It’s often a story that dates back to childhood. Their passion for the Olympic Games fell on them when they were little. For Frédéric, a 46-year-old Jocondian, it was in 1988, the Games took place in Seoul. “I was fascinated by Carl Lewishe remembers. The competitions took place at night, I followed the news. Since then, I have been passionate about the Olympic Games. »
With his brother Johan, who lives in Noyant-de-Touraine, he even paid for the trip every four years. In Athens in 2004, in Beijing in 2008, in London in 2012 and in Rio in 2016. Everything was also ready for the two brothers to fly to Tokyo in 2020 but the games were postponed due to Covid-19, then banned to the public in 2021.
“Every time, I take two weeks of vacation”
So suffice to say that for the two Tourangeaux, missing the Paris Games was out of the question. “As soon as we knew that the Olympics would take place in France, we knew we were going to go therecontinues Frédéric, employee in a local company. Each time, I take two weeks of vacation. This time again, my brother accompanies me but with my niece and my nephew. We are going to Paris for five days, from July 27 to 31, and we are going to sleep with an uncle who lives in Yvelines. »
The program of the stay is tempting: the rugby sevens finals “with Antoine Dupont” at the Stade de France; tennis at Roland-Garros, triathlon, women’s mountain biking “with two chances of a French medal”. “We will also go to the France club in Villepinteadds the sports enthusiast. It’s nice, we can get up close to the champions, enjoy the atmosphere. »
Like many fans, Frédéric is also counting on the launch of the ticket resale site – which should be open in mid-May – to complete his Olympic program.
Christelle, from Joué-lès-Tours, will follow several Olympic events and has many souvenir items such as the jersey given by basketball player Jean-Michel Sénégal, after the Los Angeles Olympics.
© (Photo NR, Hugues Le Guellec)
Pharmacist in Joué-lès-Tours and former basketball player, Christelle is also in the starting blocks for the Paris Olympics. “As soon as we knew that Paris’s candidacy was acceptedshe indicates, we started putting €100 aside every month. This gives us a good budget and we were lucky to be drawn from the start. We have tickets for the opening ceremony – tickets for €90 – then we stay three days in Paris to attend the events. We will then return there with friends. »
“My father was at the Munich games in 1972”
For her too, sport is a family affair. “ We are going to attend the Olympic Games with basketball alumni, she comments. We usually meet up to watch matches together. My father was at the Munich Games in 1972.”
Christelle contracted the virus in 1976 during the Montreal games. The dream is now within reach. “What matters is being in the moodspecifies the pharmacist. We’ll go watch fencing, rugby… And for basketball, we have tickets for the women’s quarter-finals, the women’s semi-finals, the two men’s semi-finals…”
We had to convince the family to organize our vacation around this project.
Emmanuel, passionate about the Olympics since 1984
Like Frédéric and Christelle, other Touraine residents are already ready for the Olympics. This is the case of Emmanuel who is keen to “show that there are not only sorrowful spirits” concerning the Paris Games. “I couldn’t imagine not experiencing at least one of the trials of this global event which has punctuated so many of my summer nights since Los Angeles 1984”, he explains. He took tickets “at reasonable prices” for a Blues match in Marseille. “I had to convince the whole family to organize our vacation around this project, it was not a foregone conclusion”laughs the Tourangeau.
Another Emmanuel and his whole family are also preparing for the Olympic Games: “We are a sporting family, my wife practiced athletics at A3T and I myself do triathlon in Saint-Avertinhe specifies. We are going to the Olympics for a week to see some events… And enjoy the atmosphere. »
“To delight the children”
Kévin, 34, who lives in Amboise, is also diving back into a passion from his childhood during the Paris Olympics. “I spent whole days watching the events, starting in Sydney in 2000.”
He managed to obtain one of the first packages put on sale by lottery. With his wife, Fanny and his children Lily and James, they consulted at length to determine which events they would go to see. “We made a table with stars,” he says. Trampoline won, we also had rugby and water polo. » However, there is no question of making inconsiderate expenses.
“We won’t go on vacation, we devote our budget to the Olympics,” explains Kévin. We will do the round trip by train each time. For me, it’s a dream and I hope that it will amaze the children. »
