The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event that takes place on leap years (every 4 years). Similar to the FIFA World Cup, the Summer Olympics is one of the most significant sports events in the world, and it takes place in host cities like Los Angeles, London, or Paris. The Paris Olympics 2024 is a unique venue and tourist attraction. The purpose is to unite people worldwide and foster community and togetherhood.
The host cities of the Olympic games always use their famous buildings as the face of the event to attract more people to it. For instance, wrestling games occurred at the Basilica of Maxentius in Rome, and the triathlon took place in the Sydney Opera House. This is to showcase the importance of using traditional landmarks to house the key sports event of the year.
The Paris Olympics in July will include 35 remarkable venues housing 10,500 athletes from different NOCs and refugee teams, 20,000 accredited journalists, and 45,000 volunteers. The 19-day competitions will include handball, football, golf, and more.
Also, the Paris Olympics 2024 Opening Ceremony is unique because it is the first time it has taken place outside a stadium, along the River Seine.
Let’s explore some of the venues of the Paris Olympics from an architectural standpoint!
Stade De France, Saint-Denis
Architects: Michel Macary, Aymeric Zublena, Michel Regembal, and Claude Constantini
Construction Year: 1995-1998
Area: Approximately 17 hectares (170,000 square meters)
Stade de France will become this year’s Summer Olympics football stadium. Architects Macary, Zublena, Regemal, and Costantini originally built it for the 1998 World Cup in the country. Beyond being just a football stadium, it hosts cultural and sporting events for 80,000 people.
Stade de France is designed to blend in with the surrounding city with its extended roof that integrates with the surrounding urban space. This integration is also seen in the access ramps and buildings forming its outer façades. The stadium does not feel like a separate structure but rather an extension of the urban environment, blending into the city’s layout and architecture. Once inside the stadium, people still feel connected to Saint-Denis and neighboring cities like Paris because of its openings on the north and south sides that connect one to their context.
Stade Roland Garros, Paris
Architects: The original stadium was designed by Louis Faure-Dujarric; subsequent renovations and expansions involved multiple architects and firms
Construction Year: 1927-1928 (with numerous renovations over the years)
Area: Approximately 21 acres (85,000 square meters)
Originally built in 1928 and later expanded and designed in 2016 by architect Marc Mirmam, Roland-Carros is a tennis stadium with an innovative ultralight translucent membrane roof structure solution that can handle any weather, especially rain. During bad weather, the membrane is deployed and spreads over the tennis court within 15 minutes.
The membrane allows natural light to pass through the stadium even when the roof is closed. Natural ventilation is achieved with the installed louvers found under the roof membrane that allow fresh air to circulate.
Parc Des Princes
Architects: Roger Taillibert and Siavash Teimouri
Construction Year: 1967-1972
Area: Approximately 7 hectares (70,000 square meters)
Parc Des Princes is a football stadium designed by Roger Taillibert and Siavash Teimouri, who also designed the Montreal Olympic Stadium. It is an iconic venue for sports events in France. Parc Des Princes is unique in its architecture because of its concrete columns that “crown its roof” and give a dynamic feel to its façade.
The stadium witnessed several historical sporting events, making it an iconic architectural monument in the history of sports and the city as well.
Place de la Concorde
Architect: Ange-Jacques Gabriel
Construction Year: 1755-1775
Area: Approximately 8.64 hectares (86,400 square meters)
The Place De La Concorde is the largest public square in the center of Paris, covering an area of eight hectares and having an octagonal shape. It is a highly recognized tourist attraction because it symbolizes the formation of the French consulate in 1789. What makes it special is the famous Egyptian Obelisk of Luxor and surrounding fountains, along with statues and unique streetlamps.
Additionally, the square is surrounded by the Tuileries (a renowned garden in Paris) and the Champs-Élysées Avenue. These features add great value to the site and to the urban sports that will be held in this venue during the Olympic games.
Stade Velodrome
Architects: Henri Ploquin (original), Jean-Pierre Buffi (1982 renovation)
Construction Year: 1935-1937 (with major renovations in 1982 and 2011–2014)
Area: Approximately 17 hectares (170,000 square meters)
Marseille’s famous football stadium, Velodrome, was constructed in 1937 and hosted the 1938 and 1998 World Cups. Later, a French architecture firm called SCAU renovated the stadium by increasing its capacity and adding a new roof to shelter it from harsh weather, such as extreme sunlight or rain.
The large white, translucent fiberglass roof extends over the building’s façade, creating a blockage from extreme winds. This smart design renovation allows for maximum-intensity games because of its properties, such as natural ventilation, sound retention, and aesthetics that serve as a benefit to the stadium itself, players, and visitors.
Grand Palais Des Champs-Elysees
Architects: Henri Deglane, Albert Louvet, Albert Thomas, and Charles Girault
Construction Year: 1897-1900
Area: Approximately 5.5 hectares (55,000 square meters)
The Grand Palais is a vital monument situated in the heart of Paris. It is typically a museum that houses cultural events, including art galleries, fashion shows, exhibitions, and sports events. The French Ministry of Culture has named it a historical monument due to its historical significance and its majestic nave and glass roof.
This year, during the summer Olympics, it will house fencing and taekwondo sports competitions and will optimize a capacity of 8,000 people.
Champ De Mars Arena
Architects: Various, depending on the specific event and temporary structure
Construction Year: Temporary structures are set up as needed for events
Area: Approximately 24.3 hectares (243,000 square meters)
The Champ De Mars Arena is known for being “Grand Palais Éphémère.” However, in the 2024 summer Olympics, it will stage Judo, Wrestling, and Beach Volleyball competitions. The temporary building was designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, who created a curved timber-structured roof.
The structure blends with the city’s urban landscape because of its use of sustainable materials and living up to the environmental standards of Paris in 2024.
Esplanade des Invalides
Architect: Jules Hardouin-Mansart (Hôtel des Invalides)
Construction Year: 1670-1676 (Hôtel des Invalides); the Esplanade itself was designed later
Area: Approximately 12.5 hectares (125,000 square meters)
From its look and feel, the site complex is related to France’s military history and was built during King Louis XIV’s reign in 1687. The name Esplanade des Invalides means “House of Invalids” because it was used to shelter 7,000 invalid veterans. The complex today contains a museum, a hospital, and a retired home for war veterans, all of which serve their original purpose.
In the 2024 Summer Olympics, there will be a traditional and historical sports competition, such as archery, on this traditional site. The activity blends with the meaning of the site because of its significance in history for military and hunting.
In conclusion, more than serving its purpose, what makes a renowned event in sports that important and adds more value to it is its venue and architectural grace. Each sport carries its meaning, along with the venue in which it is staged, around the historic and beautiful city of Paris. Some sites are modern, with modern sports competitions and traditional sports staged in historical monuments. Each carries its beauty, meaning, and enthusiasm for the summer 2024 Olympics!
