As the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (Cojo) enters a more operational phase, starting next summer it will carry out a whole series of tests, with or without athletes and spectators, in order to make no mistakes during of the Olympic Games.
Savings oblige, Paris 2024 has reduced the number of these famous “test events”, bringing together international delegations to focus on more targeted tests.
If until now, each sport had its “test event” before the Games, Paris 2024 focused on four events: sailing in Marseille (July 9 to 16), triathlon and para-triathlon (17 to August 20 in Paris), mountain biking in Élancourt (September 24) and field hockey (May 4 to 5, 2024). These will be official competitions, for which Paris 2024 will be responsible and which will make it possible to test different functions.
A rehearsal of the parade of delegations on the Seine
In Marseille, it is the competition area that will be scrutinized, and in particular the four rounds of the race, the organizing committee having chosen to have two less than in Tokyo. As the Marina is under construction, there will be no supporters, unlike the Élancourt test-event where, this time, the emphasis will be on service to spectators (between 3,000 and 5,000 people will attend the test for free competition), and in particular transport and safety.
For the triathlon, the objective is in particular to test the starting platform on the Pont Alexandre III, as well as swimming in the Seine and traffic flows. Another major event is expected, the rehearsal of the parade of delegations on the Seine, as it will take place during the opening ceremony, on July 26, 2024. It should take place in mid-July.
Generally organized in Vincennes, the French stage of the Archery World Cup (August 19 and 20, 2023) will migrate this year to Les Invalides, the future Olympic site. If the competition remains under the aegis of the international federation, Paris 2024 will take the opportunity to develop various systems, in particular the scoring system.
Using the same model, the organizing committee will rely on various existing competitions (World Junior Rowing Championships in Vaires-sur-Marne, marathon swimming in Paris, Surfing World Cup in Tahiti, World Cup finals world of canoeing in Vaires-sur-Marne, national shooting competition in Châteauroux, diving and water polo at the aquatic center in Saint-Denis) to test specific points necessary for the success of the Games.
Other simulations during existing competitions
“Dummy” operations are also planned until the summer of 2024, outside the framework of competitions. “Transition” tests have thus been scheduled at Roland-Garros in July so that the Paris 2024 teams can assess the time needed to reconfigure the space and move from a tennis competition to a boxing event.
In the same logic, in the South Arena, in August, the organizing committee will work on the handball-weightlifting transition and will test the air circulation in table tennis. There is also talk of working on the gymnastics-basketball transition at Bercy in September, the two disciplines succeeding each other during the Olympic Games, or that judo-wrestling at the ephemeral Grand Palais.
Operational tests are planned at Arena La Chapelle in March 2024 and at the Arena la Défense swimming pool in June 2024. Finally, concerning the air conditioning at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille, which makes the international basketball federation wince, temperature readings and air flow tests will be carried out next summer, during concerts.