Once the main arena of the 1924 Paris Games, it has been forgotten over the years. Few venues have two Olympic events to their credit, and in France only this stadium. Now, 100 years after the first event, Yves-du-Manoir stadium is returning for the next Games as the main arena for hockey matches.

Paris' main stadium until 1972

Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes, north-west of Paris, is a venue with a rich sporting history. It was designed by Louis Faure-Dujarric and was the main arena for the Eighth Olympiad in 1924, hosting the opening ceremony and athletics competitions.

The stadium, named after a French rugby player, was the main stadium of the Paris region until 1972, when Parc des Princes was opened. Over the years it has hosted numerous national and international competitions in rugby, football, athletics and boxing, with almost 250 events in total. During the 1972 World Cup, the stadium could hold around 40,000 spectators.

Stadium in Colombes in 1924 

Paris 2024 and then what?

Thanks to a decision by the Hauts-de-Seine department, Yves-du-Manoir has undergone numerous upgrades in preparation for hosting the 2024 Olympic Games again. As part of these preparations, the stadium has been adapted to host hockey competitions. Two new synthetic pitches were built: one for competitions, with an additional 1,000-seat grandstand, and the other for training, which will serve as the National Hockey Federation Training Centre.

The historic and impressive 6000-seat stand has been repainted. Together with three temporary stands, erected especially for the Olympic Games, the arena can accommodate a total of 10,200 spectators. With a seating capacity of 4 300, the stadium was specially designed for hockey matches.

After the Games, the stadium will continue to play an important role in the sporting life of the region. One of the new buildings will house the French Hockey Federation, the Île-de-France League and the departmental hockey committee. In addition, four football pitches, three rugby pitches and a new athletics track have been built around the arena.

Stadium in Colombes during Olympic Games  2024

All Olympic stadiums

Seven arenas have been designated to host the football matches, only one of which is in Paris. Teams will have to travel all over France, just like during the Euros. One of the stadiums is Matmut-Atlantique, whose club recently declared bankruptcy and the future of the arena is unknown.

You can read about the other stadiums of the Games, both football and less obvious sports, in our dedicated article.