Paris Activities for Your Sportive Teens

What do you do when you come to Paris with teenagers before December 31 and after? Maybe you were once a teenager interested in video games, skateboarding and breaking. Discover an exhibition on the origins of sport and urban cultures. Explore the origins at SPOT24 near the Eiffel Tower until December 31. Spot24 is a combination of exhibition and the Paris Tourist Office (Paris Je t’aime). If you miss this exhibition, don’t worry. Paris has activities for you sportive teens. Paris has public spaces to practice the urban sports of skateboarding, climbing, 3×3 basketball and breaking. One visit may not be enough. My second visit was private and very special. Two of the artists presented their works. One artist sculpts with marble. The other combines athletics and dance. The curator gave us the tour in French. The Paris Tourist Office translator presented the explanations in English.

Something new to learn

Image of Paris Tourist Office and Spot24 Eiffel Tower Bir-Hakeim metro Paris Tourist Office — Paris Tourist Office and Spot24 Eiffel Tower Bir-Hakeim metro until December 31, 2024

The SPOT24 exhibition is immersive and interactive. I visited the exhibition twice. As a result, my understanding of sport and urban cultures is 100% better. QR codes are available for audio narratives and a self-guided tour in French and English. For children, an activity booklet is also provided.

The entrance is free. It is a short walk from line 6 Bir-Hakeim metro stop. The RER C (Champs de Mars Eiffel Tower) exit is across the road.

RER C Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel exit for Spot 24 and the Paris Tourist Office Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — RER C Champs de Mars – Tour Eiffel exit for Spot 24 and the Paris Tourist Office

Free magazine Gala Paris Spot24 Paris Tourist Office

Booklet Guide Games Spot24 Paris Tourist Office Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Booklet Guide for Spot24 Olympic Games

Exterior of Temporary Paris Tourist Office - theme Paris je t'aime SPOT24 Paris Tourist Office — Exterior of Temporary Paris Tourist Office – theme Paris je t’aime 101 quai Jacques Chirac, Paris 15e

Booklet Guide Cover Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Booklet Guide

Something for everyone

In fact, this exhibition has something for everyone. It includes artwork and actual torches from past Olympics and Youth Games. There are old video games and interactive displays. It pays tribute to six new Olympic disciplines: skateboarding, sport climbing, BMX freestyle, surfing, 3×3 basketball and breaking. Researching urban sports was an education. I explored images and terminology. Numerous websites offered details and videos on the sports, which helped in the research.

3x3 Basketball Tokyo 2020 Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — 3×3 Basketball Tokyo 2020

Private Collection of past Youth Games and Olympic sports Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Red shoes made especially for sliding down a hand rail. Similar ones are on display at the Palais Galliera Musée de la Mode

Collection of skateboards SPOT24 Paris Tourist Office — Paris Skate Culture collection of skateboards

One of the vintage video games available to play on at Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — One of the vintage video games available to play on at Spot24

François Gautret pointing out past Olympic artifacts from a private collection Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — François Gautret pointing out past Olympic artifacts from a private collection Spot 24

Description of Skateboarding origins Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Skateboard Origins 1960-1978

QR Code to learn more about BMX Freestyle French and English Spot24 Paris Tourist OfficeSpot24 Paris Tourist Office — QR Code BMX Freestyle

QR Codes to Learn More

QR Code to learn more about Skateboarding French and English Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — QR Code about skateboarding

QR Code for Free Audio Guide at the Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — QR Code for self-guided visit in French and English

QR Code to learn more about Breaking French and English Spot24 Paris Tourist OfficeSpot24 Paris Tourist Office — QR Code for Breaking

Past Olympic Torches

Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Torch Collection Olympic Museum Lausanne collection Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Torch Collection Olympic Museum Lausanne collection

Description Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Torch SPOT24 Paris Tourist Office — Description Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Torch – Breaking’s first appearance

Singapore 2010 Youth Games Torch Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Singapore 2010 Youth Games Torch

