Paris is the host city for both the 2023 Rugby World Cup this September as well as the 2024 Summer Olympic Games next July – a bumper time in the City of Light for sports fans. This is true for rugby enthusiasts in particular, since following its re-instatement for the Rio Olympics in 2016, rugby is again set to captivate its supporters in Paris next summer.
But before that, Paris is hosting the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2023 this September – and the event is the fastest-selling ever. With over 2.5 million tickets sold so far, it’s estimated that 600,000 fans will travel to Paris to be part of the event, which also marks the 200th birthday of the game. Authorities have built several ‘rugby villages’ in the ten host cities taking part in the RWC to cater to the event, providing places for local and international fans to mingle and celebrate.
Then next summer (26th July to 11th August 2024) Paris will provide an amazing backdrop for the 2024 Olympics. Rugby will be played at the Stade Jean-Bouin – a venue with a great atmosphere and modern facilities. Here the world’s finest rugby players will compete on a global stage in front of hundreds of thousands of passionate fans and a remote audience of countless more.
Rugby Fifteens (meaning fifteen players a side) first appeared at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1900, and was part of the 1908, 1920, and 1924 Games. The Olympic programme didn’t include rugby again until 2016 in Rio, when a men’s and a women’s rugby seven’s tournament was included in the Olympic programme – the ‘rugby sevens’ format being a faster-paced and more intense game than the traditional fifteen-a-side game. The Tokyo Games in 2021 saw the women’s tournament won by New Zealand, while the Fiji’s men’s rugby team took gold. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, twelve men’s teams and twelve women’s teams will compete from all over the world.
The 2024 Olympics is dedicated to promoting gender equality, as is shown with the inclusion of both men’s and women’s rugby teams. The Games also representing an opportunity to inspire young players to take up the game and pursue their dreams. In addition, seeing rugby on the global stage is likely to act as a catalyst for nations with little rugby history to embrace the sport and invest in its development.
Major international sporting events such as the RWC and the Olympics result in a surge of demand for accommodation in the host city. For both these, Paris will need to house spectators, athletes, officials, and media personnel – leading to higher prices for hotels, short-term rentals, aparthotels, extended-stay serviced apartments, and others.
Typically, host countries expand their accommodation in readiness for the Olympics by building new accommodation options and encouraging residents to rent out their homes. Nearby cities and regions also often experience increased demand as people choose to stay outside the city and commute into Olympic venues.
If you’re heading to Paris for the Olympics next year, don’t forget to book early! Situ has a selection of serviced apartments in Paris available, allowing you to find just the right one. More information on the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Are you going to Paris and need somewhere to stay? Do browse Situ‘s selection of great serviced apartments in Paris, or pick up the phone and give one of our friendly accommodation specialists a call at +44 (0)1392 690 079 or email [email protected].