The River Seine was finally clear enough for triathletes to swim, stadiums were packed, fan zones were bustling, gold medals were being awarded, TV ratings were soaring, and the city was electrified with a sense of sporting celebration.
The initial week of the Paris Olympics has cast its magic over the once somber mood marked by political strife, and the Games seemed to momentarily push aside concerns about France lacking a new government following recent snap parliamentary elections.
“Sport can be truly remarkable when given the opportunity,” stated sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, who remained in her role despite being part of a government that resigned shortly after the elections. “These Olympics are iconic – there’s a momentum that is allowing the French to feel something they’ve lacked for years: pride. It’s a testament to France’s potential for greatness. This has contributed to our joy,” she told BFMTV.
The week commenced with a stunning, rain-drenched opening ceremony along the Seine, deemed a success by over 85% of the French population according to a Harris Interactive poll. It concluded with an extraordinary Friday night for France, achieving a remarkable nine medals in one day. National heroes, swimmer Léon Marchand and judo champion Teddy Riner, secured gold, while a BMX bike racing event saw France sweep all three podium positions: gold, silver, and bronze.
By the end of the first week, France held the second spot on the medals table, having already accumulated more medals than during the entire Tokyo Games. However, this standing might wane as athletics events commence, an area where the host nation is not expected to rival the prowess of the US. France remains hopeful of finishing in the top five.
It wasn’t solely the victors capturing the nation’s attention; the commitment shown during participation was equally moving. Aurélien Quinion, competing in the 20km race walk on Thursday, received a call from his wife the night before as she went into labor. “She was on the phone in tears,” he recounted. “I emphasized that our priority was ensuring our little girl arrived safely.”
Quinion took a taxi from Paris to a hospital north of the city. “We spent the night together; the baby was born around 2am, and it was quite intense, but witnessing my child’s birth was what mattered most,” he shared. After staying up with the newborn, he hopped back into a taxi, arriving at the Trocadero in central Paris just in time for the race, held under sweltering conditions, finishing ninth and achieving a personal best.
Other athletes highlighted what it means to embody the French spirit, particularly after recent elections sparked fierce debates over national identity. Amidst raucous applause from French fans, Anastasiia Kirpichnikova claimed a silver medal in the 1500m freestyle behind star US swimmer Katie Ledecky. Now a reservist in the French police, Kirpichnikova, originally from Russia, had trained in southern France for years before applying for French nationality following the onset of the Ukraine war. In table tennis, French supporters rooted for Jianan Yuan, the 39-year-old French No. 1 who will compete in the women’s team on Monday. Born in China, she moved to France at 18 for training and obtained French citizenship in 2011.
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Over 1 million people had flocked to the 200 fan zones scattered across France to catch Games events on giant screens within the first few days. At least 120,000 individuals attended free Olympic activities at Paris’s La Villette complex, where “Club France” has welcomed athletes for jubilant medal parades.
By mid-July, a record-breaking 9 million tickets had been sold, with a spike in purchases following the opening ceremony, including for the upcoming Paralympic Games. Many French citizens reported being unable to tear themselves away from the Games, even while working remotely. An Opinionway poll conducted prior to the Games revealed that a third of French employees planned to secretly watch events during office hours.
In a high-rise social housing block overlooking the hockey pitch in Colombes, just outside Paris, residents on upper floors enjoyed a clear view of the events, watching from their balconies at no cost, despite hockey being a less popular sport in France. “The atmosphere from the stadium is amazing, even if I don’t grasp the rules,” one resident expressed to Le Parisien.
In the same publication, journalist Pierre Chausse remarked that Paris, once “ridiculed for its rats and bedbugs”, has now regained its sense of pride.
Transport services have been functioning smoothly thus far. Tourist numbers remain high, particularly from the US. Enormous crowds gather every day to marvel at the Olympic cauldron – an arc of electric flame suspended from a giant balloon in the Tuileries gardens in central Paris. “It’s a pure joy to witness my city in this light,” declared Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo.
President Emmanuel Macron made his way back to Paris from his holiday home on Friday night to witness the triumphant events and personally congratulate gold medalists. He understands that once the Games conclude, the complex political conversations will resume, with MPs eager for the appointment of a new prime minister and government.
