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The Paris Olympics have been planned to display the City of Light in all its glory, with events happening at iconic venues. AFP explores five locations that are sure to impress ticket-holders and a global TV audience during the 17-day event starting on July 26:
Eiffel Tower
The renowned Eiffel Tower will be the backdrop for beach volleyball, with the action taking place in a temporary venue near the base of the tower.
Adjacent to it, the Champs de Mars park will host judo and wrestling.
Initially met with disapproval by some Parisians in 1889, the Eiffel Tower has since become the symbol of the capital and a top tourist attraction, as well as a functional telecoms tower used for radio and TV transmissions. Medal winners at the Paris Games will each receive a small piece of the iron structure in their medals.
Grand Palais
Fencing and taekwondo competitions will be held in the luxurious setting of the Grand Palais exhibition hall, known for its glass domed roof, the largest in Europe, covering a vast exhibition space.
During World War I, it served as a military hospital before transforming into a venue for art collections and contemporary art installations, and even hosting the world's largest ice rink.
Place de la Concorde
The expansive paved square at the foot of the Champs-Elysees avenue, historically significant for its role in the French Revolution, will be transformed into an urban sports hub hosting skateboarding and 3x3 basketball events.
