In line with a goal of showcasing sport in the French capital, the 2024 Paris Olympics has today revealed the courses for the Olympic Games triathlon, the Paralympic Games paratriathlon and mixed relay events.
Both events will start and finish at Pont Alexandre III bridge. The courses are characterised by technical challenges, offering up an experience for participating elite athletes, the crowd and television viewers alike.
The individual men’s and women’s triathlon events of the Olympic Games will take place on July 30-31, 2024, starting at 08:00 CET.
One week later, the Olympic Games triathlon mixed relay event will take place at 08:00 CET. On August 5, 2024, around 18 teams of four triathletes (two women and two men per nation) will compete in the mixed relay event to try and emulate Great Britain, the champions at Tokyo 2020.
The Paralympic Games events will benefit from the same setting on September 1-2, 2024.
Developed in collaboration with World Triathlon and local authorities, the starting point will be a floating pontoon positioned at the base of Pont Alexandre III bridge (on which a 1,000-seats spectator stand will be built).
An key venue of Paris 2024, Pont Alexandre III links Les Invalides and Le Grand Palais and will be a hub for the excitement of the Games. The bridge is located right next to other competition venues such as Place de la Concorde and the Esplanade des Invalides and is close to the Champ-de-Mars Arena and the Eiffel Tower Stadium. It will also serve as host to the Marathon Swimming events and the finish of the Olympic Road cycling events (men’s and women’s time trials).
During the triathlon and Para triathlon events, after a swim in the Seine, athletes will take in Le Grand Palais, Le Petit Palais, l’Assemblée nationale, Le Musée d’Orsay, and Avenue des Champs-Elysées (with the Arc de Triomphe in their sights). Other on-course landmarks include: Avenue Montaigne, Quai d’Orsay and Quai Anatole France as well as Boulevard Saint-Germain on the biking and running phases.
As with all the road events at Paris 2024, these will be a chance for spectators to support and cheer the athletes along the course with access along the routes free of charge.
The courses will be given a run-through during the test events organised by Paris 2024, taking place from August 17-20, 2023. The test events will include installing and dismantling the floating starting pontoon and other structures, testing the biking and running courses for the triathlon and paratriathlon events and the management of traffic and influxes in and around the venues.
Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, said “At Paris 2024, we wanted to put the spotlight on triathlon, due to its popularity as both an Olympic sport since its first appearance at the Games in 2000 and in wider society, where it is gaining more and more fans.
“Particular care has been taken to create the triathlon and paratriathlon courses, which will be equally spectacular, in the heart of the city and next to some of the most beautiful Parisian monuments. The Paris 2024 edition of the triathlon and Para triathlon will ultimately contribute to leaving a legacy for the region and the people of Paris.”
Marisol Casado, President of World Triathlon, added “The course of the triathlon and paratriathlon events in Paris is just everything that we have been dreaming of for years for the family of triathlon.
“The heartbeat of the city will echo in the rhythm of the race, as athletes will swim, bike and run right in the heart of the City of Lights. I can only imagine how wonderful it will be to see the best triathletes and paratriathletes of the world sprint through the bustling streets, weaving past such historic landmarks and cheered on by a roaring crowd.
“To crown the Olympic and Paralympic champions in one of the most beautiful landscapes of the world will be just amazing. I am sure that the triathlon and Para triathlon races in Paris 2024 will leave an indelible mark on both the athletes and the city itself.”
