LE BOURGET, France (AP) — For many athletes of the Olympic Games in ParisThe fun only started after they finished the competition.

In the second full week of the 2024 Olympic Games, going home was not an option. Now that the pressure of competition has passed, it was time to become a fan: enjoy Paris and watch other sports.

“I’m a big fan of athletics,” said triathlete Morgan Pearson, who won the silver medal with the U.S. team. Mixed relay on Monday. “I hope to be part of some of these races. I’m a big Olympic fan in general.”

American sport climber Zach Hammerwho had finished his competition on Tuesday, was also on his way to the race track.

“I would definitely love to see the men’s 200m with (Noah) Lyles. He’s one of my favorite athletes,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting the full Olympic experience and I’ll watch everything there is to see. It will definitely be cool to see Americans compete on the biggest stage.”

US rower Jacob Plihal was one of those who stayed in the city after the first week’s competitions.

“Hopefully I can watch some handball if that’s still going on, maybe 3×3 basketball,” he said. “I don’t know the dates. I’ve been focused on the racing, but I’m looking forward to staying here and watching other sports, cheering on Team USA and meeting some of the athletes in the (Olympic) Village.”

Another American sport climber, Sam Watson, who broke the world speed record in an elimination race on Tuesday, made the most of his stay in the village, challenging other athletes to games of chess and attempting to take selfies with a member of each delegation at the Games.

Some of the American rowers who competed last week were at the women’s basketball game between the United States and Nigeria on Wednesday.

Molly Thompson-Smith, a British sport climber, was interested in some of the smaller sports that don’t often get as much attention. She said: “It was really cool to learn how they work and all the weird things about them.”

Thompson-Smith added that she had “seen a bit of beach volleyball” but “I think everyone wants to see the athletics, just to see something like that and feel the atmosphere of the crowd would be incredible. But now I’m open to seeing anything… I’m here to make as many memories and see as much as I can.”

Rower Viktorija Senkutewho won Lithuania’s first medal of the Games last week, stayed to watch her boyfriend, Simonas Maldonis, race the canoe.

Athletes can use their accreditation to pursue their own discipline, but will need tickets for other sports. Some said they can get these through their national Olympic committees or through the International Olympic Committee, which gives each athlete one free ticket per day.

This time, the athletes in Paris had an additional Olympic experience, because for the first time at the Summer Games, the organizers offered them a place where they could be closer to the fans and celebrate their medals. In the new Champions ParkThe athletes had the opportunity to parade with their medals and interact with the fans.

“I think they’ve done a really good job this year in giving the winning athletes memories that we will cherish forever,” said French rugby player Aaron Grandidier Nkanang after visiting Champions Park. “We’re right in front of the Eiffel Tower and thousands of people have come to cheer us on.”

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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games