One of our history majors, Dominic Ciccarelli, attended the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He had this to say about his trip:
I attended the rugby sevens matches at Stade du France, tennis at Rolande-Garros, and the women’s gold medal match at Parc des Princes. The last event was a bit of a happy accident as I swear I bought tickets for the bronze medal match only to learn the day before it was in fact a gold medal match.
Overall, no major problems ensued during the games. The gendarmerie, national police, and even French army were present everywhere to dissuade and thwart any possible attack. I’ve never felt safer in a foreign country. There was also a massive army of guides and aides all around Gare du Nord to assist any travelers with navigating the Paris metro and purchasing transfer tickets. In addition, at every sporting event hundreds of volunteers gave their time to usher, facilitate the game, and check tickets prior to entry. It was a very tourist friendly atmosphere.
In addition to the games, along with my cousin Paul, I enjoyed some sightseeing in and around Paris. I had the opportunity to visit the crypts underneath the Sacré-Cœur open only for the Olympics. After the visit inside the basilica we went atop the dome for perhaps one of the best views of Paris. The bascilia’s location made for a wonderful panoramic view. Of course, no visit in Montmartre is complete without a visit to Café des Deux Moulins made famous by the film Amélie. Oh yeah, and there’s Costco in France. Same setup and design just different items. Kirkland and pizza taste the same.”
