PARIS– Lézana Placette felt a wave of calm as she looked at Paris’ most iconic landmark.
“Whenever I get a little nervous, I just turn my head and look at the Eiffel Tower. This should help me remember what I play for,” said the French beach volleyball player, standing for the first time on the sand of the Olympic stadium, in the shadow of the tower.
First training for the Olympics Beach volleyball athletes took place Wednesday at the photogenic location.
French women’s team Placette and her teammate Alexia Richard took to the court for a 45-minute session under sunny Parisian skies. The pair, who have played together for a decade, will represent France in their first Olympics together.
“I got goosebumps walking onto the court and imagining the French fans cheering,” Richard said.
The 12,000-seat Eiffel Tower stadium is poised to be a centerpiece of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. The atmosphere during training was a mix of excitement and reverence, as athletes familiarized themselves with the site set in a park that once served as Napoleon Bonaparte’s training ground.
Paris organizers have made an effort to creatively link the Summer Games to the city’s rich history, staging events such as BMX, 3×3 basketball and skateboarding in the historic La Concorde square, and the equestrian competition in Versailles. For many athletes, the presence of the Eiffel Tower adds a sense of incomparable grandeur.
“We have the best seat in the house. I don’t know who made the decision to put us here, but I really appreciate it,” said Adrian Carambula, from Italy.
Yorick de Groot of the Netherlands, participating in his first Olympics, also enjoyed the extraordinary scenery. After training, the 24-year-old spent several minutes capturing the moment with photos, selfies and videos, both with his coaches and alone, happily lying on the white sand.
“I have to show this to my people at home to make sure they believe in me. This is a memory I will never forget,” said de Groot.
Anticipation is heightened by the promise of a full stadium, a stark contrast to the empty venues at the Tokyo Olympics due to COVID-19. Organizers have announced that the majority of the competition will be played in front of a sold-out crowd.
“Seeing a packed stadium like this is what excites me,” said Carambula, who at 36 believes this will be her last Olympics after competing in Rio and Tokyo.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the stadium on Wednesday, accompanied by Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, and French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. Macron shared his enthusiasm in a selfie video from the top row of the stands facing the Eiffel Tower.
“See the rings behind me? And the Eiffel Tower? Everything is ready, we are going to open the Games”, said Macron.
Following the beach volleyball tournament, which begins Saturday, the stadium will transition to hosting the blind football competition during the Paralympics.
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