After a dazzling and unforgettable opening ceremony on the River Seine, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are now in full flow. It may have only just officially begun, but it is already the end for the men’s rugby sevens. The finals will be taking place today in Stade de France. In the Olympics’ most far-flung events, this evening will see the start of the first men’s and women’s surfing heats in Teahupo’o, on the island of Tahiti.
The French tip
Marche, walk.
Wear comfortable shoes and keep walking. When I first came to Paris as a wide-eyed 18-year-old from Dublin, I took the métro everywhere. Paris seemed huge and overwhelming because I never really saw it, I was underground. But Paris is essentially nothing more than a big village. It is 9.5 kilometers from north to south and 11 kilometers from east to west. You can cover most of it in a couple of hours. It’s true that it can be a little hilly in spots, but that just adds to the sport. And it will give you even more reason to take many rest breaks with a glass sitting out on the terrace of a beautiful bistro you discover as you stroll around the City of Lights.
The sports tip
Today is the first day of the equestrian events in the beautiful Château de Versailles. As the host town for all the equestrian events, Versailles has transformed itself into an Olympic city and is preparing to welcome tens of thousands of spectators expected in and around the beloved chateau. Expect equestrian elegance and finesse to be on full display today as the schedule starts with a day of dressage.
The practical tip
Before setting out for your day at the Games, it is highly recommended to leave a lot of time and check the transport websites and social media for any last-minute updates. Paris métro lines are regularly shut temporarily because of a sick passenger, an object on the tracks or a forgotten bag. And these delays could make you late for your event. For the latest updates, good websites to check are the main official RATP transport site and Citymapper. Each métro line also has its own individual account on X and this is where you will find the most up-to-date information.
The non-Olympics tip
As everyone is powring into Paris, take the train in the opposite direction and escape north to the beautiful verdant country town of Auvers-sur-Oise. Just an hour outside Paris with a direct train from Gare du Nord, this small town on the banks of the River Oise was made famous by Vincent Van Gogh. This land of sunflower fields is where the Dutch Post-Impressionist created many of his most famous paintings during the last months of his life and it is also where he died and is buried, alongside his brother Theo. Bring a picnic to eat beside the fountain in the chateau’s gardens. Experience the diversity of landscapes that directly made their way onto Van Gogh’s canvases in locations around the town. Visit the idiosyncratic La Caverne Aux Livres second-hand bookshop in listed train carriages appropriately located near the station. Make the pilgrimage trek through the sunflower fields to visit the Van Gogh brothers’ graves.
The secret tip
Shhhh…. Don’t let anyone know but there is a very special hotel in Paris, with a secret sexy cocktail bar and a garden restaurant where the only sounds are birds even though it is barely a stone’s throw from the bustling hordes of tourists at the Sacré Coeur. The Hotel Particulier Montmartre is a heavenly escape truly off the beaten track and requires insider knowledge to even find it. Be prepared to miss the entrance several times. It is hidden behind a nondescript gate that appears to be just the entry to a residence. But open the gate, walk past some apartments and some trees and find yourself in another world.
The reader’s tip
Did you get to watch the opening ceremony? Have you heard any booing at any of the matches? Are you finding the arenas easy to access? Frustrated by long queues or impressed by efficiency? Ran into one of your sporting heroes? We’d love to hear about your experience of the Games.
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