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IN PICTURES: Paris hosts two day ‘Olympics’ as city’s iconic landmarks transform into sports venues

Parisians have been invited to try out 30 Olympic sports as the French capital tries to convince officials it is the perfect city to host the 2024 Olympics.

Published: 23 June 2017 13:17 CEST
IN PICTURES: Paris hosts two day 'Olympics' as city's iconic landmarks transform into sports venues
Photo: @Paris2024/Twitter
Parisians have been invited to try their hands (or feet) at a variety of Olympic sporting events across the French capital on Friday and Saturday, as the city shows what it can offer as part of its bid to host the 2024 Olympics.  
 
“This is going to be spectacular. There will be a lot of people, along the river, on the bridges, at the different landmarks,” Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said.                                                                                     

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Photo: @Sports_gouv/Twitter

People will be able to try a whopping 30 different sports, including sailing, boxing and rugby, over the two-day period, with supervision from the professionals.
 
Other sports on the agenda include, tennis, canoeing, football, handball, rugby, volleyball and baseball.
 
People will also have the chance to watch professional French athletes in action at demonstrations around the city.

Photo: @Paris2024/Twitter

Ten different zones have been set up as mini Olympic-style events at places like Pont Alexandre III, the Grand and Petit Palais and even a 156 metre-long floating athletics track on the River Seine, which   Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo was the first to try.

Photo: @Paris2024/Twitter

Photo: @Paris2024/Twitter

On Saturday, Parisian will be able to get their bikes at the Arc de Triumph, which will be turned into an open-air velodrome – the grand finale – for anyone and everyone to cycle round.
 
For more information on how to get involved, take a look at the promotional poster.
 
Photo: @Paris2024/Twitter

Photo: @Paris2024/Twitter

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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