PARIS– Like most self-respecting Parisians, Mathilde Joannard and Franck Tallieu had been training for the olympic sport attack on the Olympics.
Of course the Olympics would be a mess, the couple reasoned when they heard the Games were coming to town. Like so many Parisians, human resources executives assumed it would be crowded, or terribly hot, or chaotic, or a headache to navigate. Or all of the above.
So how did they end up dressed in rented “Three Musketeers” costumes with painted goatees, happily waving the tricolor flag for the cameras at the fencing competition?
They are not sure.
“We just decided to have fun with it,” Joannard said, using some Gallic euphemism as the couple enjoyed ice cream outside. the majestic Grand Palais during a break in fencing on a bright summer day. She herself seemed a little shocked by what she was saying.
“We’re really enjoying it,” she repeated. “I’m so happy we’re here.”
It seems that many Parisians have undergone the same happy metamorphosis. At first mocking the audacious plan transform the capital into a large Olympic venue – released by a pair most audacious opening ceremony along the River Seine – many thought it was a pretty cool idea after all.
And they are taking it all in. Those who stayed, of course. As for those who left, some regret missing out on the fun.
Where is the evidence of the fun, you ask? How about a conga line? In beach volleyball, in the absurdly photogenic stadium nested under the Eiffel tower, a crowd of volunteers started just that line on Sunday night. A pack of fans joined them, following them through the upper tier of the stadium.
How about dancing in the street? The previous day’s famous cycling event brought countless Parisians to the streets to cheer on the cyclists, a mini-Tour de France displaying the shining capital. To the barricades, Parisians went – setting up loudspeakers and dancing, even waving at police officers at a certain location.
Of course, many international visitors were among them, replacing some of the residents who purposely left at the start of the summer holidays. But there were countless local fans, displaying French pride with flags painted on their cheeks as they flocked to favorite events. like judo, with French star Teddy Riner, and swim, where The hero of France of these Games, Leon Marchand, was holding court.
If you were around in 1998, you might remember similar weather involving the city when France captured its first World Cup. During the following days, office workers carrying briefcases rode the subway with the tricolor on their faces. It was often possible to hear spontaneous chants of “Et un, et deux, et trois-zéro” – a tribute to the 3-0 score against Brazil in the final.
So perhaps it wasn’t surprising that, at last weekend’s fencing, the crowd suddenly broke into the same chant. To a longtime Parisian, this didn’t seem like an accident – and not just because these Games saw a stellar French performance, with winning medals for the country currently in third place, after the United States and China.
“That 1998 World Cup was when we French people realized we could be world champions,” said Dan-Antoine Blanc-Shapira, the event’s planner. “Maybe that’s also where we learned, as a country, that we could accomplish something like this.”
Blanc-Shapira remained in Paris for much of the Games. He and his family went to watch women’s rugby and athletics events and simply wandered around the Champs-Elysées, delighted to see the smiling faces on the famous avenue.
“This may not be the real world right now, but it is very pleasant,” he said. “Maybe we should do this more often.”
Even some of those who avoided the often expensive Olympic competitions – and many Parisians were indeed harmed – they say they experienced an unexpectedly pleasant and even relaxed feeling in the city.
“It’s unusually calm,” said writer Cathy Altman Nocquet. She chose not to participate in the Olympic events, but was delighted to remain in the city. “It’s like the whole city took a pill.”
Others noted the contrast between the current mood and the tense atmosphere just a few weeks earlier, when the country experienced elections and political turmoil.
“This is a very pleasant distraction,” said Craig Matasick, a political analyst who has lived in Paris for 10 years. He and his family left for part of the Games because they thought things would be messy, but they found the city pleasant and much calmer than anticipated upon return.
The Matasick family of four took advantage of the offerings, visiting the olympic cauldron in the Tuileries gardens, the Meeting point for Club France fans, table tennis and cycling so far. “This vision of the city as a backdrop for the Games could have been a total logistical nightmare,” Matasick noted, “but it wasn’t.”
Give Elodie Lalouette a medal – this Parisian had faith from the start. Lalouette, who works in communications for a national radio network, signed up a year ago to be a volunteer. Now she’s taking a two-week annual vacation to work at the field hockey venue.
“I was sure it would be great,” she said during a break this week. “And it’s been amazing.” The most valuable thing is the interactions she has had with people from all over the world. And, perhaps even more so, with Parisian colleagues.
“They see me on the subway and say ‘Salut’ and tell me it’s great to be doing this,” she said.
Some who left regretted it. Professor Judith Levy was surprised to watch the competition on TV non-stop in the first few days. Then she had to leave for Italy, a trip scheduled months in advance.
“At the time, I felt like everything was going to go wrong,” she said of her travel plans. “Now I feel like I’m missing out on the party.”
Claire Mathisjen also watched everything from afar – on vacation in Brazil. The Paris-based psychologist extended her usual August vacation to avoid the Games. But watching it for hours on TV, she became transfixed. And while she’s not necessarily consumed with regret, she does feel something else: pride.
“I watched the opening ceremony and really felt proud to be French and Parisian,” she said. “We achieved!”
Jean-Pierre Salson wouldn’t dispute that. What he discovered, however, is that what is good for the national soul may not be good at all. for the final result.
Salson, owner of a clothing store in Marais neighborhood, frequented by tourists, calculated shortly before the opening of the Games that business had plummeted by 30-40% – the result of Parisians leaving and non-Olympic tourists staying. He hoped things would get better after the opening ceremony, when security was relaxed.
Contacted again, he said no. Tourists had already spent a lot on tickets and such, and weren’t focused on clothes.
Even so, Salson will not participate in criticizing the Olympics.
“I have nothing bad to say, I think it’s great,” he said of his country’s successful Games. “But for business, I guess we’ll have to wait.”
He doesn’t have to wait long – the Olympics are approaching their grand finale. In turn, Joannard and Tallieu, the temporary musketeers, plan to continue enjoying the events – including at the Paralympic Games.
The couple is now grateful for a dinner they had before the Games with some American friends, which helped transform their attitudes.
“We were attacking,” says Tallieu. “But they were optimistic. You know what? They were right.
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Associated Press journalist Tom Nouvian contributed reporting.
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For more Paris Olympics coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games.
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