Left apart in previous bids, at the centre of discussions for Paris 2024

Between 1924 – the last time Paris hosted the Games – and 2024, the French capital had to endure a series of failures. In 1992, while Barcelona’s bid was preferred by the IOC, the Invalides were completely ignored. Two sites were considered for the archery events: the Champ-de-Mars – the idea was finally rejected because of the difficulties involved – and the Tremblay site, which was intended to become a national centre for high-level shooters after the Games.

Thirty years later, in 2012, it was London’s bid that was selected after a tough battle with Paris. Once again, the Invalides were not scheduled to host an event, and the archery competitions were planned to be held at the Auteuil Hippodrome.

It was only for the 2008 bid, when Beijing was finally chosen, that the Invalides were on the shortlist. Not for archery, which was to be staged on the Plaine de la Bagatelle, but for the modern pentathlon and equestrian events. The jumping and dressage competitions would have taken place on the Esplanade, while the eventing was left to the Longchamp Racecourse.