Paris 2024 Olympic Games: "You impress me, there are so many of you", between the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadero, the Parc des Champions celebrates its heroes

It's one of the new features of this 33rd Olympiad. Several times a week, the Parc des Champions, located in the Trocadéro gardens, welcomes Olympic medallists of all nationalities for a moment of sharing. On Monday 29 July, the French rugby sevens team, the three French judokas who have already won medals, and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot were all on hand to cheer on the public. A free event, ready to welcome 13,000 people.

With her hands over her mouth and her eyes brimming with tears, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot looks up at Haley Batten. Yesterday's opponents in the mountain bike cross-country event, the Olympic champion and her runner-up, were in each other's arms. The Frenchwoman's back is arched, as if she's apologising for being here at the Champions Park. Yet it was she who the spectators at the Trocadéro had come to see on Monday 29 July.

To make her point, the crowd sang Johnny Hallyday and his famous ‘Que je t'aime’. The effect was prodigious: it triggered a new series of tears from the champion. With a smile, she reacted: ‘Even if you make me cry, I love you’. The three stands and the pit burst into tears. ‘I've been crying all day, I'm starting to realise what I've done,’ continued the cyclist, carried away by the crowd.

Rugby players go wild

A few minutes earlier, rugby legend Dan Carter had kicked off this unique venue. A unique celebration site, where all the international medallists come to celebrate their medals with the public. All in an exceptional setting, as is often the case at these Olympic Games, with the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop. Like a symbol, or a decisive pass, the former All Blacks opener welcomed the French men's Rugby 7s team, praising the Stade de France for being ‘electric, like nothing [he] has ever experienced before’.

It's already been two days since Les Bleus were crowned Olympic champions, but the euphoria hasn't let up. Rayan Rebbadj and Nelson Epée come running in. Determined to get the crowd going. In the stands, a father alternates between ‘We are the Champions’, ‘Shalala’ and ‘Allez les Bleus’, while the children seem to follow suit. On a more original note, the whole crowd was invited to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in honour of Varian Pasquet. Double the pleasure for the player. Triple even, when he hears his team-mate, Nelson Epée, announce the rest of the programme over the microphone: ‘Of course, it was incredible to be here,’ says the Toulouse winger first. But tonight, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and for the next four years, we're going to keep on celebrating!’

‘I'm impressed, there are so many of you!'

For almost an hour and a half, one champion followed another. The French, of course, but also athletes from all over the world. Like the Japanese skateboarders Coco Yoshizawa and Liz Akama, 14 and 15 years old respectively, but already Olympic medallists. ‘14 years old?’ wonders a young man out loud. ‘And here we are...’ replied the man next to him. The presence of silver medallist judoka Luka Mkheidze was nevertheless noticeable. Accompanied by Shirine Boukli and Amandine Buchard, the colossus let his joy explode: ‘I'm very happy to be here, you've impressed me, there are so many of you!'

Before looking to the future: *'*I won bronze in Tokyo, silver in Paris, and in four years we'll be back with a gold medal’. The date is set. The Trocadéro is exultant at the image of a young girl with a blue Griezmann jersey on her back. Griezmann's energy is on a par with that of his idol, who never hesitates to show his support for all French sportsmen and women. Now also known for his ‘medal alerts’ on social networks, it would not be surprising to see the 2018 World Champion come and celebrate them with the public at the Parc des Champions. Especially as, once the athletes have celebrated, the venue transforms into a huge fan zone, broadcasting the events live.