50 days to Paris 2024: Excitement grows for French athletes as home Olympic Games near
On 17 April, close to 100 French athletes met at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris. For some, this was an opportunity to meet their fellow competitors. For others, it was a chance to grow existing friendships. But most of all, the gathering was a way to appreciate the rapidly approaching Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
This Thursday (6 June) will mark 50 days to go until the start of the Paris 2024 Games.
"It's tomorrow!" Guillaume Gille, the coach of the French men’s handball team, so rightly said.
Between tension and excitement, not everyone experiences the countdown to the Games the same way. But they all share one feeling: enthusiasm.
A united French team
“We’re getting closer”
“We’re getting to the heart of the matter!”
The reactions from athletes and coaches involved with the 2024 Olympic Games are very similar. After all, they've been preparing for this moment for years.
Now it's less than two months away.
“I’m extremely excited,” said Simon Martin-Brisac, a forward on the French hockey team. “All this excitement is something incredible to experience.”
By coming together during events like the one held at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in April, athletes have the opportunity to get to know each other and catch up.
“It’s important that we do that,” explained Estelle Mossely, who won gold in the women's lightweight boxing competition at Rio 2016. “To talk about how we want to experience the Olympic Games, but also to meet and create a dynamic atmosphere among ourselves. We are going to the Games as part of a French team and we want to share things with others.”
While most of the athletes may be specialists of individual disciplines, when the Opening Ceremony arrives on 26 July, they will all compete under the tricolore as one unique French team.
“All of our teammates will be there,” continues Mossely, pointing to the athletes of the French delegation.
“If we have a down moment, if it goes well or less well, nothing matters because we are a team. So this cohesion is still important and it will only grow,” she added.
Alexis Jandard has the same opinion and added: “I think it unites. The slogan: ‘one and the same team’ makes sense.”
The stress of a home Olympics
Behind the passion, dreams and excitement, there is almost always a little bit of stress. Tension at the idea of not performing at the expected level. Of not living up to expectations. Especially among athletes.
“It’s a bit stressful,” explains Léa Labrousse, who competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in trampoline, “But [there's] excitement too! I can't wait to be there.”
Even seasoned veterans are no exception to all the emotions that come with competing at the Games on home soil. Rio 2016 silver medallist Mélina Robert-Michon is aiming to compete at her seventh Olympics, and is keenly aware of the added pressure that the Paris Games will bring.
“Having experienced several Olympic Games, I know that each one is always different, there are always more demands. But with this one [Paris 2024], because it's at home, it's like 100 times, 1,000 times more, compared to what I had experienced before!”
The Olympic Games bring out a wave of contrasting emotions in all who will take part in such a momentous event—but you can bet none would have it any other way. So make sure you don't miss out on the action, either—we'll see you in 50 days for the Olympic Games Paris 2024!