Paris is a veritable FÊTE. Paris is an absolute PARTY.
The Eiffel Tower all lit up while the crowd cheers at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Paris is a veritable Fête. Paris is an absolute PARTY.
And I don’t think Ernest Hemingway could have predicted just how much of a party Paris would become during the 2024 Olympic Games.
To celebrate 250 days since the end of the Paris 2024 Games, we are re-publishing our retrospective on the event.
The atmosphere, the cheering crowds, the dancing police officers, house parties, Snoop Dogg energy, bright colors and even brighter smiles, Paris is literally alive during the 2024 Olympic Games.
The name of Ernest Hemingway’s memoir, Paris Est Une Fête, (titled A Moveable Feast in English) and translating to Paris is a Party or Paris is a celebration, could not ring more true than during these games. And it seems it is something organizers could never have predicted.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games were off to a rocky start. The Opening Ceremony - labeled as refreshingly So French, drew criticism from many sides as it incorporated countless surprises from headless Marie Antoinettes juxtaposed with a heavy metal band, Lady Gaga cabaret-style dancing along the Seine, giant floating heads along the river, a live catwalk fashion show, a pagan god surrounded by his feast, ménage à trois references, and angry crowd goers who paid thousands only to watch a big screen and stand in the pouring rain for hours with little excitement. At least there was Celine Dion, singing atop the Eiffel Tower after years of recovery from a rare disease, that was a redeeming light to the bizarre, refreshing, and slightly shocking first hours of the Olympics.
However, once the dust, or in this case droplets of still controversial Seine water settled to the sidewalk, the Paris 2024 Olympics emerged as the absolute place to be - literally the biggest party of the season.
In the weeks leading up to the Olympic Games, Parisians grumbled their way through the route closures, QR code checking for access to city zones, and fears of the descent of millions of tourists that would jam metro stations and take over their beautiful city and streets in a cacophony of overwhelm. What Paris got instead was open streets, the ability to partake in fabulous restaurants typically booked solid during the year, open metros, and a much smaller crowd than expected, but one that was so full of positivity, solidary, and ultimate fun that the city transformed itself into nothing other than a serious party town. Even some Parisians who scoffed at the event came back to enjoy it. (FOMO anyone??)
Paris also got Snoop Dogg. Snoop, a torch-bearer, commentator, and promoter of the Olympics, turned into what many are calling a “national treasure” that people could not get enough of. He’s having the time of his life, and frankly, so were we, just watching him.
The Paris 2024 Olympics is the first time in a while that the French have come together to promote something so, well, happy. The feeling was evident all over the streets, with the camaraderie of the various countries, as well as in the watch parties throughout the city, filled with French brimming with pride over their city and wearing bleu, blanc, and rouge with the fervor of well, happy Parisians. (oh mon Dieu!)
One thing France knows how to do is showcase its city well, and the iconic stadiums show just that. From the equestrian course at Versailles, to the gorgeous backdrop of the Grand Palais of the fencing matches, to the ever iconic Eiffel Tower stadium, home to beach volleyball, it very quickly became the unofficial backdrop of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
And we haven’t even begun to speak about the athletes. This is one of the first Olympic Games that sees the athletes front and center for more than just their athletic talents. Tales of not being paid enough, to mental health issues, physical health issues, and much more were shared throughout the games, bringing a feeling of humanness to the event. And then there’s the talent. Before the games really even kicked off, a number of world records had been shattered. Front-runners for most memorable athletes and moments include:
Léon Marchand, swimmer for France – The hometown golden boy and world record holder
Simone Biles, gymnast for the USA – The GOAT makes a historic return
Léon Marchand, The prince of the pool. France’s golden swimmer and world record breaker, carrying the hopes of a nation—and delivering in style
Paul Arevalo, aka “the bulge guy” – Internet-famous sprinter
Tom Daley, diver for Great Britain – Brings back medals and his knitting needles
USA 4x100m relay team and Sha’Carri Richardson – the U.S. sprint queen killing it on the track
Also, this year, the house parties for some countries have taken center stage. The largest of all being the French House, located at Parc de la Villette, smothered in French flags, and boasting sold out tickets and lines around the block daily. The US house was another, but oddly prohibitively expensive, some would say. Apparently, the buffet and USA jacket were off the hook. The rest of the houses throughout the city and at Parc de la Villette were top-notch, allowing game-goers to enjoy the ambiance of the games from the coolness of a villa to discover new countries and passions from around the world.
The city is so alive, it’s been said that this level of joy has not been felt in what feels like a century, and even the police were dancing and enjoying in the streets.
One thing is for sure, these games are some of the first where social media and face-to-face partying have been allowed since covid and no one is letting the moment pass them by. Paris is the biggest party of them all and a true and veritable FETE.
