An Inside Look at the Urban Sports Venue at Place de la Concorde

Contributor Jill Amari goes behind the scenes at the incredible temporary stadium, hosting urban sports like breakdancing, situated in central Paris 

The Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics are anticipated to be like no other. From a unique Opening Ceremony on the Seine, to new sports and events, to a more environmentally-friendly atmosphere, the Paris Games are sure to impress and delight spectators and athletes alike. If you’ve walked by Place de la Concorde lately or seen it on TV, you’ve no doubt noticed the enormous Urban Park. This sports park and arena will host the four “urban sports”: skateboarding, BMX freestyle, 3×3 basketball, and this year’s new sport, breaking. Paris is the first host city in Olympics history to create a venue that brings together the urban disciplines in one place.

Also known as breakdancing, breaking is the only new sport to appear in the 2024 Olympics, while five sports—surfing, skateboarding, sport climbing, BMX freestyle, and 3×3 basketball—were introduced at the Tokyo Olympics. Breaking first made its official appearance in the Games during the 2018 Youth Olympics Games in Buenos Aires. Unfortunately, it is not slated to return for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

Breaking is a style of dance that includes both improvisation and technique. While it’s a relatively new form of dance, it’s become a competitive sport with international events and championships. For this year’s Olympics, 16 men (called “B-Boys”) and 16 women (called “B-Girls”) will compete for the breaking medals. During each competition, called a “battle”, two competitors will have about one minute to show off their best moves before their opponent immediately begins their own routine in a best-out-of-three battle.

The catch? No competitor knows their music in advance, so each battle is entirely improvised. Nine judges will score the breakers based on six criteria: technique, musicality, creativity, performativity, variety, and personality. 

Skateboarding (street and park), 3×3 basketball, and BMX Freestyle, all of which were introduced at the Tokyo Olympics, will also be held in the Urban Park in temporary arenas specially made for these urban sports. While you’ll need a ticket or accreditation to access the Urban Park during competitions, it will be open to the public at certain times throughout the Games.

Enjoy food and beverages, relax in the “chill zones,” and participate in cultural, artistic, and sporting events mixing urban cultures. Of course, you can also watch replays from the Games on the giant screens installed around the Park, as well as watch the athletes’ training and warm-up sessions. However, all visitors must still buy a ticket online through the official Paris 2024 box office in order to access the Urban Park outside of competition times. Be sure to verify the public opening hours of the Urban Park on the Paris 2024 official website.

To access the Urban Park by RER or Métro, exit at Madeleine (Lines 8, 12, 14), Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre (Lines 1, 7), Franklin D. Roosevelt (Lines 1 and 9), Musée d’Orsay (RER C), or Auber (RER A) and walk to Place de la Concorde. Signage and security officers will guide you. Keep in mind that the Concorde Métro station is closed, as is all but a small portion of the Jardin des Tuileries, and other stations may be closed on specific days. 

The Urban Park presents a wonderful opportunity for Parisians and visitors alike to experience firsthand some of the Olympics’ urban sports without the expense of buying a competition ticket. If you’re in Paris during the Games, take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and enjoy all that the Park has to offer!