Turns out, at the Olympics, more is merrier. I found unexpected joy in large numbers. I found bonhomie, as the French express cheerful friendliness. Bonhomie best describes the spectator experience during this Olympiad. Though the crowds were indeed massive, a sense of togetherness and civility permeated Paris. It was a special mix of Olympic spirit fused with Parisian pixie dust.
The atmosphere was festive, the vibes superbe. Inside the arenas, the energy, the passion, and national pride were palpable. Athletes had dedicated their lives to being there. Many spectators were just as appreciative of the privilege to watch the world’s best athletes do their thing. Everyone wanted to be right there at that moment, and the resultant spirit was sensational and unforgettable.
There was never a dull moment at the Games, and that’s by design. The Paris organisers hired hundreds of ‘motivators’ to amp up the energy, initiate Mexican waves, raise the decibel levels and keep the party going. Music added to the ambience. The song choices were witty and deft, such as when the Rolling Stone’s ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ played after an unsuccessful challenge by Japan in their men’s volleyball match against the United States.
I discovered that, whatever the sport, raw world-class talent is a joy to observe. The athleticism on display in Paris inspired admiration and sometimes awe. We witnessed four different disciplines, and chose playoff matches to ensure the highest level of competition. When we bought the tickets, we had zero visibility on who we would see play but were thrilled by the luck of the draw. We witnessed my national team – Team USA – and my partner’s team – Taiwan – as well as the home team in action.
Event 1: Men’s Singles Tennis Quarterfinals
What could be more sublime than watching the most awarded and accomplished player in tennis history fiercely pursue the one accolade – Olympic gold – he had not yet clinched? Novak Djokovic’s backhand battle with Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek ranked eighth in the world, took place in the Roland Garros arena, home of the French Open. The crowd was electric. So was the tennis.
Event 2: United States vs Japan Men’s Volleyball
Volleyball is like synchronised chaos. The athletes leap, spike, and occasionally collide mid-air. It’s a fun sport to watch. Especially when thousands of people are screaming for the underdogs (in this event, Japan) to outwit the Americans, who won. We had third-row seats, and the proximity to the entertaining action was worth every Euro.
Event 3: Men’s Table Tennis Team Quarterfinals
I’ve wanted to watch Olympic table tennis since first seeing that ping pong scene in Forest Gump. Table tennis, that blend of finesse and caffeinated reflexes, is played like rapid-fire tango. This match between Japan and Taiwan – or ‘Chinese Taipei’, to be politically accurate in Olympic-speak – consisted of both singles and doubles play. The rallies didn’t disappoint as partisan spectators shouted “Jia Yu!” (Go!) in Mandarin. We were fortunate with seats: first row, centre line.
Event 4: Men’s Basketball Semifinals
Basketball is France’s second-most-popular sport, and the passion of French fans was on full display inside Bercy arena. In the France vs Germany contest, the stakes were high in this intense rivalry between neighbours who share too much history. France played catch-up in the first quarter; tied in the second; and edged ahead in the third. The crowd was boisterous, and I texted a Parisian friend at the time that there would be riots if France ddin’t win. In the end, the home team prevailed.
The Perk of Paris
Then there’s the perk of Paris, whose core city centre was pedestrian friendly during the 19-days of competition. This city of bistros and boulevards seemingly embraced its role as host extraordinaire. The Eiffel Tower sported the Olympic rings and the Olympic cauldron took flight each night above the Tuileries Garden.
Although I’ve visited the City of Light on many occasions, it was enjoyable to do the touristy stuff all over again – along with thousands of others who were thinking the same. We saw a cabaret show in Montmartre. Marvelled at Monet’s Water Lilies. Walked along the Seine. Climbed the Sacre Coeur Basilica. And enjoyed plenty of foie gras and crème brulee, buoyed by the calories and eternal wisdom from a French friend: life is short, so eat the éclair.
Each day it was a treat to be able to enjoy elite athletics, world-class food and drink, and top-tier culture. Which is why I’m looking forward to Los Angeles in 2028.
How we obtained tickets: Tickets to Olympic events are made available in tranches in the months leading up to the competition. It’s important to register your interest early by enrolling in the mailing list and “lottery”. The lottery is the right to purchase tickets at face value in advance of the public. We entered the lottery about 18 months before the Olympiad began and received notification of our successful application three months later.
Once notified of the successful lottery outcome, we had 72 hours to purchase tickets, with the requirement to buy tickets in at least three different events. Unfortunately, in our case, the 72-hour window coincided with a safari in South Africa where we had limited internet connectivity. Despite the technical challenge we managed to purchase tickets for the above four events. We selected these games based on several factors, including scheduling, personal interest, the availability of good seats, and pricing. Ticket costs vary by game and seat category. On average we paid about €300 for each ticket.
Essential information: Thai Airways offers a one-connection service to Paris-CDG from Phuket. In Paris the games took place at various venues that were easily accessed by public transport. The organisers advised arriving at least 90 minutes in advance, but that wasn’t necessary except for the basketball game.
Tickets were distributed and accessed through a dedicated app, and the technology (surprisingly!) worked. The French security presence was highly visible across the city. The security checks to enter the arenas were efficient and courteous, and I found entering museums such as l’Orangerie to be generally stricter than entering the competition venues.
Adventurer and author Todd Miller has explored more than 100 countries on all continents. His Amazon bestseller ‘ENRICH: Create Wealth in Time, Money, and Meaning’, was lauded by Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, and other global media. He resides at Natai Beach. Visit www.enrich101.com