FInal Shift and Blind Football

On a warm morning, I walked to the Stade de France for my final shift as a Doping Control Chaperone at Paris 2024. I chaperoned three athletes, and met Chinese, Colombian and Brazilian volunteers. Other volunteers had included Indian students studying in Paris which enabled them to travel around Europe through the open borders of the European Union which they wouldn't have been able to do if studying in London.
The volunteering in Paris had been very good. As one French volunteer said, it was good to just be part of something big, whatever your role. The French had been very disappointed to miss out to London in 2012.
In the evening, I went to the temporary stadium by the Eiffel Tower to watch Blind 5-a-side Football. Brazil defeated Colombia to win the Bronze Medal. France defeated Argentina 3:2 after a penalty shoot-out to win the Gold Medal. The announcer was pro-French, encouraging the crowd with Allee Bleu, clapping and songs. Lots of large French flags were waved by the crowd besides the small ones.
The Eiffel Tower was lit-up with flashing lights running up and down it. It was a spectacular sight in the night sky with forecast showers staying away.Read more