I had the great privilege of spending three wonderful days in Paris from 3 – 6 August for the 2024 Olympic Games. I was looking forward to this trip for the past eighteen months, having booked a package of tickets for the Games when they initially went on sale in February 2023. I knew it was a unique opportunity to make a trip of a lifetime and I wanted to be there.
The Paris Olympics featured 329 events in 32 sports, which encompasses a total of 48 disciplines. In Athletics the Olympics is the blue ribbon or pinnacle competition at which athletes from 184 countries from across the globe competed. My main motivation in going to Paris was to support Team Ireland in Athletics. It was my first time to be present as a spectator at a major championships in the sport that I’ve had a strong affiliation with as an athlete, coach and official for over thirty years.
It was my Dad who introduced me to Athletics when I was just nine years old and it was great that he could come with me on the trip. The atmosphere in Paris, both at the competition venues and around the city was fantastic. The organisation was second to none and it was great to see so many young and enthusiastic volunteers offering visitors a helping hand.
Despite the controversy about the Opening Ceremony whereby Catholics and other Christian groups were upset by a scene that seemed to evoke a mockery of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper (the organising committee of Paris 2024 subsequently apologised); faith values have always had an important connection to sport and there were many examples of athletes who witnessed to their Christian faith. Indeed according to Pope Francis the Olympic motto ‘altius, citius, fortius’ which is Latin for ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger, is “an invitation to develop the talents that God has given us”. He further remarked that “when we see athletes giving their very best, sport fills us with enthusiasm, with a sense of marvel, and it makes us almost feel proud”.
Moreover, the Holy Games initiative, co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Paris and the French Bishops’ Conference (CEF), was visible at Catholic Churches around the city. I attended a joyful celebration of Sunday Mass in English at St Joseph’s Catholic Church and it was uplifting to witness a commited faith community and visiors from around the world join together joyfully in worship and prayer, a reminder that the call to holiness and the practice of sport can go hand in hand.
The thrill of competition was undoubtedly the highlight of the Games for me. I was really glad that I got to support four Irish athletes in the two Athletics sessions I attended at the Stade de France:- Sophie Becker, Sharlene Mawdsley and Rhasidat Adekele in the 400 metres and Nicola Tuthill in the Hammer. They all competed so well and the future is certainly bright for Irish athletics with so many young and up and coming athletes, as well as those who are already ranked amongst the highest in their discipline.
The warm weather in Paris may have not been too favourable for the athletes but it brought a holiday type feeling to attending the Games. It was wonderful to enjoy the summer sunshine while doing some sightseeing, meeting people from other countries and connecting with friends from home. I also had the novelty of watching two exciting games of Water-polo in a packed Paris La Défense Arena, including the host nation France versus near neighbours and rivals Spain. Paris was truly a great Olympics and I felt privileged to be there, especially given the fact that 2036 is the earliest the Olympics can be hosted in Europe again.
