"There we see the inhabitants of Seine-Saint-Denis!", Loose the PS mayor of Saint-Denis, Mathieu Hanotin, accompanied by a child in football gear.

It must be said that the images of young people climbing the gates of the Stade de France or robbing English supporters on May 28 hurt the hearts of the elected officials of the department who protested against the stigmatization of the inhabitants.

Not to mention the fans stuck at the gates who couldn't see the final between Real Madrid and Liverpool and who also tarnished the image of France.

This Sunday, the Stade de France had opened one of its accesses, so as to take a look at the lawn, where remnants of glitter from Friday's Top 14 final still shine.

This Olympic Day especially allows families to try out some thirty sports, in a stadium adjoining the main stadium.

Fencing, trampoline, handball... but also disabled sports such as boccia or seated volleyball.

They take a lunch break at the food trucks, while demonstrations of breaking, a sport that will make its appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, have a good place on the stage.

- "Fluid and secure" -

Covid obliges, the previous Parisian edition of Olympic Day, which celebrates the birth of the Olympic movement every June 23, dates back to 2019 on the Place de la Concorde.

Morning visitor, Michel Cadot, interministerial delegate to the Olympics who worked and submitted a report on the incidents at the Stade de France, is delighted with the turn of the day.

"It's fluid and secure," he slips, a few meters from the river brigade.

Fluid and secure, undoubtedly his objective for the future opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on the Seine, "considerable challenge of logistics and organization" he repeated several times.

For the moment, the river brigade, which will be in great demand for the unprecedented ceremony on the Seine, is watching over the Saint-Denis canal where children are trying their hand at canoeing on inflatable boats.

On the bank, a swimming pool welcomes water polo enthusiasts.

"It's great!" Rejoices Thierry Reboul, master of ceremonies for the Paris Olympics.

A few days ago, when asked by AFP about going near this forecourt which has been talked about so much recently, he replied "we are even happier to go there!".

Chaining interviews for two days to promote the day, the boss of the Olympic Games, Tony Estanguet, Paris 2024 t-shirt de rigueur, says he is "proud to be in contact with the populations today".

"Saint-Denis ready to welcome the world"

In the middle of the day, the arrival of the new Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, does not really divert the children from their sports sessions.

After touring the stands, and exchanging foam balls with former champion Henri Leconte on a mini tennis court, she says "the symbolic importance" of "coming back to the Stade de France and that things go well ".

"Saint-Denis is ready to welcome the world", engages the mayor Mathieu Hanotin.

"The inhabitants of the territory, the committed actors, are there and will be there for the Rugby World Cup and the Olympic Games", he promises. "We are very happy", also welcomes Stéphane Troussel, PS president of the department, which reports an attendance of several tens of thousands of people.

And a new ambassador of the Olympics was invited on Sunday, in the midst of the Olympic athletes present: the Brazilian footballer Rai, former emblematic player of the PSG of the 90s. "These Olympics are going to be magic!".

"The country must mobilize so that we draw on the Olympic values ​​and spirit on a daily basis!", He explains.

© 2022 AFP