Olympics: Paris venue guide

This summer, Paris will join London and Los Angeles in hosting the Olympics for a joint-record third time.

The biggest sporting event on the planet requires a range of exceptional venues and the organisers have either built, renovated or adapted 35 facilities, not all of them in the host city.

Some disciplines will be showcased across the country and beyond, but the diversity of the settings should be irrelevant, with all providing excellent backdrops for the quadrennial event.

List of venues

Aquatics Centre

Artistic Swimming, Diving and Water Polo

With its interior fittings made of recycled materials to showcase France's expertise in environmental performance, the Aquatics Centre is one of two permanent facilities built for the Games and situated across the road from the Stade de France.

Bercy Arena

Artistic Gymnastics, Basketball and Trampoline

Home of the annual Paris Masters tennis event, the Bercy Arena has also hosted athletics, ice hockey and motocross and will stage artistic gymnastics, basketball and trampolining. 

Bordeaux Stadium

Football

Built in time for Euro 2016, the home of Girondins de Bordeaux will host seven games across the men's and women's football tournaments, including a quarter-final in the male equivalent.

Champ de Mars Arena

Judo and Wrestling

The Champ de Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower is a popular meeting spot for Parisians and the eponymous Arena, a 10-minute walk from 'Le Dame de Fer', will host judo and wrestling. It has also staged art and fashion events and its design means it will be dismantled after the summer and reassembled in an as-yet-decided location.

Chateau de Versailles

Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon

Originally a hunting lodge in the countryside outside of the capital, Louis XIV renovated and rebuilt the simple dwelling into arguably the most famous palace on the planet. Fittingly for a place boasting such regal history, it will host two events known for their grandeur: equestrian and modern pentathlon.

Chateauroux Shooting Centre

Shooting

The centre will be used for 15 Olympic shooting events and is equipped with several shooting ranges, making it the ideal facility.

Eiffel Tower Stadium

Beach Volleyball

Fans of judo and wrestling may also take an interest in beach volleyball, with that discipline being held just up the Champs de Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower. Several events have previously taken place on the lawns around Paris' most famous landmark, and the surroundings should add to the spectacle.

Elancourt Hill

Cycling Mountain Bike

Elancourt Hill is located at the site of former sandstone quarries and at 231m, is the highest point in the Paris region. A popular spot for lovers of the great outdoors, the mountain biking course has been designed with an eye on future use for locals and with minimum disruption to the local biodiversity.

Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium

Football

Among the great old football stadiums of France, the home of Saint-Etienne will feature in both football tournaments and its nickname of 'The Cauldron' means those present can expect an electric atmosphere.

Grand Palais

Fencing and Taekwondo

Just up from the Place de la Concorde is the site of the fencing and taekwondo competitions, the Grand Palais. Renowned for its spectacular glass roof, the palace has undergone extensive renovations and was the site of the 2010 World Fencing Championship.

Hotel de Ville

Athletics

The Hotel de Ville, or town hall to UK readers, has been Paris' administrative hub since 1357. Skirting the River Seine, it will host the start of the men's and women's marathons.

Invalides

Archery, Athletics and Cycling Road

The beautiful gardens of Les Invalides will predominantly host the archery competitions but its size and flexibility mean it will also be part of the routes for the marathon and road cycling events.

La Beaujoire Stadium

Football

Nantes' architecturally impressive La Beaujoire Stadium is the home of the city's football team and will be used in both the men's and women's football tournaments, including the Bronze medal match in the latter.

La Concorde

3x3 Basketball, Breaking, Cycling BMX Freestyle and Skateboarding

Parisians have become increasingly keen on urban sports and some of the most famous of the genre will take place in the heart of the city. Close to the Grand Palais, La Concorde is the expanse at the bottom of the Champs-Elysees and the organsiers have used its size to create an open park capable of hosting different sports simultaneously.

Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue

Sport Climbing

Among the venues that spectators flying into Charles de Gaulle Airport will see from the train if they take Line B towards the Gare du Nord,  Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue is also one of only two facilities alongside the Aquatics Centre purposely built for the Olympics. Five climbing walls will be used for the Games and it will be open to the public after the summer.

Golf National

Golf

The scene of Europe's victorious 2018 Ryder Cup campaign, Le Golf National will host the golf tournament at the Olympics where Xander Schauffele will defend his title.

