La Défense Arena, Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Redefining the delivery of Olympic aquatics competition venues

• CLIENT: Paris 2024 COJOP
• LOCATION: Paris, France
• CAPACITY: 15,000
• SERVICES: Architecture + Events

WOO‘s transformational concept for the La Défense Arena redefined the delivery of Olympic Aquatics competition venues for future Games.

This Olympic and Paralympic venue design was led by WOO as part of the Paris 2024 Venue and Infrastructure team. The Paris La Défense Arena, a rugby stadium and multi-purpose entertainment venue, was transformed into a swimming and water polo venue, conforming to the highest international standards, featuring two Olympic-sized pools – a competition pool and a warm-up pool.

Within two months this venue, which had just hosted Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert, was transformed into the stage for many of the 2024 Games’ most eagerly awaited swimming competitions.

Following the Games, the pools were relocated and became permanent, with one being installed in Sevran and half a pool in Bagnolet, in Seine-Saint-Denis.