During the Olympics, I typically find myself cheering on the athletes from the comfort of my couch. I had always assumed seeing the Games in person was too expensive and logistically challenging.
However, I was lucky enough to get tickets to five different events for the Summer 2024 Olympic Games: soccer, table tennis, swimming, golf, and athletics.
I also stumbled upon a few events by chance, like the men’s road race, which zoomed down the street near my apartment in the Paris suburbs.
Overall, I found that attending the Olympics in person has only made me more excited about them. Here are five things that surprised me most about attending the Olympics in person.
The Olympics are pretty easy to attend.
My husband and I bought most of our tickets over a year before the Games. Navigating the time zone to buy tickets was the hardest part, as we hadn’t yet moved to France from the United States. The cost was reasonable, too, with tickets to many events starting at about 25 euros ($27).
Once the Games began and we attended our first few events, I realized it would’ve been quite easy to wait until the Olympics started to nab tickets instead.
Although high-interest medal rounds in disciplines like women’s gymnastics or swimming sell out first, a fresh round of tickets typically becomes available every morning on the day of scheduled events.
One day, I had the option to purchase quarter-final handball tickets for 24 euros or tickets to the men’s boxing semi-finals for 305 euros. I didn’t buy them, but I was surprised to find that the Olympics could be a show-up-and-go event if you’re flexible enough.
Parts of the city seemed calmer than usual.
There were big crowds at the events themselves, but in my opinion, some of the city’s most-visited tourist attractions didn’t seem like they were getting the same numbers they usually do during busy-season travel.
Restaurants and cafés near big events seemed to be enjoying a bump in business, but some spots that are typically buzzing with foot traffic seemed quieter this summer.
What seems to be happening is visitors are flooding areas in and around Paris connected to the Games instead of making the added effort to check out the usual tourist sites.
We saw that phenomenon in our suburb of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, an accessible, free spot to catch road racing and the running of the Olympic torch before the Games. It’s not typically a tourist destination, but visitors have had a reason to come and linger afterward.
Getting to the events was easier than expected.
Before each event I attended, multi-page guides arrived in my inbox with detailed instructions on public-transit options. Visitors were dissuaded from driving, and alternatives were given depending on their starting point.
The trains were crowded but frequent, not unlike any other big event in Paris. However, it helps that the city is so well-connected by public transit.
For visitors not used to the city’s public transportation, I’ve seen at least half a dozen helpers available to answer questions and support ticket-buying at each station. The event’s organization has been impressive.
There are no small sports.
We definitely heard loud roars from the French cheering on Léon Marchard, who many consider the French Michael Phelps, during his heats at Paris La Défense Arena. However, we were just as impressed by the volume of Chinese fans cheering on their gold-medal-winning table-tennis champions.
The floor shook with every point from thousands of pairs of feet stomping in excitement as they inched closer and closer to that gold medal.
It was almost more fun to watch events we didn’t feel as connected to just to feed off of the crowd’s energy.
The atmosphere was contagious, and everyone was very friendly.
It’s hard to articulate how the Olympic Games bring people together until you’ve experienced it yourself. The high level of country pride was alive and well inside each arena, but I didn’t see anyone cross the line for those allegiances.
Instead, there was an air of inclusivity, with flags worn as capes and faces covered in paint. Attending the events felt overwhelmingly positive, even when our team didn’t make the cut … or the podium.
In addition to the spectators, everyone employed at the Olympics was pleasant. The staff outside each venue made it easy for us to find our way.
Inside the stadiums, it was almost as if they’d employed people to hype up the crowd and get everyone on their feet during big moments. We didn’t need much of that, though. Being there was enough to get us excited and invested in what was happening around us.
The Games aren’t even over yet, and I’ve already registered for tickets to attend the next Winter Games. We’re coming, Milano Cortina 2026.
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