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A hundred years on: What happened to the 1924 Olympic sites

Paris proposed a modest approach to hosting the 2024 Olympics, with 95% of the games based on existing infrastructure. Historical venues like Yves du Manoir Stadium, Tourelles Pool, and Versailles Palace continue to be in use, while others, like Jacques-Anquetil Velodrome, won't meet Olympic standards. Paris aims to minimize negative impacts by drawing on its rich cultural history.

Editorsdesk Otto M. July 18, 2024 3 min read

Bassin olympique

Emilie Chaix/Ville de Paris

To minimize the potential negative impact if the games did not go to plan, Paris proposed a more modest approach than others to hosting the Olympics in 2024, by drawing on it’s rich cultural history. In fact, 95% of next year’s Games will be based on existing infrastructure, lots of which has been inherited and adapted from the last time Paris hosted the games in 1924. The innovative 1924 Paris Olympics had many long-lasting impacts, including being the first games to include it’s very own ‘Olympic Village’. Below is a list of some of the capital’s century-old crown jewels that are still in use.

Yves du Manoir Stadium – Colombes

Located in Colombes, in the north-western suburbs of Paris, this stadium was a focal point of the 1924 Olympic Games. It was the first time that athletes were housed in an “Olympic village”. It was also in Colombes that the large stadium needed for the Games was built. Designed by the architect Louis Faure-Dujarric, the stadium could seat 45,000 spectators, including 20,000 covered seats that could be extended.

This made it suitable for hosting the opening and closing ceremonies as well as events such as athletics, road cycling, equestrian, football, gymnastics and rugby. Now known as Yves de Manoir, the stadium continues to be in use, has been renovated several times and will host field hockey events in 2024.

Le bassin d’Argenteuil

Close to the Colombes Olympic Stadium, in the neighbouring town of Argenteuil, a rowing lake was created on the Seine. Although the landscape has changed considerably over the last century, largely due to the construction of the port of Gennevilliers on the opposite bank, athletes from the Argenteuil Rowing Club still train there. However, the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic canoe and kayak events will be held at the Vaires-sur-Marne nautical stadium.

Tourelles Swimming Pool (now Georges-Vallerey Swimming Pool)

Training session at George Vallerey Pool with a large skylight overhead swimming lane.

Emilie Chaix/Ville de Paris

Located in the 20th arrondissement, the Tourelles pool was built in 1924 to host the swimming competitions during the Paris Games. It witnessed the outstanding performance of the American athlete Johnny Weissmuller, who became the first swimmer in history to complete the 100m freestyle in less than a minute.

The pool has seen many changes over the decades and was fitted with a retractable roof in the 1980s. Although it is still in use, it will not be used during the 2024 Olympic Games. Swimming and Para swimming events will be held at the Arena La Défense, while synchronised swimming, diving and water polo qualifying will be held at one of the few facilities built for the occasion, the Saint Denis Aquatic Centre.

Jacques-Anquetil Velodrome in Vincennes

Cyclists training on an outdoor velodrome with blue and white surface, surrounded by grassy area. A tall floodlight stands in the background and a covered shelter is on the right side of the image. The sky is clear and sunny.

Jean-Baptiste Gurliat / Ville de Paris

Cyclists and nature lovers in the Bois de Vincennes are probably familiar with “la Cipale”, its iconic velodrome. built in 1896, this 500-metre concrete track is still a favourite among Parisian cyclists, thanks in part to the iron stands designed by Gustave Eiffel, which have earned it the status of historical monument. Although a piece of history, it will not host the Games as it no longer meets Olympic standards. The cycling and para-cycling events will be held at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome.

Fronton Chiquito de Cambo

Two children playing Basque pelota in front of the Chiquito de Cambo fronton.

Emilie Chaix/Ville de Paris

Yes, there was Basque Pelota at the 1924 Olympic Games, but only two nations took part: France and Spain. France won all the silver medals (for obvious reasons) and Paris still has a beautiful fronton in the 16th arrondissement. However, it won’t be part of the next Olympics.

Versailles Palace

The Château de Versailles, which was the magnificent setting for the 1924 Hunting Event, is still standing and will host the equestrian and para-equestrian events as well as the modern pentathlon at the 2024 Games.

Vélodrome d’Hiver

Before it became infamous for the 1942 Vel’ d’Hiv raid, in which thousands of Jews were detained by the French police before being deported to Nazi concentration camps, the Vélodrome d’Hiver hosted major cycling competitions. Inaugurated in 1903 in the Grenelle district of the 15th arrondissement, it hosted fencing, weightlifting and boxing during the 1924 Games. The building was demolished in 1959.