THE ARENAS OF THE 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS

The major theme of this Olympic games' infrastructure has been renovate and reuse, with only two facilities being purpose-built for the 2024 events. With organisers seeking to minimise new construction in order to reduce the Games' carbon footprint, nearly all of the 35 venues will either be existing buildings, or temporary structures erected at some of the French capital's most famous landmarks.

Here is a glimpse at some of the most notable sites of the Games:

AQUATICS CENTRE

The Aquatics Centre is one of the two purpose-built venues for the Games. The centre will facilitate the artistic swimming, water polo and diving events. The build incorporated low-carbon and bio-based principles, featuring a a timber structure and a roof covered in PV panels.

Looking beyond the Games, the Aquatics Centre has been designed to address the needs of Seine-Saint-Denis, its host region, and the French swimming community, which will now have a facility that can host the biggest national and international competitions.

BERCY ARENA

Famous for its pyramid design, the Bercy Arena was originally built in 1984. The arena will host the basketball, trampoline and artistic gymnatics events. After the Games, the Bercy Arena will remain a sporting and cultural events hub.

CHAMP DE MARS ARENA

This temporary exhibition hall opened in 2021 to host events during the renovation of the Grand Palais (see below). Also known as the Grand Palais Éphémère, it has a wooden, modular structure and is wrapped in a plastic skin. After hosting judo and wrestling events during it is expected to be dismantled.

CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES

The grounds of the historic Palace of Versailles has been turned into a temporary outdoor arena, hosting the equestrian and modern pentathlon events. At the end of the Games, the temporary facilities at the palace will be dismantled.

CHAMP DE MARS

A temporary outdoor arena has been built at the Champ de Mars, one of Paris' most iconic public gardens, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. This arena will host the beach volleyball and blind football events. The venue will be dismantled following the Games.

GRAND PALAIS

Having undergone its first major renovation since construction in 1900 for the Paris Universal Exhibition, the Grand Palais will host fencing and taekwondo events. Built from 6,000 tonnes of steel and featuring latticed metalworkl and glass roofing, after the Olympics the Grand Palais will continue to host cultural events.

INVALIDES

The Esplanade des Invalides is the garden of one of Paris’ most beautiful monuments, the Hôtel des Invalides. For the 2024 Games, the vast green space in Paris' 7th Arrondissement will be the stage for the archery and para-archery events, athletics and cycling. The venue will be disassembled at the end of the Games.

LA DEFENSE ARENA

La Defense Arena was built in 2017 as the home ground of the rugby union club Racing 92. Thanks to a modular, multipurpose structure, the multi-purpose venue has been fitted with a temporary swimming pool for the games and will serve as the main location for the tournament's swimming and water polo events.

In addition to hosting Racing 92, the arena will continue to host a range of sporting and cultural events.

PLACE DE LA CONCORDE

A site of great consequence in French history, facilitating the executions during the French Revolution, the Place de la Concorde has been transformed from an inner-city plaza to an urban sports arena. The action sports complex will host 3x3 basketball, BMX freestyle, breaking and skateboarding events. The temporary arena will be dismantled after the Games.

PONT ALEXANDRE III

One of Paris' best-known monuments, the Pont Alexandre III bridge spanning the Seine will provide the setting for the finish line of individually timed cycling events, the swimming marathon, triathlon and paratriathlon.

Temporary stands will be set up near Pont Alexandre III for the Paris 2024 Games and dismantled after them. The bridge will remain one of Paris’ best-known landmarks.

PORTE DE LA CHAPELLE

Also known as the Adidas Arena, the Porte de la Chapelle Arena is the second of the two purpose-built venues. A new cultural hub in the north of Paris, the venue will host the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics.

The plastic seats and aluminium cladding are made with recycled materials, and construction waste was recycled to minimise emissions.

Since opening it has been home to the Paris Basketball club, and will continue to be after the games are over, as well as hosting concerts and leisure facilities.

STADE DE FRANCE

Built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 80,000-seater Stade de France is the country's largest stadium. With a distinctive roof supported by 18 steel masts, it will serve as the main Olympic stadium during the games, hosting the athletics events as well as rugby sevens.

YVES-DU-MANOIR STADIUM

The main venue of the last Olympics Paris hosted, in 1924, the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium will host the hockey at this years Games. It is the only venue at these games to have previously played witness to Olympic events.

After the games conclude the Yves-du-Manoir will become a home for French hockey, with additional facilities for football, rugby and athletics.