Why do athletes ring a bell at the Paris 2024 Olympics? Stade de France introduces special addition for Games
If you've been watching the 2024 Paris Olympics, you might have noticed athletes ringing a bell in the Stade de France.
This has only happened at events inside the stadium, meaning only a select few competitors have had the honour of ringing the bell.
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It's certainly added something a bit different to the events in the Stade de France.
Why do athletes ring a bell at the Paris Olympics?
Well, first of all, only the winners of the events get to ring the special bell.
So, every athlete who has claimed a gold in the Stade de France can do so.
This keeps it a bit more special and also exclusive.
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The men's and women's Rugby Sevens teams were the first athletes to ring the bell, and since then, it's been for track and field stars.
It has been specially designed for the Games, and the organisers feel it's a different way for the winners to interact with the crowd.
But the head of Paris 2024's organising committee, Tony Estanguet, also wanted an element of Parisian culture incorporated.
: "It's just for the gold medallists, and it's a great way for them to celebrate."
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And clearly, the athletes agree.
Speaking to Dame Kelly Holmes on talkSPORT about ringing the bell after claiming her gold in the women's 800m, Keely Hodgkinson said: "It's absolutely sick, it just brings another atmosphere to it.
"Everyone went quiet, and to get to ring that bell, it really is your moment. I forgot I would be able to do that, so that was really cool."
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What's even better about the bell is that it's going to be placed in Notre Dame.
The world-famous cathedral is currently being rebuilt after a fire five years ago destroyed parts of it, but as soon as the work is complete, the bell will take its place.
The restoration is due to be complete at the end of 2024, and the Olympic bell will go inside one of the towers.
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