Bermuda’s Olympic And Paralympic Venues
Bermuda’s ten Olympic and Paralympic athletes will compete at six different venues in Paris and Marseilles this summer. Bernews takes a closer look:
OLYMPIC GAMES VENUES
Athletics: The Stade de France
Jah-Nhai Perinchief [triple jump]
Jah-Nhai Perinchief will grace the country’s largest stadium, which has hosted such events as the Football World Cup in 1998, the World Athletics Championships in 2003, the Rugby World Cup in 2007 and 2023, and the Euro 2016 Football Championships.
Designed by architects Macary, Zublena, Regembal and Costantini, the venue has also hosted some of the biggest music concerts by French and international artists.
Rowing: Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium
Dara Alizadeh [men's single sculls]
Dara Alizadeh will race at the newly developed Olympic facility, which opened in 2019.
The Olympic.com website says: “Designed by architects Auer+Weber+Assoziierte, the complex is structured around three core features of the Vaires-Torcy leisure base: the lake, the white-water stadium and the living area, which includes the new buildings with a landscaped roof that can be accessed for walks.
“The 4,400 sqm sports centre is comprised of the new white-water stadium and its two courses over 300 and 150 metres; the 2,200m rowing and sprint canoe-kayak course, equipped with a finishing tower; a sports medicine centre; a weight-training centre; various administrative spaces; a media centre; and a training and accommodation centre.”
Sailing: Marseille Marina
Adriana Penruddocke [Women’s dinghy ILCA 6]
Adriana Penruddocke has been acclimatising to the conditions at the Marseille Marina, which is 660 kilometres from Paris.
According to the Olympics.com website, “The quality of the water conditions off the coast of Marseille, with relatively constant winds and a coastal configuration that is correctly oriented in relation to the dominant winds, without any currents or tides, will ensure ideal tactical and strategic conditions for the competitors.”
Swimming: The Paris La Défense Arena
Emma and Jack Harvey [women's and men's 100 backstroke]
Siblings Emma and Jack Harvey will have the privilege of competing at the eye-catching Paris La Défense Arena, which opened in 2017.
Designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc, the venue has the world’s largest interactive giant screen.
The Olympics.com website says: “Thanks to 600 dynamic giant aluminium and glass scales that make up the building’s exterior facade, the arena seems to come to life for the various events that it stages. In 2024, it will fly the colours of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games!”
Triathlon: Pont Alexandre III
Dame Flora Duffy, Erica Hawley and Tyler Smith [women's and men's triathlon]
The Pont Alexander III, a deck arch bridge that spans the Seine, will provide a spectacular backdrop to the triathlon events.
The Olympic.com website says: “Pont Alexandre III connects two other Paris 2024 sports venues: the Grand Palais and Invalides, and is the perfect illustration of Paris 2024’s aim to bring the Games to life in the centre of France’s capital city amid its best-known, most-loved landmarks.
“The bridge is also a stone’s throw from Concorde, the Arena Champ-de-Mars, Pont d’Iéna and the Eiffel Tower stadium, so the entire area will be abuzz with energy during the Games.
“It will provide a majestic setting for the finish line of the individual cycling time trials, swimming marathon, triathlon and Para triathlon.”
PARALYMPIC GAMES VENUES
Athletics: The Stade de France
Jessica Lewis [T53 100 and 400 metres]
Jessica Lewis will speed down the track in the country’s largest stadium, which has hosted such events as the Football World Cup in 1998, the World Athletics Championships in 2003, the Rugby World Cup in 2007 and 2023, and the Euro 2016 Football Championships.
Designed by architects Macary, Zublena, Regembal and Costantini, the venue has also hosted some of the biggest music concerts by French and international artists.
Boccia: The South Paris Arena, The Paris Expo
Yushae DeSilva-Andrade [women's BC1 Division]
The Paris Expo is an exhibition and conference centre, and the largest in France.
According to the Olympic.com website: “Built in 1923 to host the Paris Trade Fair [Foire de Paris], the complex has been developed extensively over the years and can now adapt to a wide range of requirements and configurations.
“An ambitious renovation programme, based on three phases over ten years with the last one to be completed in 2023, is currently underway to modernise its infrastructure.”
Bernews will be providing comprehensive coverage of Bermuda’s athletes in the coming weeks, thanks to our sponsors Butterfield & Vallis, Auto Solutions, Clarien Bank and One Communications!
