I Flew to Paris for the 2024 Olympics and All I Got Was Bronze, Baguettes, and Blown Away by the Vibes

Spoiler alert: I didn’t medal. But someone did — and I was there to witness it.

Y’all. I flew to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, (tacked this trip on the end of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour disaster)and for 48 glorious, whirlwind hours, I soaked up the chaos, camaraderie, national pride that only such an event can provide. I managed to snag a seat at the women’s bronze medal soccer match, and honestly? It was everything I hoped it would be. The Bronze medal game was between Germany and Spain. I polled social media to see who I should be rooting for, I like rooting for the underdogs, so I chose Germany.

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First of All: The Public Transit Slayed

Let’s give a slow clap for Paris public transportation during the Olympics. I had been bracing myself for Olympic-level crowds, confusing reroutes, and the inevitable “wait, which side of the platform am I supposed to be on?”, how the heck do I say that in French?! panic. But nope — it was organized. Clearly marked, frequently running, and full of volunteers who were shockingly cheerful considering the crowds and 90-degree heat.

The Olympic signage was everywhere, the metros had special announcements, and people were actually nice about giving directions. It helped that prior to I received constant communication via email regarding booking transportation to the venues and so much information about how to access it.

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The Ticket Buying Process = Surprisingly Chill

I expected bloodsport. I expected virtual queues, emotional damage, and 14 browser tabs open just to buy a single ticket. But the ticket process? Surprisingly straightforward. I used the official Olympic ticket site (not sponsored, just shocked), selected the match, and boom — a few clicks and I had digital tickets in my inbox.

Were they cheap? Not bad actually…35 euro. For a medal match!
Were they worth it? Absolutely.

The game was in Lyon, which is not near Paris, so accommodations were easy to come by, not dramatically inflated and public transit was a breeze, thanks again to my Citymapper App.

I used a luggage storage service called Nannybag. It was very convenient and affordable (6 Euro for the day). Booked online and had no problems dropping off or retrieving my luggage from a hotel located just steps from the the Lyon train station.

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The Energy: Electric. Global. Unmatched.

The moment I stepped into the stadium, it hit me: I’m at the freaking Olympics.

There’s something magical about seeing a bunch of people from every corner of the globe waving flags, cheering on their countrymen (women), and aggressively face-painting themselves in public. Just kidding, that didn’t happen. Unlike events in the US, most of the time Europeans can hold it together, and its not a big drunk fest. I was sitting next to a German family, in front of a group of Spanish teenagers, and behind a couple from somehere I don’t speak the language, who offered conversation, but…no comprende. It was basically the United Nations of sports fandom.

Y’all. It was muther-truckin hot. If you know me, you know this is NOT good for me. My seat was in FULL SUN. Great seat, but nope. I ended up standing in the corridor shade for most of the match, with great views of the field and no ushers making me go sit in my seat.

The match itself? Anti-climatic. These women played hard, but the excitement didn’t come until the very end of the game! Every tackle, every goal attempt, every shot on goal had the whole stadium holding its breath. And when that final penalty kick was kicked in the 65th minute, the eruption of cheers for the GERMAN bronze medal winners gave me full-body goosebumps.

It wasn’t just about the game — it was about watching grit, glory, girl power, and national pride on the world stage.

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A Few Travel Notes (a.k.a. How I Pretended to Be an Organized Human)

• Arrival tip: Give yourself plenty of time. Security was tight but efficient, and Olympic volunteers were everywhere
• Snacks: Stadium snacks were priced reasonably considering the event. When in Paris, pay $10 for that soft pretzel and eat it like a champ.
• Souvenirs: The official merch lines were not long, I scored an official Paris 2024 hat and a tee for my neice.

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Final Thoughts

I flew to Paris for one soccer match. I walked away with a heart full of international joy, a phone full of blurry stadium photos, and the sudden urge to attend every Olympic event from now until I’m 90.

No, I didn’t see Simone Biles flip through the air or catch the opening ceremony on the Seine, but I saw something just as powerful: what it means when the whole world comes together to cheer, cry, and celebrate effort over perfection.

If you ever get the chance to go to the Olympics — even just one game — go.
Buy the ticket. Take the metro. Eat the overpriced pretzel.
Because honestly? It’s gold. Even when it’s bronze. Milan 2026??? Gosh I hope so.

~Kel