Paris center calm and damp as city makes its final preparations
PARIS — It’s raining in Paris, giving a sense of calm before the storm as the city prepares for an opening ceremony that showcases the best of the city’s landmarks.
The city center is unusually quiet this morning, with the route that the Olympics opening ceremony will take closed off. But a bike ride from the Île de la Cité to the Eiffel Tower reveals that how much work has already been done to get the Seine river Games-ready.
Every bridge is stacked with bleachers and the river’s banks are lined with huge TV screens.
The Pont de la Concorde, meanwhile, is closed off right now. When it opens, it will allow tourists to access the historic Place de la Concorde, where a massive makeshift venue has been built for modern sports like breaking.
Further along, you can just spot Hôtel des Invalides above the Paris 2024 hoardings. The 17th century hospital for wounded soldiers will host the archery.
And from the banks next to the Pont d’Iena you can see the huge arena beneath the Trocadero where the Champions Park will allow Olympic medalists to meet their fans.
