Whenever someone describes Paris to me, their eyes light up. They describe the magic that winds through the streets, underneath every cobblestone, alive in every glowing streetlight.
Imagine all that magic, and now add the greatest sporting event in the world.
Paris hosted the 2024 Olympic Games from July 26 to August 11. The city will also host the 2024 Paralympic Games, beginning on August 28.
My family and I went to the Games during the second week. When we landed, I understood Paris’s dreamlike quality – the clouds hovering over the city seemed to say, “We have something extraordinary happening here, come see.”
We lugged our suitcases up paint-chipped stairs and collectively wondered – “do Europeans believe in elevators?” As my family and I settled in, we opened all the windows and the sounds of the city traveled in. I’ve always loved street noise (a side-effect of growing up in NYC). Paris spoiled my ears as I fell asleep every night with a million conversations floating into my room from the millions of people walking by my window.
Every morning began with a new delicious pastry, my attempt at pronouncing it and mountains of berries and cream. We always kept the TV on and followed Olympic coverage – it felt more enthralling than at home, even though we sat at the breakfast table in our pajamas like always. Watching the Games just miles from where they’re happening makes you feel like the entire city is next to you, holding its breath while the athletes compete.
We trekked to the Stade Yves-du-Manoir on our first day, the stadium that hosted the 1924 Summer Olympics. 100 years later, the stadium came to life again – for field hockey!
I’ve only played field hockey for a few years, and only ever in America, where it’s mostly a New England women’s sport. In Europe, it’s everywhere, and hugely popular for men too. I’ve never seen so many spectators at a field hockey match – not even Fieldston’s homecoming!
We watched the Netherlands – the eventual gold medalists – and the USA teams. We pointed out all the colleges the American girls went to, shouting extra loud for Maddie Zimmer, a forward at Northwestern (where my sister will attend in the fall).
Hearing the crowd’s roar and the crack of the ball, I wanted nothing more than to be out on the field. I’ve always wanted to play in the Olympics, and when I was there, standing mere feet away from the athletes I hoped to be one day, it didn’t seem so crazy.
Now, there’s an LA 2028 poster in my room – a new goal.
After the matches ended, we hopped in a Taxi and zipped to the Parc des Princes where the United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) faced Japan in the quarter-finals.
My sister and I grew up loving the USWNT. They were our superheroes. Now, we follow the team intensely on social media and don’t miss a single Olympic/World Cup match. When we saw them in person, we screamed our hearts out and started the wave multiple times. Trinity Rodman scored the game-winner late in extra time, and I got so excited that I spilled my popcorn and my drink. My sister and I didn’t care: we were too busy cheering and hugging.
After the game, we wandered the streets searching for a grocery store. At each “exciting view,” my dad would excitedly tap me and say, “Lily! Take a photo of us!”
Far too many photo ops later, we stumbled into a store and split up. I found Peanut M&Ms and sent a photo to my best friend – every time one of us goes to a new place, we bring back some for each other.
We also watched the US Women’s Volleyball Team, Mondo Duplantis’ incredible pole vault record and more field hockey.
Naturally, we had to see iconic sights like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, but I enjoyed the beautiful streets hidden from obvious view more.
It’s possible that my family ate more than 100 pieces of bread on the trip. French food did not disappoint and French wine didn’t either according to my sister who turned 18 in April and gleefully took advantage of Europe’s drinking age. My favorite meal came after a very late night and early morning – a fresh croissant cut in halves, with fluffy scrambled eggs in between.
What can I say about Paris that hasn’t been said already? It doesn’t matter if it’s in a photo, facetime or in person – it’s a city that demands you feel lucky to be there.
