Olympics 2024

Storied Grounds: 6 Iconic Stadiums in France That Will Transform Into Olympic Playing Fields

By RJ Ballecer - June 15, 2024

If you’re an avid sports fan, then you might be familiar with these stadiums that will also be venues for the Paris Olympics. 

A huge part of the sports experience are the the very stadiums where athletes play. In fact, some of these might even double as tourist attractions for huge sports fans thanks to the legendary reputation they’ve built up over the years — just think of how football fans would be eager to visit their favorite team’s home stadiums for tours.

This year at the Paris Olympics, some of France’s storied grounds will now bear witness to athletes looking to make their nations proud. In witnessing history, these grounds also add to their own storied histories. 

Here are those renowned stadiums that will become Paris Olympics playing fields once July comes. 

Stade Roland Garros 

paris olympics stadiums: Roland Garros
(Photo Credit: ROLAND-GARROS on Facebook)

Stade Roland Garros is the very stadium that hosts the French Open, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in professional tennis. Given this, it comes as no surprise that Olympic tennis tournaments will be played in this 96-year-old stadium. 

Apart from hosting Olympic tennis, boxing will also be held at the Stade Roland Garros, as well as wheelchair tennis and sitting volleyball at the Paralympics. 

Stade de France 

Built for the 1998 World Cup, Stade de France is the home turf of the French national rugby and football teams (Les Bleus won the 1998 World Cup here). The 1998 World Cup aside, Stade de France has also hosted major events for these sports, such as the UEFA Champions League and Rugby World Cup. 

Come July, Stade de France will become this year’s “Olympic Stadium”, where athletics and rugby seven tilts will be held. Thanks to its Olympic Stadium status, closing ceremonies will also be held at the 80,968-seater venue in August. 

Parc des Princes

paris olympics stadiums: Parc des Princes
(Photo Credit: Paris Saint-Germain on Facebook)

Parc des Princes is the home of hometown heroes Paris Saint-Germain and was the former Les Bleus and Les XV de France home turf before Stade de France was built. Also no stranger to witnessing football and rugby history, Parc des Princess will now be holding Paris Olympics football matches once the games kick off. 

Stade Geoffroy-Guichard 

paris olympics stadiums: Association Sportive de Saint-Etienne
(Photo Credit: ASSE – Association Sportive de Saint-Etienne)

Stade Geoffroy-Guichard is the third oldest stadium in Paris, as it was built back in 1930. Since its 1931 opening, the stadium has been the home of Ligue 1 club AS Saint Etienne. Besides housing the local club, Geoffroy-Guichard was also a venue for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and has hosted UEFA European Football Championships and Rugby World Cups in the past. 

Like Parc des Princess, the age-old stadium will be another football venue for the Paris Olympics. 

Stade Vélodrome

paris olympics stadiums: Orange Vélodrome
(Photo Credit: Orange Vélodrome on Facebook)

Stade Vélodrome might be another familiar venue to football fans. Located in Marseille, France’s second-largest stadium has hosted two FIFA World Cups, and houses a marquee Ligue 1 squad in Olympique de Marseille. 

And now, the Vélodrome will become the third stadium to house football matches for the Paris Olympics, alongside Parc des Princes and the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. 

Stade Yves-du-Manoir

(Photo Credit: Olympics)

While not as highly renowned as the previous venues, Yves-du-Manoir was “the main arena” in the 1924 Paris Olympics, wherein Opening Ceremonies and athletics competitions were held. A century later, the stadium is now set to hold field hockey competitions for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

With this inclusion, Yves-du-Manoir is the sole venue that is a two-time Olympic venue for the Paris Games. 

Banner Image from Orange Vélodrome on Facebook.


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