Paris, France — The Summer Olympics in Paris featured a host of new sports and introduced one brand new sport (Breaking) to the Olympic Games. Nestled on a quiet corner near the Eiffel Tower and on the banks of the Seine one finds SPOT 24, an exciting exhibition space celebrating sport and culture. To showcase the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, the Olympic Museum of Lausanne and the Paris tourist office (Paris je t’aime) have teamed up to present SPOT 24 -The Olympic Sport and Urban Cultures Exhibition. The show— which is running until December 31st — pays tribute to six new Olympic disciplines: skateboarding, sport climbing, BMX freestyle, surfing, 3X3 basketball and Breaking (making its first official Olympic appearance at the Paris Games). The exhibition highlights sports disciplines that are rooted in urban culture and brings together artwork and images from the Olympic Museum collection, original creations by French and international artists and some excellent finds, notably the BMX bicycle that flew by the moon in E.T. The show is divided into 6 segments featuring each of the new sports, spiralling out from the « Knave » where a curiosity cabinet and urban art works are on display.

Breakdancing, for example, was born in the Bronx but has made its way to becoming an Olympic event for the first time at the 2024 games with competitors — known as B-Boys and B-Girls — coming from all over the world. This form of artistic expression is renowned for its acrobatic and at times daringly dangerous movements (they often land on their heads). Creativity, style and technique are all put to the test by a panel of judges and spontaneity, too, for the breaker hears the music he/she dances to for the first time at the start of their event. The exhibition includes some wild footage of breakdancers dancing through New York City subway cars and a space showing the dimensions of a subway car to underscore the cramped conditions they were dancing in. Skateboards, surfboards, sneakers and interactive exhibitions are all on the agenda.

« Generally speaking, it is the streets that link them (Editor’s note: the sports in the exhibition) all together. Street life is their common denominator. It’s a positive moment in which artistic challenges and surpassing one’s limits are essential values. Originally, these values (derived from hip- hop) emerged as a way of counteracting all the violence of the Bronx. Other disciplines, such as skateboarding and BMX racing, also have their origins in the streets, and that is where they evolved – cities created new spaces where people could engage in these practices over the years, » explains François Gautret, the exhibition curator. Who added that they are thinking about a SPOT28 for the Los Angeles Games.

Iconic objects and art works related to the sports are on display as well along with the well-received Olympic torch designed by Mathieu Lehanneur for the Paris Games. There is a boutique featuring Olympic and Paris memorabilia, urban wear and street art as well as a delightful cafe serving quintessential French food made with carefully sourced products. The café has an enclosed and secluded outdoor space as well. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette. SPOT 24, 101, quai Jacques Chirac 75015 Paris, France. Monday to Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 7 PM and Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9:30AM–9PM. https://parisjetaime.com/eng/spot24-paris-i175