Olympic fans stock up ahead of Paris 2024
Olympics.com caught up with the Bedel family from Denmark, dad Matthias, mum Elisabeth, and daughters Katrine, 13, and Astrid, 11, as they emerged from the megastore on the Champs Elysee to see what they’d been buying.
“We bought a polo shirt, a cap and a mug,” said Matthias. “We got two key rings for those two,” indicating his daughters. “A polo for me, and we’re still looking for you,” he said of Elisabeth. Did you not see any tops that you liked, we asked. “Yes,” replied mum with a smile. “Too many. I couldn’t decide.”
Daisy Zhang from Chongqing, People’s Republic of China, opted for a fridge magnet and a small mascot to put in her schoolbag, while Aidan Roistacher of North Carolina, USA, who was with his aunty from New York, “got a little bit of everything”.
Two T-shirts, lots of magnets, a mascot, a sweatshirt, and obviously he needed to get a bag to hold it all in. “I have a bunch of people back at home that are jealous that we’re here so got a little something for everybody.”
More kind-hearted Olympic souls thinking of others are Nicholas, donning his new Paris 2024 cap but also “a couple of shirts, one for me and one for my girlfriend”, while sister, Emily was clutching two tote bags. “One’s for my nan who was with us on the trip but broke her knee so had to go home early,” she revealed.
Christina Huang, a teacher from Canada in the same party, showed us an image of her three sons from 12 years ago, wearing London 2012 T-shirts, bought for them by their godfather who was working at the Games. Her twins are now 17 and her younger son is 16. “We bought T-shirts as I thought it would be really cute to recreate the photo,” she said, prompting an eyeroll and a smile from one of her sons.
“The star products are the mascot keyrings,” shop worker, Maylis Martin, told Le Monde. “Children are crazy about the Phryges. Plus, it’s still a mascot, so people want it.”
The pins, too, were already a big hit, with a perhaps unlikely version proving the most popular at that stage – the pigeon – the somewhat humorous symbol of Paris, perhaps showcasing the playful nature of fans as they return to the feel-good utopia of the Olympic Games.
And who wouldn’t want a reminder of that?
All shops are listed here, including the Megastore on the Champs Elysees, and see here for the online shop.