Paris 2024 volunteers recall the thrill of being part of history 'from the inside'

LeMonde

a day ago

If you thought that being a volunteer for the Paris 2024 Games ended with the Paralympic closing ceremony on September 8, think again. "It stays with us for the rest of our lives," said Amandine Guillaume, 36, a team member assisting athletes in judo and wrestling, who has carefully kept her volunteer gear.
One year later, it is impossible not to notice an Olympic-ring-branded bag in a supermarket, a dark blue and turquoise striped shirt on a running trail or a colorful bucket hat on the beach. In the streets of the capital, in Bordeaux, Lille and even outside France, volunteers are instantly recognizable.
"– Which division?
– Champ de Mars, logistics team."
Much like war veterans, volunteers greet each other with a nod or a smile. On their chests, a collection of pins bears witness to their service: "Field hockey, Australia vs. South Africa, I was there." This protocol flair is not just for show. The event left a lasting impression on these unsung heroes at the heart of the action.
"It felt like we were living sports history from the inside. The atmosphere was incredible," said Guillaume. As a physical education teacher, she especially recalled a long conversation with the father of judoka Teddy Riner, who was anxious before his son's individual final.
The discreet yet joyful presence of these 45,000 volunteers – one third of whom are members of sports clubs – quickly made them favorites among the public and athletes alike. "A year after the Olympics, I really want to thank the volunteers. They took such good care of us," said Riner, a five-time Olympic judo gold medalist.
Stationed at competition venues, the athletes' village, media center, training sites and even at train stations and airports, volunteers played an essential role in the event's success.
A giant picnic at La Villette
Just like the athletes, some volunteers felt a letdown once the flame was extinguished. "We call it JO-stalgia [a pun on 'nostalgia' and 'JO,' the initials in French for the Olympic Games]," said Amandine Guillaume, who hopes to volunteer again "for Los Angeles [in 2028] or even sooner, for the Winter Games [in Milan-Cortina in 2026]."
To fill the void left by Paris 2024 and to keep the magic alive, some volunteers even formed associations. Anne Barthaux, who worked in protocol at Roissy airport during the Olympics and then as a press team leader at the Stade de France during the Paralympics, helped develop a volunteer group in Bordeaux. "Every month, we get together. We talk about the Games, we go out to restaurants in our uniforms and little by little, real friendships are formed."
A similar energy inspired Katy Grignon, 52, a sales professional in the food industry, who helped create the Paris 2024 Volunteers Association. "Today, we've completed 60 volunteer missions. In March, for example, I worked at the French boxing championships!"
Positive momentum for sport
This positive momentum benefits sports in France, whose model relies heavily on volunteering, a resource that has been declining for several years. "I continued volunteering, even in sports, which wasn't my area before," said Yvette Gilbert, 70, a former media library director.
To celebrate the first anniversary of the Paris Games, nearly 400 volunteers planned to gather "wearing their uniform" on Saturday, July 26, at La Villette for a giant picnic. "I'm bringing pins to trade, just like in the good old days," said Thierry Goulet on the Facebook group Volontaires Paris 2024.
This is a way to keep the Olympic spirit alive, but also to continue wearing the outfits designed by sporting goods manufacturer Decathlon as part of its partnership with Paris 2024. "The pants are practical and they make my students smile during PE class, so I still wear them regularly," said Guillaume, who gave the rest of her kit to her daughters. The Paris 2024 flame looks set to shine on for a long time to come.