The route on which the athletes’ exploits will take place at the Stade de France is already unfolding! Paris 2024 wanted it to be purple to perfectly match the “look” of the Games, where purple, green and blue will take center stage at the various Olympic venues.
Over the course of three weeks it was installed in the Dionysian building, with the lighting having been changed during previous work – 650 LEDs were placed on the roof, architectural lighting allows for animation in particular – and that two new giant screens, the equivalent of a surface tennis court, are now prepared for the Olympic Games.
“We wanted things to be different”
If the track is essentially financed by the Stade de France Consortium (as part of the work plan), then the Organizing Committee, which paid for the costs of the modification, was able to insist on its position. “We wanted it to be different and in line with the creative approach that Cojo was going for, so we moved away from the terracotta and blue colors that we usually see,” emphasizes Alain Blondel, Paris 2024 athletics manager. The base of the course is almost identical to Tokyo, where the athletes’ performances were quite exceptional.
The old route was completely removed, then two layers of asphalt were laid, which served as the basis for the new surface. The installation of the tartan, covering an area of 14,000 m² (1,000 rolls, 2,800 pots of glue), began 3 weeks ago. To color the tartan and make it easier for athletes to find their way, two purple tones were chosen: a light one for the track, a darker one for the service areas, and the restart in the corners will be gray to resemble the cinder track of the 1924 Olympic Games.
Nine lanes will be installed
Never before has Mondo, the Italian company that has supplied the Olympic tracks with vulcanized rubber since 1992, used purple. “The track must be beautiful, but above all it is a stage on which the athletes will perform,” sums up Alain Blondel. It is important that they stand out in color, and from the tests we carried out we realized that everything went quite well. The feeling of comfort and well-being is very important when spending time at the stadium; I think the athletes will feel comfortable there. »
The track will also become more environmentally responsible, in particular through the use of… mussel shells, which will reduce the use of petroleum-based materials.
Nine lanes will be installed, and the long jump and triple jump springboards, which were previously located at the foot of the presidential stand, will be moved to the opposite straight, where the most paying spectators are. A central saltire was added, a way to provide additional spectacle. This is where the final will take place. Athletes will start on one side and arrive at the foot of the central grandstand, a first for a major championship.
900,000 tickets have already been sold for athletics events
Another modification at the Stade de France: the pole in the half-pipes was moved, as often happens during international competitions. “This is all due to technical limitations,” notes Alain Blondel. If we want tight production schedules, we need an optimal organization of the stadium, hence the idea of distributing technical equipment. »
The long throw competition will be held on the south turn (at the start of the 400m course), again benefiting the entire stadium, while almost 900,000 tickets have already been sold for the athletics competition, which starts on May 20. August 1.
Source: Le Parisien
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a keen interest in sports and have written for many different publications. I am currently working as an author at 24 News Recorder. I cover mostly sports news but also write about other topics such as current affairs and politics. I have a strong interest in social media and how it can be used to engage with audiences.
