What we know about the September 14 athletes’ parade

This will be the fifth ceremony. On Saturday, September 14, the French athletes who distinguished themselves this summer at the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be treated to a new lap of the track, designed by Thierry Reboul, creative director of the Paris 2024 Games, whose enthusiasm seems impossible to dampen. “It should be very spectacular”he promised.

On the Place de l’Etoile, a huge stage – 400 m long – in the shape of a ring will be installed all around the Arc de Triomphe. This Saturday, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., the parade will begin in the middle of the Champs-Elysées: the athletes will walk up the famous avenue before being decorated by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and then celebrating on this stage.

A concert will begin at 9 p.m. to continue the communion with the audience present. DJs will take over from 11 p.m. to midnight. The names of the artists who will perform have not yet been revealed. Images will be projected on both sides of the Arc de Triomphe, which will bring back memories to those who had invaded the place on the night of July 12, 1998, after the first coronation of the Blues at the Football World Cup.

Free access, but reservation required

In The team, Thierry Reboul announces that this show, designed to close the“adventure in beauty”will be a kind of artistic best-of, especially musical, of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition to the athletes, thousands of people will parade, including “the volunteers and all those who contributed to these Games”had indicated Emmanuel Macron, who wished that this final celebration be organized. The President of the Republic also intends to announce the same day measures intended to ensure the legacy of these Paris Games, reports The Parisian.

Although access to this parade of athletes will be free, for security reasons, it will be necessary to register in advance and have a ticket to access the Avenue des Champs-Elysées. The same system was put in place to access the Club France, in the Parc de La Villette, during the Paralympic Games, and the Olympic cauldron, in the Tuileries Gardens. Tens of thousands of people are expected for this final celebration, which will be broadcast live on France Télévisions.