BBCSome Parisians have complained ahead of the Games. Security issues and overcrowding have been top of mind for locals in the weeks leading up to the Games, which have also been a period of great political turmoil in the country.
Making matters worse, a wave of coordinated arson attacks on France’s rail network on Friday disrupted the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of people.
But a lively opening ceremony and a slew of French medals have begun to make many in the city optimistic.
As the rain clouds dissipate, some city residents say the sport is starting to bring France some much-needed togetherness.
The morning after France won its first gold medal at the Olympics, the sun finally shone on the fan zone in the city’s 13th arrondissement, where couples and families lounged on couches, watching the big screen.
A man named Max was jubilant after France won the men’s rugby sevens. “I’m very proud,” he said. “But I’m always excited about the Olympics, even if some people aren’t.”
Perhaps the atmosphere of the lavish sporting event was set by Friday’s ambitious opening ceremony, which appeared to have surprised many locals with its smooth conduct.
Director Thomas Jolly seemed to have anticipated the possibility that something might go wrong when one of the early shots showed torchbearer Zinedine Zidane sitting on a broken-down subway train.
“I’m pretty sure anyone who witnessed the ceremony changed their mind,” said Pierre, a cyclist who was upset by the extensive security blockade.
“I wasn’t very optimistic about the Olympics. I must say I was a little bit cranky,” said a rugby fan named Vincent. “But now I think the atmosphere is great.”
Spirits were not dampened by the torrential downpours that characterised the event, which continued into the weekend. Cheers and impromptu renditions of the French national anthem La Marseillaise rang out from the crowds lining the streets to watch cyclists brave treacherous conditions in time trials.
Curious locals perched on their upper-floor windowsills or perched precariously on street furniture to get a good view. The police couldn’t resist taking photos. Even delivery cyclists, apparently confused by the many road closures, stopped to drink in the action.
For ice cream seller Ludwig, who set up his stall on the Boulevard Saint-Germain as the competitors raced past, sales were down in the wet weather, but all that mattered was the “beautiful atmosphere” that the global sporting competition brought.
And as French athletes enjoyed some early sporting success, it seemed the positive emotional factor could last beyond the opening ceremony. Pedestrians poked their heads into bars to watch the TV screens and applauded as the first few medals were awarded.
Two judo fans dressed as beloved comic book characters Asterix and Obelix said the Games had proved an “incredible” display of French culture and unity.
Speaking outside the Champ de Mars Arena, Thomas-Felix and Sebastien said it was disappointing that Frenchman Luka Mkheidze was defeated in the men’s 60kg final, but at least they were surrounded by so many compatriots and “crying together”.
Some Parisians are happy to see something other than politics starting to make headlines. For Caroline Loire, who is organising street theatre during the Games, the sport represents “a break”.
A hastily formed left-wing coalition won the second round of an extraordinary parliamentary election just weeks ago – after the far-right National Rally topped the polls in the first vote. France is now in the hands of a caretaker government whose future is uncertain.
“[President] “Macron wants us to forget all about politics, but we won’t,” said Adrienne, an art student excited to watch Olympic table tennis. “We will appreciate the men and women athletes – but we won’t forget.”
Another man, Alexandre, doubts the Olympics will have a lasting impact, but feels it is a good opportunity for France to “show what it can do.” He said it was important, given Friday’s train attack. “It’s a tough situation,” he lamented.
Even if the Olympics may distract many people for a while, that enthusiasm hasn’t really spread to everyone.
“I’m not excited. I don’t think Paris is the right place for this,” said a student named Melissa, who argued another city would be better equipped to deal with the crowds.
There were fears that Paris’s infrastructure might be overwhelmed by so many tourists, but some of the most central streets and even metro stations felt eerily quiet – perhaps because many locals had left the city for the summer.
On Saturday, some barriers remained in place on Île Saint-Louis, an island in the Seine that was fenced off for the opening ceremony. Crowds appeared to be relatively low.
Some businesses that are open say it remains to be seen whether the influx of Olympic tourists will make up for lost revenue. The Olympics are good news for France, but “not good for business,” said one restaurant owner, pointing to a row of empty tables.
Further south, spectators and Olympic delegates began to flock to the bars and cafes of the Latin Quarter – although a Greek shop called Olympie was conspicuously closed.
“I don’t care that the Olympics are in Paris,” said a bar owner named Jean-Louis, who was jostling with passersby.
“This is a view of France, but it is not the reality,” he said of the Olympics. He said poverty was a more important issue for millions. After all, he said, “the Olympics do not give me anything to eat.”
