Eiffel Tower stadium wows Olympic beach volleyball players: ‘I got goosebumps’
Lézana Placette felt a wave of calm looking up at Paris’ most iconic landmark.
“Whenever I get a bit nervous, I’ll just turn my head and look at the Eiffel Tower. That should help remind me what I play for,” the French beach volleyball player said, standing on the sand of the Olympic stadium in the tower’s shadow for the first time.
The first training session for the Olympic beach volleyball athletes took place Wednesday at the photogenic venue.
The French women’s team, Placette and her teammate Alexia Richard, took the court for a 45-minute session under sunny Parisian skies. The duo, who have played together for a decade, will represent France in their first Olympics together.
“I got goosebumps stepping into the court and imagining the French fans cheering,” Richard said.
The Eiffel Tower stadium, with its 12,000 seats, is poised to be a centerpiece of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. The atmosphere during practice was a blend of excitement and reverence, as athletes familiarized themselves with the venue installed in a park that once served as the training grounds for Napoleon Bonaparte.
The Paris organizers have made an effort to creatively tie the Summer Games to the city’s rich history, setting events like BMX, 3×3 basketball and skateboarding in the historic La Concorde square, and the equestrian competition in Versailles. For many athletes, the presence of the Eiffel Tower adds an unparalleled sense of grandeur. We’ve got the best seat in the house. I don’t know who made the call for setting us here, but I really appreciate it,” Adrian Carambula from Italy said
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