2024-03-12 13:36:18
Announced host of the equestrian competitions and part of the modern pentathlon events of the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Paris 2024, the Park of the Château de Versailles (Yvelines) has seen in recent days the start of a crucial stage through the implementation of the Etoile Royale project.
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FWith the prospect of the Grand Canal and the Château de Versailles, the best riders on the planet will compete in the summer of 2024 to win Olympic and Paralympic medals in the presence of tens of thousands of spectators.
In addition to the riders and their mounts, the pentathletes will also have the privilege of being welcomed in this unique setting known and recognized throughout the world which has been included on the Games map. from the application phase in 2015before being confirmed in 2018Then protected in 2020.
Also, in order to highlight the Versailles setting and to offer sports players and the public a high-quality site, the organizers of the Paris 2024 Games and the various associated partners have been working for many months to establish the future spaces where competitions and training sessions will take place.
As proof, from the end of 2022, the galloping track has been demarcated and this, with the aim of allowing the preparation and growth of the turf, while an operational test was held on site in summer 2023.
In recent days, major work has also begun in the key sector of the Etoile Royale, specifically the site where the career and temporary stands will be located, some of which are starting to take shape.
With the assistance of the State services, the City of Versailles and of course the Public Establishment of the Château, the Museum and the National Domain of Versailles, the teams of GL Events have thus taken possession of the site nestled in the heart of a protected heritage site.
The perimeter within which the quarry will be built is already perceptible, the whole having to be partly surrounded by stands in the shape of a horseshoe, leaving in fact a clear view of the Grand Canal and, further away, of the emblematic Château du Roi Soleil.
On the occasion of the Games, the Royal Star will have a capacity of 15,300 places for the Olympic equestrian competitions, namely two mixed events each time – individual and team – for the dressage (July 30 to August 4) and for the show jumping (August 1 to 6). This gauge will be identical for the modern pentathlon (August 8 to 11)knowing that Versailles will organize for this sport, women’s and men’s events in horse riding, swimming, laser-run (shooting and running) as well as bonus round fencing, the classification tournament for fencing having to be held at theArena Paris Nordin other words, at the Parc des Expositions de Paris Nord – Villepinte (Seine-Saint-Denis).
Concerning eventing horse riding (July 27 to 29)the Versailles site as a whole will be able to accommodate up to 40,000 people to follow the two mixed events on the program.
Subsequently, during the Paralympic Games, the capacity of the ephemeral stands at the Royal Star will be slightly reduced for the Paralympic events. para-riding (September 3 to 7). At that time, no less than 11 mixed events – grade I to V, freestyle grade I to V, and teams – will then be staged in front of stands that can each time hold up to 14,300 spectators.
View of the development site of the Etoile Royale Olympic site in the heart of the Parc du Château de Versailles, Yvelines, in March 2024 (Credits – EPV / Thomas Garnier / Didier Saulnier)In parallel with the specific arrangements for the Games which will be dismantled at the end of the event, several projects have been carried out or are currently in the process of being delivered in the Castle and in the Parkincluding in particular the restoration of the main gate, the restoration of the antechamber of the Œil-de-Bœuf, the renovation of the roofs of the north wing and the Grand Trianon, but also the restoration of the banks of the Grand Canal, or the renovation of the basin of Char d’Apollon.
Versailles also intends to take advantage of the coming of the Games to install cultural programming linked to the global event and sport in general.
In fact, in addition to the exhibition “Horse in majesty, at the heart of a civilization” which will be visible from July 2 to November 3, 2024, new guided tours revolving around arts and sport have also been planned, with the following themes: “Versailles, games and sport”, “Dancing at Court”, “Of Gods and Heroes”, “Versailles, on horseback or in carriage”, “The horse in art and the visit of the Grand Parc by bicycle”.
The cultural programming of the Château de Versailles will also present an original manifestation expected for Friday June 7, 2024.
Inspired by « Pentathlon des muses » imagined by Pierre de Coubertin for the 1912 Games, a « Pentathlon des arts » will thus be offered to the public via highlighting five artistic disciplines: visual arts, literature and writing, digital arts, architecture and design, and finally music and the performing arts.
Visual of the temporary stands set up on the Versailles site to host the equestrian and para-equestrian events of the Paris 2024 Summer Games (Credits – Paris 2024 / Florian Hulleu)
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