Description of Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Torch Collection Olympic Museum Lausanne SPOT 24 Paris Tourist Office — Description of Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games symbol of innovation and dynamism of 3×3 basketball Torch Collection Olympic Museum Lausanne

Skateboard for Project "Road to Tokyo" Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Skateboard torch – “Road to Tokyo” project begun in 2016 and reached Tokyo for the Olympics 2020 Lausanne Olympic Museum Collection no artist name

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch SPOT24 Paris Tourist Office — Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch

Description of the 2020 Olympic Torch Spot24 Paris Tourist Office Olympic Museum Lausanne collection — Description of the 2020 Olympic Torch Olympic Museum Lausanne collection

Skateboard Project "Road to Tokyo" description Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Skateboard Project “Road to Tokyo” description

Artists and the Olympics

Léo Caillard Artist, Sculptor at SPOT24 with Hipster in Stone Venus 2020 in the background SPOT24 Paris Tourist Office — Léo Caillard Artist, Sculptor at SPOT24 with Hipster in Stone Venus 2020 in the background

Art plays a large role in the SPOT24 exhibition. It features original creations by French and international artists. Some of these artists include Street artists Kraken and Alexis Moreau (the Diamantaire), two Spanish artists, PichiAvo. Other notable artists are Keith Haring, Stéphane Ashpool, Mathieu Lehanneur and Léo Caillard. The exhibition also includes works by Philippe Baudelocque, Miquel Díaz Vizoso, and Michael Holman (K-tel) and footwork by Kanti.

Léo Caillard Hipster in Stone Venus 2020 SPOT24 Paris Tourist Office — Léo Caillard Hipster in Stone Venus 2020-marble – Inspired by the Capitoline Venus, Capitoline Museum, Rome (Italy)

Léo Caillard Hipster in Stone XVI (2017) Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Léo Caillard Hipster in Stone XVI (2017) Inspired by the tombstone of Ottaviano-Fabrizio Mossotti, Campo Santo, Pisa (Italy)

Image of marble bust Hipster in Stone Laocoon Leo Caillard Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Hipster in Stone Laocoon Leo Caillard Inspired by the Laocoon, Vatican Museum, Rome

Duperré Basketball Court, Pigalle 75009 photo by Sébastien Michelini

Footwork Graphic System August 27, 2023 Alexia Guyon Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Footwork Graphic System August 27, 2023 Alexia Guyon

Kraken Spot 24 Octopus Breaking Spot 24 Paris Tourist Office — Kraken, Street Artist who uses an octopus for his art. The octopus is represented on hiphop and breakdance vinyl albums

Description of Ste2phane Ashpool and the Duperré Basketball Court SPOT24 Paris Tourist Office

Basketball Hoop Detail from Trajectoire x le Diamantaire Studio Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Description of artist, Alexis Moreau, alias Le Diamantaire Trajectoire Studio, Basketball hoop in Mirrored Glass 2023 Spot24 Paris Tourist Office

Miguel Díaz Vizoso, Smurf Breaker 2022, pencil drawing “Smurf”Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Miguel Díaz Vizoso, Smurf Breaker 2022, pencil drawing “Smurf” was a hip hop dance in the 1980s – the term “smurf” is only used in French; otherwise known as “popping” to describe a dance move. Part of the RStyle Collection

Description for Street Artist Kraken and the octopus at Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Description for Street Artist Kraken and the octopus

Street Artist Alexis Moreau-Le Diamantaire - Basketball hoopSpot 24 Paris Tourist Office — Street Artist/Sculptor Alexis Moreau-Le Diamantaire – diamond theme project with glass mirrors behind a basketball hoop

Part of the Finger Skatepark display Spot24 Paris Tourist Office Art Artist — Part of the Finger Skatepark display

Finger Skatepark: Nicolas Pierre (miniature) and Artof Popof (graffiti work) Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Finger Skatepark: Nicolas Pierre (miniature) and Artof Popof (graffiti work)

