I covered the Paris Olympic Games for almost three weeks.
Courtesy of Manseen Logan
I was at the Paris 2024 Olympics as a journalist after covering the Tokyo 2020 Games, which I loved.Tokyo spoiled me and raised my expectations for Paris 2024.The lack of AC, limited transportation shuttles, and hard water disappointed me in Paris.
I worked as an independent journalist at the Tokyo 2020 Games and returned in that same capacity for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Working at the Olympics is always a unique experience.
Due to the COVID pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics were pushed to 2021 with severe restrictions.
No spectators were allowed, and only a limited group of media professionals and necessary personnel were present. But surprisingly it was an amazing experience.
I spent days quarantining before I could leave my hotel room. But once I got the green light to roam free, I could feel that Olympic spirit I grew up watching on TV all around me. Pride, patriotism, and unity somehow managed to cut through the fear and isolation that had consumed many of us throughout the pandemic.
Tokyo was efficient, clean, and accommodating, so I had reasonable expectations for Paris, which had already hosted the Olympics twice.
Unfortunately, Paris didn’t even come close to the experience I imagined. Here are the seven things that surprised me most.
1. There was hardly any air conditioning anywhere I went, despite the hot temps
At times, the trains in Paris were much hotter than the outside air.
Courtesy of Manseen Logan
During my time in Paris, the temperature got as hot as 97 degrees Fahrenheit. But even in 70 and 80 degree-weather, I experienced unbearable heat in my hotel room. Most times, my hotel, the trains, and some restaurants I visited were hotter than outside.
I paid over $200 a night for a room that didn’t have AC, and I only have myself to blame for not doing the research. My reaction to the heat shocked me because I’m a West African born in the US, who grew up in the South. I know real heat, but this France heat still caught me off guard.
I learned a little too late that most buildings in France don’t have air conditioning. After I selected my hotel from a list provided by the Paris 2024 organizers, one of my colleagues found other nearby accommodations that were more modern, cost less, and did have air conditioning — but we had already committed and paid for everything.
I relied too much on the hotel options provided to me and should’ve found my own accommodations sooner.
2. The rats weren’t afraid, which made me afraid
One of the responses said, “Who do you think is cooking for the athletes?”
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I came across a funny Tweet that asked, “What did Paris do with all the rats?” I’m convinced they put them all under a bridge in Montmartre, where I stayed, because I passed more than a dozen rats huddled together while I was taking a walk on my first night.
These rats did not run away. Instead, they started casually walking in my direction. I work in New York City, but I will never get used to rats that aren’t afraid of humans.
I wasn’t shocked that rats roam the streets of Paris; I’ve watched “Ratatouille.” However, the boldness and audacity with which these French rats approached me kept me on edge.
3. There weren’t enough free shuttles for media
There weren’t as many free shuttles as in Tokyo, but the Paris Metro cards came in handy.
Courtesy of Manseen Logan
I spent $60 as soon as I landed in France. That was my first shock. I was not informed about any media shuttle from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to my hotel in Montmartre — about 25 to 30 km, or 17 miles, away. One of my colleagues flew in with bags and camera equipment and had to haul everything to her hotel using the train.
In Tokyo, we had free shuttles to transport guests from the airport to media-appointed hotels. In Paris, I was given a 30-day free Metro card and directed to the taxi area.
I could’ve taken a free one-hour commute on the train and subway, but since I had too many bags, I opted to pay for a 30 to 40-minute taxi ride.
Tokyo had shuttles that ran to every venue we visited. Paris, on the other hand, had limited buses. No shuttles operated between the media press center and one of the basketball venues located in Lille, France — two hours from my hotel.
4. The visa process was heartbreaking
The Schengen Visa rejection rate is 10% higher in Africa than the global average.
EyeEm Mobile GmbH/Getty Images
Africans typically experience higher rejection rates when applying for a Schengen Visa. I learned this firsthand when I organized a concert in Paris during the Olympics and received an invitation letter from one of the mayors for three West African musicians to perform in the city.
I thought an invitation letter from a French official, service passports, and all required documents would be enough to secure a French visa, but I was mistaken. And it was a costly mistake. After being led to several French embassies and consulates, the artists I was trying to work with were denied entry to France. This left a bitter taste in my mouth.
It was hard to enjoy a city that I felt didn’t want my people there.
5. The free gift wasn’t thoughtful
It’s a nice water bottle, but I expected more.
Courtesy Manseen Logan
Tokyo spoiled me. When it hosted the 2020 Games, it gave the press lots of functional and meaningful swag.
Maybe, back then, the city had to give away all of the merchandise it produced before the pandemic. The Tokyo media center gave away Tokyo 2020 book bags, towels, note pads, pens, stadium cushions, and more. The organizers even had students from local schools present gifts to different delegations.
Based on the generosity of Tokyo, I created a little extra room in my suitcase for Paris swag. All we got was a Coca-Cola water bottle. I’m still grateful because something is better than nothing, but I wasn’t impressed.
I would’ve loved something that represented Paris or the French culture.
6. The water was too hard and caused my skin to blister
After using ointment and returning to the States, the blisters started disappearing.
Courtesy of Manseen Logan
The first time I visited Europe was over 20 years ago. I was just a kid spending the summer with my cousins in Holland. I returned to the States with a rash all over my face, arms, and legs. I was later diagnosed with severe eczema triggered by the harsh water.
During the Olympics, I experienced the same discomfort. Within days of being in Paris, blisters started spreading across my body — especially on my hands. I couldn’t wash my face with water; I had to use wipes.
It was so uncomfortable that I bumped my flight up and left before the closing ceremony. Based on what I know now, I would’ve paid closer attention to the accommodations and searched for a newer hotel with updated plumbing and filtered water.
7. The hotel breakfast was a huge disappointment
Each morning hotel staff hung breakfast on the door handle.
Courtesy of Manseen Logan
Every morning, hotel staff hung a bag with a hard baguette, a soft croissant, and an occasional fruit — a banana or an apple.
This was not the Parisian hotel breakfast I was expecting. Where were the crepes? The eggs? Again, I should’ve done my research. I couldn’t keep up with all the carbs and politely asked the hotel staff not to deliver breakfast after the first week.
Despite these inconveniences, the Olympics was an experience to remember
Standing in front of the Eiffel Tower after the Opening Ceremony.
Courtesy of Manseen Logan
It’s easy to dwell on everything that went wrong, but many great moments were sprinkled between the chaos.
For starters, the city of L’Île Saint-Denis hosted Station Afrique, a venue celebrating African music, fashion, food, and culture. All of the concerts I attended there were amazing. It was a great precursor to the 2026 Youth Olympics, which will take place in Dakar, Senegal — the first Olympic event to ever be held on the African continent.
Additionally, the indescribable energy of being in the stadium while these athletes break records and make history cannot be replicated on a TV screen. I appreciated having access to these spaces and meeting the foreign Olympic volunteers who sacrificed their time and money to make these Games happen.
Lastly, most of the food was good. Whether the AC worked or not, every restaurant I visited was worth the sweat. I met many great people, which made the experience worth it.
If you volunteered or worked at the Paris 2024 Olympics and would like to tell your story, email Manseen Logan at [email protected].
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