland Garros. The complex includes 18 clay courts, including the Phillipe Chatrier court, which has a retractable roof. During the Olympics, the venue is hosting not only tennis competition, but also boxing finals.
Parc des Princes
Parc des Princes is one of France’s largest sporting venues, with a capacity of close to 48,000. The venue was built in 1972 and has played host to numerous international tournaments, including the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Euro Championship. The stadium was designed by Rovert Taillibert, the same architect who designed Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. During the Games, Parc des Princes is hosting men’s and women’s soccer.
South Paris Arena
The Paris Expo complex was built in 1923 to host the Paris Trade Fair (Faire de Paris). The complex is 228,000 square metres of exhibition space with eight pavilions. Approximately 7.5 million visitors visit the site each year. Thanks to its size, the complex is hosting several sports during the Games. South Paris Arena 1 is home to volleyball, Arena 4 to table tennis and Arena 6 to handball preliminaries and weightlifting.