Paris 2024: Volunteers Convention gathers 40,000 volunteers ready to party
Paris 2024 held its Volunteer Convention to give the 45,000 volunteers selected for the Games a unique behind-the-scenes experience of the world’s biggest sporting event. The event took place at the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, a future venue for the Paris 2024 Games.
During the event, volunteers had the opportunity to spend a festive day exploring the Games and discovering their uniform, designed with DECATHLON, an Official Partner of the Paris 2024 Games.
Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, accompanied by the Ambassadors of the Volunteer Programme, presented the ambition of the Games to volunteers from all over France. At the end of the event, where volunteers were able to discover the medals, the torch, the mascots and the programme of celebrations in France, Paris 2024 and its partner DECATHLON, lifted the veil on an essential symbol of the Games: the volunteers’ uniform.
The design of the volunteers’ uniform is the result of collaboration work with the teams of Paris 2024 partner DECATHLON. It took more than a year to conceive and design each piece of this unisex uniform, which is suitable for all missions, all situations, all weather conditions and all body shapes.
Comfortable and functional, each volunteer’s uniform is made up of 15 items, including the jersey, which is a reference to an iconic French fashion item: the marinière (sailor’s striped shirt.) The uniform is an essential element for the volunteers, enabling them to be identified by everyone involved in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, from spectators to accredited officials.
The Convention is the starting point of the Games journey. Over the next few weeks, the selected volunteers will start their online training, before collecting their accreditation and uniforms in May, and discovering the venue where they will be working from July onwards.
Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, stated: “All day long, alongside the Paris 2024 teams, the ambassadors of the project and this great gathering of volunteers, we have felt and shared the energy of the Games. The timetable is accelerating. On 17 April, there are only 100 days left until the Games, 100 days to prepare to welcome the world.”
“At the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, which will host the swimming, para-swimming and water polo competitions this summer, we have today launched a unique and unforgettable experience. We are proud to welcome 45,000 volunteers to the Paris 2024 team,” he added.
“DECATHLON is very proud to design the clothing for the 45,000 volunteers of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, because hey are passionate men and women who, like us, will make sport accessible and enable everyone to enjoy this global event to the full. We will share our expertise and passion for sport with millions of people around the world through eco-designed garments that are fashionable, functional and reflect our new visual identity,” said Barbara Martin Coppola, CEO of DECATHLON.
Key figures
-45,000 volunteers for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
-A team made up of 50% men and 50% women.
-A 33% of the volunteers come from the grassroots sports movement.
-101 departments of origin.
-20% international applicants from 150 countries.
-5%+ volunteers with a disability.
-Nearly 50% of Paralympic Games volunteers will also have participated in the Olympic Games.