They had been dreaming of the Olympic Games for years. They seized the opportunity that Paris offered them. They came back almost surprised to have loved it so much.
As far back as he can remember, Ian, 33, has always been passionate about the Olympics. “It must have been during the Athens Games. It was summer vacation, but I set my alarm clock so as not to miss the first competitions of the day,” says this Quebec communications professional.
After a Games on the other side of the world, or in the middle of a pandemic, the Paris Games quickly seemed like the opportunity he had been waiting for. “In my world of unicorns and rainbows, I first thought I would spend the two weeks of competition there, especially since I had found someone who would let us use their apartment. I made a list of all the events I wanted to attend. I quickly became disillusioned with the price and the scarcity of tickets. We reduced it to a single week, and I forgot about the idea of attending the 100m final.”
He did manage, with a friend, to get his hands on tickets for six events spread over a week, which cost him $700. He saw tennis at the legendary Roland Garros stadium, swimming, with French sensation Léon Marchand in action, rugby at the Stade de France and beach volleyball in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. “I tried until the last minute to find tickets for the opening ceremony on resale sites, but without success.”
Childhood friends Marie-Josée and Manon first said to each other at the closing ceremony of the Rio Games in 2016 that they would go to the next one, in Tokyo. “Then there was a pandemic,” says Manon. “But it stuck in our heads and we started our preparations for the Paris Games about two years ago by registering [avec leurs conjoints, Vincent et Louis] to the lottery to get tickets.
The two couples of new sixty-somethings from Quebec finally won the opportunity to buy, for $1,000 per couple, tickets to three events in one week: track and field — “that was non-negotiable” — beach volleyball and canoeing — “which was less exciting.” They also got a free event, the road bike race that passed through the streets right next to the apartment they had found in the Montmartre area.
Eyes full of water
“The four of us came with tears in our eyes when we saw the runners go by,” says Manon.
There was the setting in which all this was happening. “In front of us were the cyclists speeding by. To our left, the Sacré-Coeur. To our right, we could see the Eiffel Tower,” says Vincent, the group’s photographer.
There was also the great humanity of the experience. “While on TV, you might think they’re some kind of machine or superhero, seeing the athletes in person makes you more aware of their pain and vulnerability,” Louis explains. “And then we ran into a Canadian who said, ‘That’s my sister you see running.’”
Isabelle had already been to the Olympic Games. It was in Barcelona in 1992, and she had loved it so much that she had promised herself to go back one day. “I thought it was a great popular festival with a unique atmosphere. And then, we are all sportsmen and sports enthusiasts in the family.”
“When we learned that the Games were going to be held in our country, we thought it was an opportunity not to be missed,” continues the yoga teacher, who traveled from Cannes, in the south of France, to Paris with her husband Antoine. There they met up with their three children, Mathieu, 28, who had traveled from Montreal for the occasion, as well as Thibault, 26, and Alice, 23, who already lived in the capital.
Thanks to the draw, but especially to “a friend’s sister,” they were able to attend, together or separately, 11 events in one week, for a total bill of about 3,000 euros ($4,500). “It’s not that expensive, especially since we didn’t have to pay for accommodation,” says Isabelle.
The Spirit of the Games
Alice was struck by the size and extraordinary talent of the athletes. “That’s when you realize that 100 meters is still a long way,” says Mathieu.
Their mother really liked the fact that French popular culture was highlighted in all sorts of ways, for example by having spectators in stadiums sing songs by Joe Dassin, Edith Piaf or Johnny Hallyday.
Their father was won over by the atmosphere inside and outside the stadiums. “It’s both an international and [un côté] “Good-natured,” explains Antoine. “Everyone talks to each other. There’s music. We sing. We encourage the athletes, whether they’re from our country or not. It’s really cool.”
At the pool, with Leon Marchand, “it was crazy,” Ian says. “I had never heard a crowd that loud. I don’t think I’ll ever experience an emotion like that again.”
By all accounts, this festive spirit was particularly strong and contagious in the beach volleyball stadium at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. This earned our two Quebec couples an appearance on Canadian state television. “It must be said that we had everything: caps, sweaters and Canadian flags,” says Marie-Josée. “And then, we were constantly looking up at the tower, right in front of us. We couldn’t believe it.”
The Quebecois have nothing but good things to say about the welcome they received. “Knowing the reputation of the Parisians, I expected everyone to be in a bad mood. But it was the opposite,” says Ian. “Even the police and military, who were everywhere, were friendly.” Some of them went so far as to invite our two Quebec couples to take a photo with them.
An outstanding organization
Our visitors were also very impressed by the quality and efficiency of the organization on the ground. “My Parisian friends said: ‘It’s going to be hell in Paris, with all these people, on top of the security,’” says Antoine. “But that didn’t happen. It’s easy to get around. You get through security quickly. You never have to queue.”
Our Quebecers are pretty much in agreement. “I was ready to make a Parisian of myself and criticize. But, honestly, I can’t,” Ian admits. “They really thought of everything,” sums up Manon, admiringly.
Isabelle still has a small regret when recalling her first experience, at the Barcelona Games. “It was simpler. Nothing was expensive. They had opened the schools so that they could be used for accommodation. Since the tickets were paper, people leaving the stadiums gave them to us and we could go in in turn. In Paris, everything is much bigger, much more professional, much more secure.”