Veronique Hodé wears a red, white and blue flower necklace in her hair and a broad smile on her face. The Frenchwoman cheers on the host country’s para-athletes this year’s Paralympics regularly from the French block: “It’s just incredible, it’s an opportunity, an incredible opportunity,” says Hodé in the Paris swimming arena Arena La Defense: “I think it’s the best event of my life.” She had previously worked as a volunteer at the Olympic Games. During the Paralympics, she attended around 15 competitions in the last ten days.
The French fan blocks are unmissable in many of the competition venues in Paris. The fans sometimes wave the French flag continuously and hold up huge signs with the faces of their country’s para-athletes printed on them. Especially in the final in blind football against Argentina The exuberant mood of the fans is noticeable.
At the slightest interruption between the silent phases of the game (otherwise the blind athletes cannot hear the ball) the signs and flags are raised high into the air. A sea of red, white, blue and Gallic roosters. Drums and megaphones further heat up the atmosphere.
The fan blocks are organized by the organizer. The many thousands of flags are usually laid out on the seats in advance. And the support was worth it. By Sunday, France had won 73 medals.
The French appear to be a proud people. Proud of their country, their language – and proud to be the host country for two of the world’s biggest sporting events. The Olympic Games were held in Paris in 1900. This is the first time the Paralympics have been held in the French metropolis.
In the run-up to the Summer Games, French President Emmanuel Macron promised “Games for all”. The host country promoted social and economic benefits for the country. And the Games seem to have had a truly positive effect on many fans. “Before, I wasn’t patriotic,” says Veronique Hodé in the swimming arena: “But now with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, I have become one.”
