Sport Events in Paris
Football/soccer and rugby are the most popular spectator sports in France, with basketball following behind. Tickets for these sporting events can be purchased in the same locations as for cultural events (see the title section “Entertainment”). The venue varies on the event, league and importance of the game. Stade de France, http://www.stadefrance.com, (English version available), Parc des Princes, http://www.leparcdesprinces.fr, (English version available) and Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, http://www.bercy.fr, hosts most of the major sporting events.
Be on the lookout for the annual events that Paris hosts like the tennis tournament known as Roland Garros (aka The French Open) in the spring (http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/index.html) and the Tour de France in July, which always ends in Paris with a glorious – and, for the spectator, free! – sprint down the Champs Elysees (http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html). For golfers, The French Open, part of the European Tour, is played in the summer at Le Golf National, about 30 kilometers from Paris (http://www.alstom.opendefrance.fr).
Paris St Germain is the Parisian soccer/football club; matches are played at the Parc des Princes and tickets may be purchased directly from the club: http://www.psg.fr/ (French only).
Les XV de France – the French rugby team – inspires a fanatical following. International matches are held at the Stade de France, which also handles ticket sales (see above). For further information, visit the team’s website: http://www.ffr.fr/index.php/ffr/accueil__1.
