Parade of French athletes, 70,000 spectators, best of music… What you need to know about the Parade of Champions

The French champions of the Olympic and Paralympic Games – but not only – will be honored on Saturday, all along the Champs-Elysées and on the Place de l’Etoile.

After the closing of the Paralympic Games at the Stade de France on Sunday, September 8, Paris 2024 is taking a little extra time to celebrate the athletes who thrilled the French public all summer. On Saturday, September 14, the Champions Parade will see all those who contributed to the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games parade down the Champs-Elysées and the Place de l’Etoile. A final moment of celebration to put an end, this time, to more than a month and a half of sporting competitions and emotions.

Olympic and Paralympic athletes together, medalists or not

For the first time, champions from the Olympic and Paralympic delegations will parade together to experience this final moment of communion. According to the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), no fewer than 182 Olympic athletes are expected to be present, including 78 medalists, including the French rugby 7s team, the brothers Alexis and Félix Lebrun, and the French judokas, including Teddy Riner and Romane Dicko. “We hope to increase this number to 200 athletes”specifies the body. Léon Marchand, Alexis Hanquinquant, Sandrine Martinet, and Clarisse Agbégnénou will be there. The French Paralympic and Sports Committee (CPSF) should bring together 137 athletes, including 50 medalists.

A great show in “best-of” mode

“We will try to apply the same ingredients to this day as during the Games, with spectacular elements and also surprises”. Director of the Paris 2024 ceremonies, Thierry Reboul and his teams will once again be at the helm. And the theme of the show couldn’t be clearer: “We released four albums [les quatre cérémonies d’ouverture et de clôture des Jeux olympiques et paralympiques]it’s time for the best-of. We’re going to offer everything we’ve seen and that people would like to see again one last time.”

The nostalgic fiber will therefore be assumed, while a scenography “never seen” will be installed in the form of a ring that will surround the Arc de Triomphe at 360 degrees, facing the public wherever they are. Live performances are expected.

Volunteers, organizing committee, stakeholders… Celebrating those who contributed to the success of the Games

Thought as a “fifth ceremony” – or even a sixth, counting the arrival of the flame in Marseille on May 8 – this Parade of Champions, which will leave from the bottom of the Champs-Elysées at 4 p.m. and go up to the Place de l’Etoile (arrival scheduled for 6 p.m.), promises to be as inclusive as possible, in particular by highlighting the little hands of these Games.

Volunteers, officials, members of the organizing committee and various stakeholders of Paris 2024 will take part in this parade. No fewer than 8,000 to 10,000 paraders are expected on the catwalk (podium) almost 300 m long, before the athletes take possession of a giant podium installed near the Arc de Triomphe.

70,000 spectators expected, free access via QR code, 4,000 members of the police force

“A maximum gauge of 40 000 people has been set for the area surrounding the Place de l’Etoile, while it will be 30 000 spectators on the Champs-Elysées”specifies Thierry Reboul, the director of ceremonies for Paris 2024. Gérald Darmanin, the resigning Minister of the Interior, announced that 4,000 police officers and gendarmes would be mobilized for this occasion.

The free online ticket office, which opened on Wednesday, was quickly taken by storm, since an hour later, a message appeared on the site: “We were victims of our success. All the places for the Parade of Champions were reserved.” New tickets were made available early Friday afternoon, September 13. The lucky holders will therefore be seated in two available zones (Champs-Elysées or Etoile). They will receive a confirmation that will be sent by email, no later than Saturday morning, along with the e-ticket(s).

The Parade of Champions timeline

2 p.m.: public reception on the Champs-Elysées area

4 p.m.: start of the parade on the Champs-Elysées until 6 p.m.

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Presentation of decorations to athletes on the Place de l’Etoile by the President of the Republic and former French champions. Before that, relighting of the flame of the Unknown Soldier with athletes from the army of champions.

9 p.m.: Grand concert, co-produced by France Télévisions, on the Place de l’Etoile. Projection of the concert on the façade of the Arc de Triomphe.

11 p.m. to midnight: DJ set on Place de l’Etoile.