Lyon Stadium

Football

The venue for the Women's World Cup final in 2019, the Lyon Stadium also hosted the 2018 Europa League final and will feature throughout the Olympics, with the Bronze medal match in the men's tournament set to be staged at the ground.

Marseille Marina

Sailing 

The sailing events will take place on the Mediterranean and the city of Marseille should provide perfect conditions. The quality of the water and coastal winds promise exciting action available to thousands of spectators due to much of the course running along the city's coast road.

Marseille Stadium

Football

Marseille's wonderful Stade Velodrome has only become more atmospheric since the roof was added for the 2016 Euros and the city could be a key destination for those multi-sport fans looking to explore more of France.

Nice Stadium

Football

The Nice Stadium is as sleek as the city around it and will host group games in both the men's and women's football events.

North Paris Arena

Boxing and Modern Pentathlon

Just along from Charles de Gaulle airport is the North Paris Arena, a huge exhibition centre which will host the preliminary rounds of the boxing events and the fencing section of the modern pentathlon. 

Parc des Princes

Football

Situated in the 16th Arrondissement and home to the City of Light's primary football club, Paris Saint-Germain, the Parc des Princes has been a standout venue in France's staging of global events in football and rugby union. It will host football this summer, including the finals of the men's and women's tournaments 

Paris La Defense Arena

Swimming and Water Polo

More famous as a rugby stadium, aquatics will be the focus at Nanterre's La Defense arena in the western part of the city. Its 'modular, multipurpose structure' has allowed the organisers to transform it into a venue for water lovers, while tech fans will note the arena also boasts the world's largest interactive giant screen.

Pierre Mauroy Stadium

Basketball and Handball

Another venue situated away from the capital, the home of Ligue 1 side Lille OSC has previously held entertainment events and been used for tennis and rugby union. The French Flandrian setting will again showcase its flexibility by staging basketball and handball.

Pont Alexandre III

Cycling Road, Marathon Swimming and Triathlon

In the heart of Paris' historic centre, Pont Alexandre III is among the city's most famous bridges and its gold statues will provide the perfect backdrop as the finish line of the individual cycling time trials, swimming marathon and triathlon.

Port de La Chapelle Arena

Badminton and Rhythmic Gymnastics

Another venue visible from the train line into town, Port de La Chapelle Arena is stationed just inside the Boulevard Peripherique and organisers hope its status as a mid-sized arena will help fill a void for the Games and beyond. Home of Paris Basketball, it will be a fitting site for that sport, while it will also host rhythmic gymnastics. 

Roland Garros

Boxing and Tennis

Close to the Parc des Princes in the 16th Arrondissement, the famous clay courts will host the tennis events. Its retractable roof also means it can host indoor disciplines, allowing it to be used for the latter stages of the boxing. 

Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines BMX Stadium

Cycling BMX Racing

Part of the Velodrome complex outside of Versailles, the track has been redesigned for the Games and will remain open to the public after this year's festivities.

Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome

Cycling Track

A key training base for French cyclists, the Velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines is also a world class racing facility and will host the indoor cycling events.

South Paris Arena

Handball, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Weightlifting 

An ambitious renovation to get the South Paris Arena Games-ready was completed in 2023 and it will be a vital indoor component of this summer's Olympics.

Stade de France

Athletics and Rugby Sevens

The centre piece for this summer's Olympics, the Stade de France will be the primary host of the athletics and will also stage the rugby sevens in which France's XVs captain Antoine Dupont will be looking to guide Les Bleus to gold.

Teahupo'o, Tahiti

Surfing

Not quite the French capital, however, the paradise island of Tahiti falls under the country's jurisdiction and Teahupo'o wave promises to provide a fitting setting for surfing's second appearance in the Games.

Trocadero

Athletics and Cycling Road

Directly opposite the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadero is one of the most diplomatically important buildings on the planet and its large gathering areas lend themselves to hosting both the walking events and road cycling.

Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

Canoe Slalom, Canoe Sprint and Rowing

Situated to the east of the capital, the brand new Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium is one of just three facilities in the world with the capability to host Olympic and Paralympic canoe-kayak and rowing events.

Yves-du-Manoir Stadium

Hockey

The main venue of the 1924 Olympics, the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium will be the scene for the hockey competitions at this summer's Games.