Hopefully, by now you are enjoying the quadrennial celebration of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. We are just getting started, but already we are seeing some spectacular views of the City of Light. These views have been stunning and have placed the field of competition at the doorstep of historical landmarks throughout the city and surrounding area. That’s one of the things I love when a city like Paris is selected to host the Games. You get to see things you might not normally see without visiting the city and even then you might miss them. So, what will we get to see this week?
Using landmarks as venues fits well within the IOC’s strategy of sustainability and cost containment. By leveraging the grounds or buildings of a landmark, you can reduce your overall venue cost by avoiding the construction of a new venue that won’t be used after the Games. The IOC realized that the Olympics had become a way for countries to launch huge public works projects that benefited very few after the Games and put forth their new policies. Now, cities are looking for ways to either reuse existing facilities or build temporary stands around facilities that could serve a different purpose during the Olympics.
The biggest landmark that will be a part of the Olympics is the Eiffel Tower. Probably the most iconic feature of Paris, the organizers would have been remise if they hadn’t put it as the showcase for something. The actual venue is the Champs de Mars sitting between the Ecole Militaire’s (military school) impressive facade and the Eiffel Tower, it sits right in the center of the city. London did a similar thing, although not as notable, hosting the event in the historic Horse Guard Parade by St. James Park and down the street from Parliament.
Then, there’s equestrian events located at the Palace of Versailles. If you haven’t seen the dressage, it was held in the Arènes du Château de Versailles which is designed specifically for equestrian dressage. This venue is one of the most beautiful and really pays tribute to the pageantry and skill of this sport. The cross-country was held in the Parc de Versailles around the Grand Canal with floating pontoon bridges over the canal for horses and pedestrians. The marathon will also head out to and back from Versailles. To meet sustainability requirements, the temporary stands will be disassembled at the end of the Games. Likewise, London hosted equestrian at Greenwich Park.
While the Grand Palais is still undergoing restoration work, the Nave part of it has been completed and will host Fencing and Taekwondo. It’s a grand building that was constructed for the Paris Universal Exposition in 1900, coincidental with the first year Paris hosted the Olympic Games. Another thing to note is that while the restoration work has been going on, a 10,000 sq/ft temporary structure was erected in the Champs de Mars (remember the Eiffel Tower) that hosted events relocated from the Grand Palais and will host Judo and Wrestling. After the Games, the structure will still be used until the Grand Palais work is finished and then the temporary structure is torn down.
The Esplanade des Invalides will host Archery, Road Cycling, and some Athletics events. It’s considered one of the more beautiful open spaces in Paris and a common place for Parisians and tourists to hang out on the esplanade. Consider it like the National Mall of Washington, DC. Temporary stands will be used on the grounds for the events. Just at the end of the Esplanade are the tombs and memorials of many notable military leaders including the sarcophagus of Napoleon Bonaparte. What is even better is that this is located within the center of the city and blocks from the Champs de Mars. Across the Seine is the the Grand Palais. I think you’re getting a sense of how compact these Games are for some sports.
This approach to the Games is something every bidding city should consider. Unfortunately, LA has not taken such an approach and I’m not sure what they would showcase. Then again, they haven’t had the legacy of history that both London and Paris have.