By James C. Hawkins | August 11, 2024 | 4-minute read
There’s something surreal about stepping off a plane and into a city transformed. As I exited Orly Airport on July 25th, 2024, the Olympic signage hit me like a tidal wave. Paris, always a city of light, now seemed to glow with an electric anticipation.
I’d just flown in from Balbriggan, a small Irish harbor town where I’d been training an engineering firm on microgrids. The contrast was stark – from the quiet, friendly streets of Ireland to the buzzing metropolis of Paris, united in its Olympic fervor.
My home for the next few days was the Hotel Yllen Eiffel in the 15th arrondissement. The room was tiny by American standards, but its proximity to a key metro station and the quiet neighborhood made up for it. Plus, the staff’s warmth reminded me that hospitality knows no size constraints.
The City Transforms
My first attempt to visit the Paris 2024 Megastore was a lesson in Olympic-sized logistics. Every bridge was blocked off in preparation for the opening ceremony. It was frustrating, sure, but it also gave me a chance to see the city’s transformation up close. The Champs de Mars had become a sprawling complex of venues, each one a testament to years of planning and collective effort.
That night, I made my way to Stade de France for the Men’s Rugby Sevens. The 1.6km walk from the metro was an experience in itself. From the metro station, the crowd of people moved as a massive, excited group, our path lined with bars and restaurants representing different countries. It struck me then – this wasn’t just about the sports. It was about people from all corners of the world, converging, sharing, celebrating.
Entering the stadium, the sheer volume of 70,000 voices chanting La Marseillaise hit me like a physical force. I’d bought these tickets eight months ago, not knowing what to expect. Now, surrounded by this sea of humanity, I understood why people spend years planning for these moments.
A Ceremony to Remember
The next evening found me at a fanzone at La Rotonde Stalingrad, surrounded by a growing group of friends and strangers. As we huddled together under the threat of rain, watching the opening ceremony on our phones, I was struck by the intimacy of the moment. Here we were, a dozen people from different countries, sharing this experience.
The rain eventually came, but it didn’t matter. We were too caught up in the spectacle, in the shared excitement. And when my friend Zak, born in Morocco, found out he’d become a French citizen that very day? The celebration reached new heights. It felt like the Olympics in microcosm – a celebration of humanity’s ability to come together, to create new bonds, to belong.
More Than Just Games
Over the next few days, I witnessed moments that will stay with me forever. At Court Philippe Chatrier, I watched Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz play doubles, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Next to me, a guy from Mexico FaceTimed his dad throughout the match, their shared joy transcending the thousands of miles between them.
At the gymnastics qualifications, I saw the French team struggle, their dreams of Olympic glory slipping away. But what followed was even more powerful – the crowd, 20,000 strong, rallying around them with cries of “Allez les bleus!” It wasn’t about winning anymore. It was about supporting each other, about being part of something bigger.
Even in less mainstream sports like archery, held against the stunning backdrop of Les Invalides, I felt this sense of unity. We weren’t just watching athletes compete. We were witnessing the culmination of years of dedication, not just from the athletes, but from their families, coaches, and entire nations.
The Heart of the Olympics
As I sat watching beach volleyball at the Stade Tour Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower looming in the background, I found myself reflecting on why the Olympics brings us together like nothing else.
Maybe it’s because for a few weeks, we all speak the same language – the language of sport, of human achievement. We cheer for our countries, yes, but we also cheer for the underdogs, for the record-breakers, for the athletes who embody the Olympic spirit of perseverance and fair play.
Or perhaps it’s because the Olympics gives us a glimpse of what we could be. In a world often divided by borders and ideologies, here was a space where those divisions seemed to melt away. Where a Moroccan-born man could become a French citizen and celebrate with friends from around the world. Where strangers could bond over a shared love of sport, regardless of where they came from.
The Flame That Unites Us
On my last day in Paris, I saw the Olympic cauldron on display. Surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, it stood as a powerful symbol. During the day, it rested on the ground, but each evening it would rise, illuminating the Parisian sky.
I thought about what that flame represents. It’s not just about the games themselves. It’s about the human spirit – our capacity for greatness, our ability to overcome obstacles, our drive to push the boundaries of what’s possible. But more than that, it’s about our fundamental need for connection, for community, for togetherness.
As I boarded my flight back to Madrid, I carried that sense of togetherness with me. The Olympics had shown me that despite our differences, despite the challenges we face as a global community, we are capable of coming together in beautiful and inspiring ways.
In the end, that’s the true power of the Olympics. It reminds us that we’re all part of the same team – Team Humanity. And when we come together, when we support each other and celebrate our shared achievements, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.
The flame may go out, the athletes may go home, but the spirit of togetherness that the Olympics ignites? That burns on, in all of us. And maybe, just maybe, it can light the way to a brighter, more united future.
