The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games: An exceptional legacy for Viparis

Paris, the world capital of sport

With an audience of 5 billion people (television and digital platform audiences) and 11.2 million tourists in the capital, Paris 2024 offered the city unprecedented international visibility. The memories of that summer are still vivid: the spectacular beach volleyball in front of the Eiffel Tower, or the intensity of the table tennis matches, where every point left the captivated audience breathless...

This media showcase translated into direct benefits: a 13% increase in foreign visitors compared to 2023 and a 10-point increase in hotel occupancy rates within Paris, illustrating the attractiveness and economic impact of the event.

Viparis venues: transformed into Olympic jewels

Viparis rose to the challenge by adapting four of its venues to become exceptional Olympic arenas. The Arena Paris Sud, located within Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, became the largest Olympic and Paralympic competition venue of Paris 2024. Welcoming more than a million spectators, the venue thrilled to the rhythm of sporting achievements, particularly in handball, volleyball and table tennis, and witnessed the exploits of our athletes: Félix and Alexis Lebrun, Héléna Cazaute and Esteban Herrault, all members of our Athletes Team. 

Meanwhile, the Palais des Congrès de Paris, transformed into the Main Press Center, hosted 6,000 journalists from around the world, while Paris Le Bourget, the International Broadcast Center, enabled the broadcast of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to 172 television channels worldwide.

The Paris 2024 Games also provided Viparis with the opportunity to modernise its infrastructure. Hall 3 of Paris Le Bourget underwent a complete reconstruction: the work carried out allowed it to become a more environmentally friendly venue and obtain several reference certifications such as HQE (High Environmental Quality) and BREEAM (energy performance) certifications.

At Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, the security systems were strengthened and the sports arenas in Pavilions 1, 4 and 6 were homologated.

The Palais des Congrès de Paris was also given an Olympic makeover, with the completion of work to green the outside areas and the extension of the T3B and RER E lines, with a brand new station adjacent to the Palais des Congrès.

An extraordinary human adventure for Viparisians

But the legacy is not only measured in numbers or constructions. It is also a human adventure experienced by the Viparis teams: nearly 70 Viparisians worked directly for the Paris 2024 Games.

The Viparisians were able to build their skills and confidence by helping to organise an event on an unprecedented scale. As Charlotte Pasik, Hall Manager at the South Paris Arena (Paris Expo Porte de Versailles) during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, explains:

"Participating in the Paris 2024 Games was a dream come true for me: a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I experienced the Games like a dream filled with emotions, incredible intensity, and rich encounters. Professionally, I gained a lot of confidence. The responsibilities entrusted to me allowed me to make my voice heard and lead my team to success. Today, I have wonderful memories. I have erased the difficult moments to keep only the best. And I thank Viparis again for allowing me to realise this dream."

Elodie Olympie, Project Manager at the Main Press Center (Palais des Congrès de Paris), also highlights the unforgettable experience that this Olympic adventure represented, both personally and professionally:

"It was a pride to contribute to the organisation of an event that generated so much positive energy and enthusiasm. These Games brought us together, on all levels, within the Palais and Viparis in general. Faced with the scale of the event, we tightened our ranks and created a team dynamic. They allowed me to develop a sense of rigour and organisation, primarily because the other events leading up to the Paris 2024 Games did not stop, and we had to manage their organisation simultaneously. Thus, cohabitation with the Games required particular attention, especially on security and access issues. It was important that they could take place as normally as possible and receive equal attention and care!"

Ophélie Guillet, also a Project Manager at the Main Press Center (Palais des Congrès de Paris), shares Elodie's enthusiasm and highlights the challenging aspect of organising such an event:

"It's so exciting to be taking part in such a global event. The values of sport have always transcended me and I've rediscovered my original motivation: organising a sporting event. We managed to surpass our own limits. This experience allowed me to approach a new way of working: the project mode in a transversal way. Paris 2024 also showed us good practices to replicate at our venues and allowed us to exceed our quality standards."

Finally, Paris Aguilar, Hall Manager at the South Paris Arena (Paris Expo Porte de Versailles) during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, recalls that the Paris 2024 Games were a testament to the adaptability and strength of team spirit within a structure like Viparis. For him, when you can respond to the logistical and technical Himalaya that the Olympic Games represent as a team, you can imagine and achieve anything: 

"For me, this experience was very enriching. Transforming pavilions into arenas and our teams into organisers of international sporting events clearly demonstrates the adaptability and values of our teams and infrastructures. I think the Paris 2024 Games left a strong legacy at Viparis, particularly this feeling that we are capable of meeting challenges. No matter the upcoming event, we have shown that we can adapt and successfully achieve them."

An invaluable legacy for the future

The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games were not only a resounding success for the city of Paris but also left an invaluable legacy for Viparis: the unique opportunity to strengthen its expertise and position as a leader in the event industry. Viparis is now better equipped than ever to host the world's largest events!

Paris 2024 was not just a global celebration; it is also the starting point of a new era for the capital and for Viparis. The legacy is there, in every renovated infrastructure, every acquired skill, and every shared memory.

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