Paris volunteers help to deliver the best possible Games experience

The selection process was tough. Paris 2024 and the City of Paris were looking for candidates with a taste for human relations and a sense of hospitality, to be entrusted with a wide variety of missions: guiding people from all over the world to the competition, training and festivities sites, providing information on sports and cultural programs, guiding Games participants between sites, and medal ceremonies.

More than 300,000 people applied to help run this incredible machine. 50,288 of them, of all ages and backgrounds, sports fans or not, were selected to be at the heart of the Games. We met three volunteers from the City of Paris and one Paris 2024 Volunteer.

Gabrielle is stationed at the Terrasse des Jeux, in front of the Hôtel de Ville near the entrance. She's helping the to keep the queue in check for the photo booth. "We have visitors from all over the world, so I can put my English and Spanish to the test to offer them the best possible experience," she explains. After volunteering for charity races and a disabled sports championship, Gabrielle was keen to experience the Games.

"Being one of the City of Paris volunteers for ten days is a wonderful human experience. Volunteers spontaneously set up discussion groups to exchange tips and tricks. It shows everyone's commitment and desire to do well", she adds.

Gabrielle's commitment doesn't mean she can't go and cheer on the champions: she's booked tickets for the beach volleyball, goalball and para-weightlifting events!

Sandeep lives in India and wouldn't have missed the event for the world, as he plays badminton, cricket, field hockey, swims and rollerblades. Becoming one of the 5,288 volunteers in the Volontaires de la Ville de Paris program when you're a foreigner isn't so easy, but Sandeep got through the questionnaire - where he specified that he knew Paris well and was an ace at getting by. He then obtained his visa and bought his plane ticket to Paris! On the Terrasse des Jeux, he answers visitors' questions on everything from competition schedules to children's activities. The icing on the cake: he even helped organize the torch relay! "I just love it! People from all over the world are friendly and warm, and everything goes really well".

On the strength of this experience, Sandeep has decided to apply to be a volunteer at the Los Angeles 2028 Games!

Workshops, exhibitions, big-screen broadcasts of events, plays, concerts, food stalls… The 9th arrondissement celebrates the Games and offers a host of free activities! Volunteers are on hand to make it easy for everyone.

Among them, Charles. This retiree is not just another City of Paris volunteer: he doesn't give a damn about sport! "But I'm curious by nature, I like to make myself useful while meeting people. So when I heard that the Games organizers were looking for people to lend a hand, I applied straight away. It's great to meet new people and places, and to have unique experiences. I first helped manage the flow of spectators during the torch relay in the 15th arrondissement, before going to the opening ceremony and then being assigned to this site in the 9th arrondissement, where there are more Parisians than tourists. As I can't stand still, I decided to offer visitors the chance to have their photo taken in the Games' photo frame as a souvenir. I'm not the flame-bearer, I'm the frame-bearer."

"A birthday like this is unique," says Ariane, one of the 45,000 volunteers in the Volontaires de Paris 2024 program, who is celebrating her birthday on the La Concorde competition site at the end of July. An avid swimmer and enthusiast, she had envisioned herself at the Arena La Défense swimming pool. However, the luck of the draw assigned her to this legendary plaza, where she would discover urban sports like breakdancing, skateboarding, and BMX. It's a wonderful place," she says, "and it allows me to discover other sports". In her rare moments of downtime, Ariane can even attend a few competitions.

She runs a photo booth where visitors can pose with an Olympic flame, and provides security around the mascot. "Visitors love meeting her, from the discreet Japanese to the more exuberant Americans. As someone who follows all the Olympic Games on television, it's incredible to be part of it.

These faces represent the Paris 2024 Games in the eyes of the world!