Il est encore possible d'acheter des souvenirs. MAXPPP – Joel Marklund
For the first time, costumes from the opening ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games were put on sale, on the occasion of the very last sale of stocks for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which is being held from Friday January 24 to Sunday January 26 in Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis).
Colorful outfits from the painting “Festivité”, overalls of the dancers representing the artisans of Notre-Dame or even costumes of Napoleon or de Gaulle… In total, there are more than a thousand pieces, from five paintings of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which are available for sale.
Kelly, a vintage clothing dealer, wanted to “absolutely leave” with one of the 30 “emblematic” costumes of Marie-Antoinette with her head cut off, worn during the painting at the Conciergerie. With her colleague, they paid 800 euros for this piece “from the History of France and fashion”, which she had fun trying on, once she got home.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000A 70-centimeter fake popcorn cone will find its place as decoration in Ornella's boudoir, to keep alive the memory of “this event that marked our time”. For this forty-something flea market saleswoman, these objects have become “works of art”. Friday, the sale is reserved for professionals of the Saint-Ouen flea market, before opening to the public this weekend.
Fascination intact
“We're window shopping”, Kaori laughs, her eyes fixed on the outfits for sale. This thirty-something teacher will only be able to access it from Saturday and to be sure not to miss anything and to be among the first to make her choice, this resident of the 13th arrondissement has rented a hotel “an eight-minute walk from the flea market”.
Still “fascinated” by the Games six months later, Kerwyn, a thirty-something who works in tech, has participated in eight flea markets since September, wishing “to keep concrete memories” of the Games.
97% of what was specially purchased to be used at the Olympics (volunteers' or artists' costumes, barriers, sports equipment, etc.) needed for the Olympic Games have now “found a second life”, says Oliver Debargue, purchasing director for Paris 2024.
Some pieces exhibited at the museum
From the volunteers' bucket hats to the athletes' bath towels and reusable cups, almost everything has sold like hotcakes to interested parties “very enthusiastic”, he says happily.
Unique pieces such as those worn by Lady Gaga, Céline Dion or Aya Nakamura are exhibited in institutions such as the museum national sports center in Nice, with the objective “of preserving this heritage in France so that it is accessible to the general public”, according to Mr. Debargue.