7 Fun Facts About the Paris Olympics You Probably Didn’t Know

Updated July 23, 2024

The 2024 Paris Olympics officially begin on Friday, July 26, and promise to bring a spectacular event to people watching around the world. This is Paris’s third time hosting the Olympics, joining London and Los Angeles as one of only three cities to hold that honor.

Much preparation and planning has been underway to create an unforgettable event in the French capital. From the Seine River to historic sites like the Hotel des Invalides, the city is transforming to provide a memorable backdrop for athletes and spectators alike.

As a committed Francophile, I’ve been having a great time following along with what’s been happening in Paris to prepare for the games and what awaits us when the games begin. There are some really interesting things in the works!

So with all that mind, these are some of the most interesting “fun facts” about the 2024 Paris Olympics.

1. The Inventive Opening Ceremony

The Paris Olympics opening ceremony will be unlike any other. Instead of taking place inside a stadium, the ceremony will process along the Seine River, integrating the city’s iconic landscape into the festivities.

Over 10,000 athletes from 206 countries will “parade” down the Seine River, which cuts through central Paris. They will ride 6km/3.7 miles of the river on more than 80 boats, ending at the Trocadero Gardens by the Eiffel Tower.

Spectators will line the Seine along the entire route, and many sections of the Seine will have free access to the general public. Additionally, eighty giant screens and strategically placed speakers will “allow everyone to enjoy the magical atmosphere” throughout the French capital.

2. Route of the Olympic Flame

The Olympic Flame began its journey through France on May 8. It is spending 68 days winding its way through the country, with 10,000 different torchbearers bringing it to historic and notable locations in every region of France.

Five of the most iconic places it will pass through include:

Mont Saint-Michel, the dominating island abbey just off the coast of Northern France

Château de Chambord, an enormous fairytale castle built in the 1500s

Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct that spans the Gardon River

Bordeaux, one of the most famous wine-growing regions in the world

Mont-Blanc, the highest mountain in the French Alps

3. Historic Venues for Modern Games

One of the most exciting parts of the 2024 Olympics is that iconic Parisian landmarks will serve as venues for various events.

For example, the Champs de Mars (the park/garden right under the Eiffel Tower) will host beach volleyball in a temporary stadium built just for the games.

Archery will take place at the Esplanade des Invalides, which is the Military Museum and resting place of Napoleon.

The Grand Palais, a sprawling museum with a magnificent glass roof, will be hosting fencing, taekwondo, and wheelchair fencing.

Trocadero, the garden and esplanade across from the Eiffel Tower, will be the starting point for road races. It will also host the Champions Park, where victorious athletes will parade each afternoon.

Place de la Concorde, the square that held the main guillotine during the French Revolution, will host BMX freestyle, 3×3 basketball, and skateboarding. 

Finally, equestrian events will take place at the Chateau de Versailles, the jaw-dropping opulent palace just outside of downtown Paris.

4. Swimming in the Seine

The Seine River will host swimming events for the first time in Olympic history. This is a major aspect of the Paris Olympics preparation that has caused considerable effort and consternation for public officials.

The Seine has historically been quite an unclean river, although efforts over the past few decades to clean it up have had relative success. Still, as of 2023, the Seine was deemed not safe enough for athletes to swim in.

2024 has brought increased challenges, as Paris (and France in general) has seen record-breaking rainfall, leading to flooding of the riverbanks. When I was in Paris in February 2024, many of the sidewalks and docks along the river were substantially covered with water.

The high rainfall has caused sewage backup to flow into the Seine, creating high levels of bacteria.

Multiple measures to clean up the Seine have been undertaken, including creating a massive rainwater holding and treatment facility in central Paris, which can hold and treat 20 Olympic-sized pools worth of water.

Paris has spent approximately 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in the last few years on Seine clean-up efforts, and as the start date for the Olympics is just a few days away, it is still not clear whether events will be able to take place in the Seine.

Water testing has not come back with decisively positive results – sometimes the water tests as acceptable, but often it does not. In an effort to prove that the Seine is ready for the Olympics, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo actually took a swim in the river just a few days ago to demonstrate its cleanliness and safety.

Testing of the river water will occur early each morning during the Olympics, so time will tell whether clean-up efforts have ultimately been successful!

5. Pedestrian-Only Zones for Major Tourist Sites

In preparation for the Olympics, many of Paris’s main tourist sites are now part of a secured, pedestrian-only area. This zone has been cordoned off to ensure safety and smooth movement during the games. No cars are allowed, and all metro stations in this area are closed.

Only pedestrians with a special “Jeux Pass” will be allowed to access these areas, particularly during the week leading up to the opening ceremony. Key sites such as the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Élysées are included in this secure zone.

It seems like a major reason for this secure, pedestrian-only zone is to prevent terrorist activity, and such precautions are certainly warranted. Still, I can only imagine the headache of trying to navigate into and through these large areas with the restrictions in place.

6. Prominent Displays of the Olympic Rings

The iconic Olympic rings can be seen in several key locations throughout Paris. The most visible display is, of course, the rings on the Eiffel Tower, which are 95 feet long and 49 feet high, weigh 30 tons, and are illuminated at night with 100,000 LED lightbulbs.

There are also Olympic Rings at Trocadero, the viewing platform directly across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, and another in front of the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall).

7. Unique Medals Crafted from the Eiffel Tower

Olympic medalists will take home more than just memories with their medals.

The gold, silver, and bronze medals for the Paris Olympics have been crafted using remnants of the Eiffel Tower, that were stored from various improvements and repairs over the years. The centerpiece of the medal is a hexagon shape, the roughly geometrical shape of the country (In fact, France is sometimes referred to as “The Hexagon”).

The ribbons holding the medal are embossed with the lattice-work design of the Eiffel Tower, and an image of the tower, looking up at it from directly underneath, will also be engraved on the back of each medal for the Paralympics.

A scene of the Greek Olympics (that also includes a traditional view of the Eiffel Tower) will be embossed on the back of the Olympic medals.

I love the different ways that designs have incorporated Paris and France into the medals – it’s such a cool way for the winners to take an actual part of Paris home with them!

The Wrap Up

As someone who loves, and I mean LOVES a good behind-the-scenes moment, I’ve had a great time learning about everything that’s been happening to create a memorable Olympics in Paris. It’s really making me excited for July 26!

What events are you most excited for? I’m always interested in watching swimming, gymnastics, and track-and-field (you know, the standard fare), but I’m sure we’ll watch a little bit of everything!