Paris 2024 Olympics: Noise record, outstanding atmosphere...: we were at the Parc Urbain for the 3x3 basketball finals

The Parc Urbain was abuzz with excitement on Monday evening. On the Place de la Concorde, where the 3x3 basketball finals took place, the atmosphere was at its peak for the end of an emotionally rich week at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

It's 8.55pm at the Parc Urbain. Under the setting Parisian sun, Ana-Maria Filip, one of France's most successful 3x3 basketball players, strikes the final blow in the arena. Only a fews minutes to go before the first bronze medal match.

After losing by a single point by Germany in the semi-finals, the Canadians gave it all to bring a medal home in a clash with Tokyo 2020 Olympic champions Americans.

It's time for the introduction of this 100% North American duel in front of a packed crowd. While Canada seems to have the upper hand on the applause meter, the match is much tighter on the pitch. Leading for much of the match, the Canadians collapse in the final minute, the USA taking the bronze medal at the end of the game (16-13).

Proof of their relief, the American staff exults and the coaches all hugg each other after long minutes of intense stress.

Latvia-Lithuania: neighbours, not friends

Under the watchful eyes of Tony Estanguet and Thomas Bach, the men's final promises to be epic. As usual, before each match, the public is being treated to a dance show before the players take the stage. As a symbol of urban sports, the entire event is played to music - a DJ being present at the turntables - when other sports require the utmost calm to facilitate the athletes' concentration.

Again, the fans give it their all to support their team. Between "Lietuva" and "Latvija", the battle is played out both on the pitch and in the stands. The two countries may be just a step apart geographically, but neither is prepared to do the other any favours.

In an electric yet respectful atmosphere, the two Baltic nations give blow for blow. And even the fans of the other teams, who are waiting for the women's and men's finals later in the evening, get in on the action. Between each time-out, the arena resounds with clapping and stamping. It's an understatement to say that while the seats are all taken, just behind the playing area, outside the stands, hundreds of fans gather in a sort of pit - like at a concert - to watch the show.

At the end of the suspense, it was the Lithuanians who prevailed 21-18 after a final free throw with 2 seconds remaining. In the stands and on the pitch, emotions contrasted between the joy of the Lithuanian staff and players, and the terrible disappointment of the Latvians. The defending champions have once again fallen on hard times after losing to France in the semi-finals, and will therefore return home from Paris without a medal.

Having come to support her brother Karlis Lasmanis, triple jump specialist Rūta Lasmane will need time to recover from her elder brother's defeat. But there's no time for self-pity, as the Olympic finals are fast approaching.

Stade Pierre Mauroy record broken at Parc Urbain

Between the four games scheduled for the session, the show never stops. "You've got to turn the Place de la Concorde upside down for me tonight," says the announcer to motivate the fans.

Meanwhile, Sweden's Armand Duplantis (who isn't French, even though the announcer implied he was) breaks the world pole-vault record, making the Parc Urbain wanting to give the Stade de France some competition.The public is called on to make as much noise as possible before the Spanish and Germans entere the stage for the first gold medal of the evening.

While the first attempt reaches "only" 94 decibels, the second attempt is already more conclusive, with 104 decibels displayed on the giant screen. The record, held by the Stade Pierre Mauroy with 129 decibels, will not stand for long, as the third attempt announces 130 decibels. A new record.

It's 10:01pm and the first "Allez les Bleus" can be heard in the arena. Howeber, it's the Spanish and Germans who are about to take the field. In the stands, each has his own fan of choice: Dirk Nowitzki on the German side, Pau Gasol on the Spanish side. In front of these two 5-on-5 basketball legends, the match is breathtaking, tied 15-15 with less than a minute to go. In the end, it's the German team led by 20-year-old Elisa Mevius, the youngest player in the competition, who takes the Olympic title (17-16).

Dirk Nowitzki, who had a front-row seat to witness the triumph, congratulates his protégés with a hug, while Pau Gasol tries to console his compatriots the best he could.

With the Eiffel Tower glittering, the arena is abuzz with excitement as the final match of the session approaches. And a potential coronation for the French team, pitted against the Netherlands.

A cruel scenario for a final that will forever go down in history

3x3 basketball attracts a lot of people. Céline Dumerc or, more surprisingly, Sergei Bubka, who had probably just left the Stade de France for the Parc Urbain, were in the crowd on Tuesday evening. For those who couldn't find a seat in the arena, a giant screen was airing the soccer semi-final between France and Egypt. But all eyes were elsewhere, more interested in living the moment in front of them.

A few minutes before the end of this incredible week, the crowd let loose one last time to the strains of Johnny Hallyday's legendary Allumer le feu.

The atmosphere is deafening as the announcer announces the team line-ups, starting with the French. A few whistles, however, greet the Dutch.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 ! The countdown reaches zero, and kick-off is given in an arena completely transcended by the event. Under the eyes of Asterix's good luck charms Obélix and Falbala, Les Bleus give it their all. "Defense, defense" shout the fans every time the Dutch have possession of the ball.

Ahead for much of the match, Les Bleus take the lead at 12-11. Everyone is on their feet, giving even more than they have before. Hearts beat faster and faster, and the crowd believed more and more in the feat. But this match was destined to go down in history. Timothé Vergiat missed at the buzzer. 16-16, extra time... the scenario couldn't have been more dramatic.

The ball was in France's court, and Timothé Vergiat made his 1-point basket. To win, they had to go to 18, and the Netherlands could no longer afford to miss. From long range, the team's main threat, Worthy De Jong, sends in a 2-point shot out of nowhere. Holding their breath, the spectators all stop singing. A dreadful 20 seconds of silence, except for the dozens of ecstatic Dutch fans, who were victorious 18-17 at the end of a match that will go down in the annals of history.

On the pitch, Timothé Vergiat holds his head in his hands, devastated by sadness, while Franck Seguela remains seated on the pitch with the French flag on his shoulders.

A disappointment that was soon replaced by gratitude, with a silver medal that defied all odds.

A victory ceremony to close the evening in style

With barely enough time to digest, the playground turns into a podium for the victory ceremonies. The music of the Games welcomes the athletes, who each receive their medal and a small box containing the official poster.

The German and Dutch anthems ring out in the Parc Urbain. On the French side, the vast majority of the public, who had stayed to cheer on their heroes, applauded the medallists, who were smiling again a few minutes after the huge disappointment.

The Dutch, who had rehearsed a small choreography on their way to the top of the podium, then celebrate with their fans to the tune of Links Rechts, which went viral during this year's Euro soccer tournament, encouraging participants to jump left ("Links"), then right ("Rechts").

After group photos, the athletes finish their lap of honour before returning to the changing rooms. The end of a week and, above all, of an evening rich in emotion and completely crazy in terms of spectacle and atmosphere at the Parc Urbain.