We are only a year away from the 2024 Summer Games! The spectacular host city of Paris is adding to the appeal of this already popular sporting event. This beautiful destination will offer some iconic and unique venues for these Summer Games, providing a true once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are 36 venues scheduled to host events at the 2024 Summer Games, we’ve listed some of the most fascinating ones below to help you plan your Summer Games experience.
Roland-Garros Stadium
Sports: Tennis, Boxing
One of the most famous tennis stadiums in the world will make an appearance at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. Roland-Garros is home to the French Open — one of tennis’s four grand slam tournaments — making it an ideal venue for the Summer Games tennis tournament. Named after the famous French fighter pilot, Roland Garros Stadium has a long history, dating way back to 1928. The complex’s iconic clay courts will provide an added challenge for the athletes. Tennis is not the only sport fans can watch at Roland-Garros; the medal rounds of the boxing events will also be held here.
Place de la Concorde
Sports: BMX Freestyle, Skateboarding, 3×3 Basketball, Breaking
Paris’s largest public square will be home to some of the most exciting events at the 2024 Summer Games. Located at the end of the Champs-Elysées, Place de la Concorde played a notable role in the French Revolution. Today it is best known as home to one of the Luxor Obelisks as well as two impressive fountains. As a popular stop for visitors to Paris, it will make a scenic Summer Games venue. A temporary open arena will be constructed to house four modern disciplines: BMX Freestyle, Skateboarding, 3×3 Basketball, and Breaking.
Grand Palais
Sports: Fencing, Taekwondo
Serving as an exhibition hall, museum, police station, and a historic site, the Grand Palais is one of Paris’ many unique venues in 2024. The stunning 126-year-old, glass-domed Grand Palais will have a fresh new look for the Summer Games; this iconic Parisian monument is undergoing a multi-year refurbishment and will reopen in 2024 to host fencing and taekwondo.
Champs de Mars/Eiffel Tower
Sports: beach volleyball, judo, wrestling
One of the most spectacular backdrops for the 2024 Summer Games will be provided by Champs de Mars, overlooking the Eiffel Tower. This famed greenspace will be the site for three different sports: beach volleyball, judo, and wrestling. Judo and wrestling will take place inside the Champs de Mars Arena, designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, while beach volleyball will take place in a temporary outdoor stadium. Those who are lucky enough to be in the stands will be treated to one of the most iconic views at these Summer Games.
Esplanade des Invalides
Sport: Archery, Marathon
Paris is taking full advantage of its stunning outdoor spaces to showcase the city during the 2024 Summer Games. The Esplanade de Invalides is another wonderful example. The magnificent green space adjacent to the historic Hôtel des Invalides will serve as the venue for archery. Les Invalides, as it is commonly known, is more accurately a complex of buildings housing military museums and monuments. Perhaps its most prominent feature is its 107-meter-high golden dome. A temporary 8,000 seat facility will be constructed for fans to enjoy the archery events. Les Invalides will also serve as the finish line for the men’s and women’s marathons.
Château de Versailles
Sports: Equestrian, Modern Pentathlon
These Summer Games offer one extraordinary venue after another. The Château de Versailles and its exquisite gardens will provide a memorable setting for those who have the pleasure of attending the equestrian or modern pentathlon events at this location. This iconic palace, former home of French royalty, is now a UNESCO-awarded national museum. This world-famous cultural site is one of the area’s most popular attractions, though only a lucky few will have the pleasure of experiencing Versailles as it hosts one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
Teahupo’o
Sport: Surfing
While most of the Summer Games venues are dotted around Paris and the surrounding area, there is one venue on the other side of the world. Teahupo’o, Tahiti, part of French Polynesia, is the perfect location for the 2024 Summer Games surfing events. Surfing fans will undoubtedly be familiar with Teahupo’o, an annual stop on the sport’s World Championship Tour. With a distance of almost 9,800 miles from Paris, Teahupo’o will set a new Summer Games record as the farthest competition subvenue from the host city.
Stade Yves-du-Manoir
Sport: Hockey
There is no venue at the 2024 Summer Games with more history than the Stade Yves-du-Manoir. The fact that it will host Summer Games events for the second time is an achievement in itself; that fact is even more impressive when you consider the last time it hosted was in 1924! The stadium dates way back to 1907 and has been the site of an incredible number of competitions including the 1938 World Cup Final. Eighty-six years later, it will host the hockey tournament at the 2024 Summer Games.
Stade de France
Sports: Athletics, Rugby Sevens
With capacity for 80,000 people, Stade de France is the largest stadium in France. Since opening in 1995 it has developed a remarkable resume, hosting a countless number of major sporting events including the World Cups of Soccer and Rugby, three Champions League Finals, Euro 2016, and the World Championships in Athletics, not to mention the long list of A-list musicians who have performed concerts there. It’s an iconic venue and sure to be buzzing next summer as it hosts rugby sevens as well as most of the athletics events at the 2024 Summer Games.
Unique Events at the 2024 Summer Games
In addition to the Paris’s collection of unique venues at the 2024 Summer Games, there are also some creative and innovative changes to the events themselves, adding to the fan experience.
Opening Ceremonies
The 2024 Summer Games Opening Ceremonies will be unlike anything we’ve seen before. In an effort to make the ceremonies accessible to as many people as possible, the show will be mobile, traveling along the beloved Seine River through the heart of the city. Each national delegation will have their own boat for the six-kilometer journey from Austerlitz Bridge to the Trocadéro, where the remainder of the celebration will take place. The aquatic parade route will pass by Jardin des Plantes, Place de la Concorde, the Esplanade des Invalides, the Grand Palais, and the Iéna Bridge. This unique version of the Opening Ceremonies will allow thousands to watch without an admission fee, though certain sections will require spectators to purchase tickets.
Marathon
If you’ve ever wanted to participate in a Summer Games event, Paris’s edition of the marathon might be a good option. The 2024 Summer Games will offer a mass participation marathon, allowing 20,024 runners from the general public to traverse the city on the same course as the elite athletes. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those fortunate enough to secure a spot on the start line.
The marathon course itself is another notable feature of the event. The race will begin at Paris City Hall and passes by Palais Garnier Opera House, the Louvre, Musée National de Céramiquie de Sevres, Château de Versailles, and the Eiffel Tower, before finishing at Esplanade des Invalides.
Experience the fascinating city of Paris as it hosts the 2024 Summer Games. Contact our team to start planning your ultimate sports travel experience.
Alison Baker is the lead writer in Roadtrips’ marketing department. An avid traveller and passionate sports fan, she’s found her ideal fit at Roadtrips, one of the leaders in sports travel. Alison’s enjoyed working in the travel industry for the last 20 years and had the opportunity to experience it from all sides, from sales and marketing to quality assurance and hosting.