When I was accepted into this summer program, I knew I wanted to take some extra time off and experience parts of France other than Paris. As I researched and planned, I realized that the impact of the Paris Olympics reaches beyond the host city, so I set out to experience some sporting events in the south of France before arriving in Paris for the Olympic games.
First, I traveled to Nice, where the Tour de France was set to finish for the first time ever. (The traditional finish in Paris could not have taken place because of the Olympics). My dad is a fan of the Tour, and as I grew up, I learned to enjoy watching the cyclists grind their way through the countryside and up the mountains of France. So, I was excited to experience the race firsthand and to see a different major sporting event in France as a possible comparison point to the Olympics.
The tour took over Nice and brought an extra buzz of excitement to the town. Clearly, the Nicoise were proud to be chosen as the alternate terminus for the race (the traditional finish in Paris could not take place because of the Olympics), which is good because the Tour took over the whole town for the weekend. The old town was decorated with yellow, green, and polka dot flags strung above the narrow cobbled streets, and the iconic #ILOVENICE sign on the Promenade was updated to the Tour’s Black and Gold. As the weekend progressed, more and more of downtown and the Promenade was blocked off to pedestrians until the city was at a complete standstill. At night, a colossal drone and fireworks show shut down the entire Nice port. The beach, the streets, and the sidewalks were all full as the whole city celebrated together.
Next, I traveled to Marseille to see the opening match of the men’s soccer tournament. Compared to Nice, where I could feel the presence of the Tour everywhere I went, the fact that Marseille was hosting Olympic events seemed just an additional part of everyday life. Public transit lines are updated with pink and blue signage, and the Olympic rings are visible throughout the Vieux Port, but otherwise, life continues as usual in the city.
Attending the sold-out opening match of the men’s soccer tournament at Stade Velodrome was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, though. French and American fans streamed into the stadium from all sides. The seats inside the stadium were all prepped with red, white, or blue flags, and before kickoff, as the crowd waved the flags, the stadium was turned into an undulating French flag. The stadium thundered as French fans sang La Marseillaise, and each French goal was celebrated with a wave of deafening cheers in support of Les Bleus.
I look forward to comparing these experiences throughout France with the experience of Paris during the Olympics. It is already clear that security for the opening ceremony has disrupted the rhythm of life in the Capital. What will the atmosphere around the city be as the games commence? In just a few hours we’ll find out!