Breaking vinyl album covers SPOT24 Paris Tourist Office — Breaking Vinyl Album Covers

More to Learn About Breaking

PichAvo B-Boy and B-Girl paintings Breaking the Seine 2023 Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — PichAvo B-Boy and B-Girl paintings Breaking the Seine 2023

Description of Artist Philippe Baudelocque's University 2023 Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Description of Artist Philippe Baudelocque’s University 2023

I learned that “breaking” is the proper term for break dancing (a commercial term). Those who break are either B-Boys or B-Girls who live the hip-hop style. In competition at the Olympics 2024, the breakers heard the music for the first time. They improvised their moves as the opponent watched. The original and cultural name for anyone who practices the dance of breaking is a breaker.

Philippe Baudelocque “Univers” 2023 Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Philippe Baudelocque “Univers” 2023 Oil Pastel Drawing reduced-sized mural. Original created in 2019, Centre Sportif Philppe Auguste 11th arrondissement

New York City Breakers photo by Martha Cooper 1984 SPOT24 Paris Tourist Office — New York City Breakers photo by Martha Cooper 1984 – The group went to the 1984 LA Olympics

Breaking Poster Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Breaking moves by the New York City Breakers

Curator and Inspiration – Worth the Visit

Francois Gautret, Curator, SPOT24 Paris Tourist Office — Francois Gautret, Curator, SPOT24

Breaking artist, François Gautret, is the curator of the Spot 24 exhibition.

“Riding the Olympic Wave” (2022-2023) at the Lausanne, Switzerland Olympic Museum was his inspiration for the exhibition. It features works and images from the Olympic Museum’s collections. SPOT24 – The Olympic Sport and Urban Cultures Exhibition will live on beyond December 31 thanks to cyberspace.

Breaking first appeared at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and made it to the Paris Olympics. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has decided not to include the improvisational sport on its program.

Olympic Museum building and grounds Lausanne Switzerland Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Olympic Museum building and grounds Lausanne Switzerland

Olympic Museum, Lausanne Switzerland football statues by Nikki de Saint Phalle Spot24 Paris Tourist Office — Olympic Museum, Lausanne Switzerland football statues by Nikki de Saint Phalle

Olympic Museum history display one panel on Pierre de Coubertin Lausanne SwitzerlandSpot24 Paris Tourist Office — Olympic Museum history display one panel on Pierre de Coubertin, whose idea it was for a renewal of the Olympics Lausanne Switzerland

SPOT 24 101 quai Jacques Chirac, Paris 15th arrondissement 75015 (use metro stop Bir-Hakeim)

Reception area, exhibition area and shop: daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last access at 5.45pm). Last admission to the exhibition at 5 p.m. Free Admission

Café: Sunday to Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m., 101 quai Jacques Chirac, Paris 15e Métro : Bir-Hakeim – Passy – Dupleix RER C : Champs de Mars – Tour Eiffel

List where to find or play the different sports in and around Paris (use the translation in your browser):

Skateparks in Paris region
Skateparks in Paris
EGP 18 for regular visitors, is a landmark site in France and Europe for skate fans
BMX Freestyling in Paris
BMX Club in Paris
Where to find and do breaking in Paris
3×3 Basket (Basketball) Paris – find locations or a club

Footwork on Canvas, Artist: Kanti (46 min extract from 1’55” video)

https://youtu.be/L6a0eeWmNRs – This video highlights two of the artists I met at SPOT24. Yousef Mecheri, who performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Paralympics, and the marble sculptor/artist, Léo Caillard, whose work is on display at the exhibition.

Finger Skatepark Nicolas Pierre (miniature) and Artof Popof (graffiti work)

You can see Zeus, a Unique Work of Art

A Second Chance to View the Olympic Icons

The Morning After the Olympics Ceremony

The Paris Olympics 2024 Phrygian Cap Has Become My Obsession