Despite hiccups at the start of the competition and a few points for improvement, the French edition of the Rugby World Cup delighted the fans, and France reassured its abilities to organize a major event.
France has just closed the rugby chapter and its seven weeks of tournaments in nine cities in France. It will therefore quickly move towards the next major sporting event: the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Less than a year before the most watched sporting event in the world, the Rugby World Cup looked like a life-size test. Transport, security, stadium access procedure, hotels… More than a million supporters were able to test the French organization – as of October 10, World Rugby claimed that the group matches had attracted 1.8 million of spectators. “It’s surprisingly well organized,” smiles Tim, then seated with friends on a Parisian café terrace, a few hours before the quarter-final between the Blues and the Springboks.
The South African refers to the chaos of the Champions League final, at the Stade de France in May 2022, which permanently tarnished the image of France in its ability to accommodate large crowds in a cramped space. “The stadiums are full, the atmosphere is superb, the volunteers are very well organized and experienced, it’s overall very positive,” agrees Franck, present in the stands during three World Cup matches. Whether Argentinian, New Zealander or Irish, lovers of the oval ball describe successful logistics and a great atmosphere.
The hiccups of Marseille and Bordeaux
However, the competition got off to a bad start for the authorities. The day after the victory of the Blues against the Blacks, the English castigated the organizers on Saturday September 9. Several hundred of them missed the kick-off of the match between their team and Argentina at the Vélodrome in Marseille. The cause: traffic jams at checkpoints before access to the stands. If France 2023 recognized flaws, the late arrival of English fans on only one of the two available entries was also singled out.
To avoid a repeat of the scenario, the next day, additional volunteers were deployed to direct spectators to the correct entrances, encourage them to go to the controls earlier and announcements in transport indicated the preferred metro station. In Bordeaux, on the same scorching September 9, it was the city’s trams that were deemed overwhelmed by the flow of customers. Two incidents – one technical, the other linked to the triggering of the emergency alarm – blocked traffic for several tens of minutes, making the journey uncomfortable for many spectators.
Stewards, signs and lines on the ground
Hailed by some, criticized by others, the transport offer divided spectators according to the cities (and days) where they attended the matches. “Transport was OK, except Nantes and Bordeaux where it was terrible, testifies Jeff, a few minutes before the kick-off of New Zealand-Ireland in Saint-Denis. But the organization got better and better as the competition progressed.” That evening, Ronan, an Irishman living in Australia, took the RER B from Gare du Nord to reach the Dyonisian compound: “It’s a brilliant idea to have traced the route to follow on the ground. For people who don’t speak French like me, it’s ideal. And the transport is full of course, but they run normally.”
In addition to indications on the ground or on signs, Tim greets, “volunteers present everywhere to show you the direction”, particularly in train and metro stations. “There are stewards every 10 or 20 meters to show you where the toilets or the beer stand are,” exemplifies Michel, who attended matches in five of the nine host cities. In the Old Port of Marseille, Jeromino, who came from Argentina to attend his first World Cup, is enthusiastic about the welcome he has received: “It’s very well organized, there are lots of directions to get to the stadium, you can feel the people caring. And quite a few of them speak Spanish too.”
A gastronomy to review
As for the stadiums, apart from the Marseille incident, access is judged “easy” And “fluid”. Ronan and Tim note the absence of queues in front of the catering areas and toilets. “The food is not very good in the stadium, however regrets Johann, a South African who came to attend with his partner the two quarter-finals organized at the Stade de France. During the World Cup in England, the catering offer was certainly more expensive, but better, and the toilets were also cleaner.
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The restoration also saddens Franck a lot: “At the Japanese World Cup, the drink offering was impressive. In France, you are offered beer, coke and water. In wine country, you don’t even find it at the stadium. It’s not serious but it’s a shame.” For this supporter, the food offered is far from the image of a country known for its gastronomy. “In Lyon, on the wall of the stadium, there is a huge portrait of chef Paul Bocuse. And we eat filthy hot dogs there. It’s still terrible. We should make an effort.”
Beyond the necessary economic assessment, the organizers of France 2023 will be able to learn lessons from this event which will be very useful to the Organizing Committee of the Paris Games. With a significant difference: during the Olympics, more than 10 million spectators are expected and over only two weeks.
(with Elio Bono, in Marseille, and Maÿlice Lavorel, at the Stade de France)