Zareena Gaibee spends her first day at the Paris Olympics, rubbing shoulders with fellow media and meeting President Emmanuel Macron.
Paris, France (24 July 2024) – As my first official day as an accredited Olympic journalist (I now have a laminate to prove it), I applied for and received an invitation to the International Press Reception for the Paris 2024 Games. The event, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, took place at the iconic Élysée Palace in Paris. This building, dating back to 1722, was originally constructed for Louis Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne. It now hosts significant state functions and serves both as the official residence and office of the President of France. The palace is very gold, and the coffee is served as espresso.
The reception was bustling with seasoned sports journalists, including some who have covered 21 consecutive Olympics, counting both Summer and Winter Games. The atmosphere was a mix of festivity and anticipation. With hundreds of journalists and only one President, the competition for attention was fierce.
A veteran journalist advised me that the mixed zone is akin to a scrum: get as close as you can and hold your ground. After several attempts and being pushed out multiple times, I finally got a moment with President Macron. We exchanged greetings, and after a brief conversation, I asked, “Can I ask your cheeky, South African question from a South African to a Frenchman? What is the value of a point, a split second, and a centimetre to you?” He laughed heartily, stepped back, and on returning said that, “It has to be calculated, and I don’t leave even the last second, and the last centimetre to anybody else.”
We took a photo, and during this, First Lady Brigitte Macron and I shared a chuckle over my nervous greeting. President Macron then mentioned he had spoken with Antoine Dupont, warning with a smile, that my team should be prepared.
Earlier that day, Rio 2016 Bronze medallist, Springbok Sevens star, Rosco Specman noted that the team was ready, energised, and that the coaches had a solid plan. They were alert and ready for a spirited start to the games. The Rugby Sevens, beginning on Wednesday, July 24. South Africa and France are in separate pools, suggesting a potential meeting in the knockout stages.
Here are the pool allocations:
- Pool A: Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa
- Pool B: Argentina, Australia, Kenya, Samoa
- Pool C: Fiji, France, Uruguay, USA
The Olympics not only showcase physical contests but also reignite age-old rivalries. But through it all there’s a shared spirit among all attendees—presidents and fans alike. We back our teams and laugh about it later.
P.S., The spread of food was delightful, and I rather like coffee macarons.
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Zareena Gaibee will be on the ground in Paris for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics events, sharing her take on the prestigious sporting event, giving exclusive insights into life at the games, and hopefully meeting many of the South Africans in Paris who are competing and supporting. She will be reporting her findings for Good Things Guy, giving readers a glimpse of what flying the flag in Paris is all about.
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