JO – Grand Palais Ephémère – Arena Champ de Mars

During the Paris 2024 Games, the Grand Palais Ephémère will become the prestigious Arena Champ de Mars. The monument is being extended to host competitions for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. During the Games, the Grand Palais Ephémère hosted the Judo events from 27 July to 3 August and the Wrestling events from 5 to 11 August. It will also host Wheelchair Rugby from 29 August to 2 September and Para Judo from 5 to 7 September.

Installed on the Joffre plateau of the Champ-de-Mars, between the Eiffel Tower and the Ecole Militaire, the Grand Palais Ephémère reconnects with the history of this site, which witnessed the Universal Exhibitions and the great popular festivals of the 19th and 20th centuries. To meet the demand for a light structure and to meet urban and environmental challenges, wood was chosen for the framework and the frame. Composed of prefabricated elements in the workshop, complete sections of the structure were pre-assembled in the workshop, which allowed for faster assembly and less disturbance for the local residents. The profile of the structural arches works in compression to minimise the mass of timber used. The glulam structure also provides an answer to acoustic insulation. The Grand Palais Ephémère is also made of concrete and glass.