Hubbry Logo
Stade Yves-du-ManoirStade Yves-du-ManoirMain
Open search
Stade Yves-du-Manoir
Community hub
Stade Yves-du-Manoir
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Stade Yves-du-Manoir
Stade Yves-du-Manoir
from Wikipedia

The Stade Yves-du-Manoir (officially Stade olympique Yves-du-Manoir, also known as the Stade olympique de Colombes, or simply Colombes to the locals) is a rugby, track, and association football stadium in Colombes, near Paris, France.

Key Information

History

[edit]
The stadium after being renovated for the 1924 Summer Olympics.

Named in memory of French rugby player Yves du Manoir in 1928, it was the main stadium for the 1924 Summer Olympics and had a capacity of 45,000 at the time.[4] During the 1924 Games, it hosted the athletics, gymnastics and tennis events, as well as some of the cycling, horse riding, football, and rugby events, and two of the modern pentathlon events (running, fencing).

It was later expanded to a capacity of over 60,000. Colombes was also the venue for the 1938 World Cup Final between Italy and Hungary, and also hosted the home team's two matches in the tournament.

Colombes hosted several French Cup finals and home games of the national football and national rugby union teams into the 1970s. It remained the nation's largest capacity stadium until the renovated Parc des Princes was inaugurated in 1972. Due to increasingly stringent safety regulations, the Colombes' capacity had dropped to under 50,000. The last games of the national rugby union and football teams at Colombes were respectively in 1972 and 1975.

Colombes during the football final of the 1924 Olympics.

France's professional football team RC Paris used Colombes as their home ground until about 1985, then moved on to other stadia before returning in the 2010s. Unlike RC Paris, Racing 92 rugby did not leave Colombes until November 2017. They originally planned to redevelop Yves-du-Manoir into a stadium to be shared with Racing Club de France Football. Instead, they built Paris La Défense Arena in nearby Nanterre, playing their first match in the new venue in December 2017.[5] It remains to be seen whether the Racing Club de France football club will move as well.

It was closed and redeveloped between 2022–24 and served as the field hockey venue for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[6][7]

1938 FIFA World Cup

[edit]

Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir hosted three games of the 1938 FIFA World Cup, including the final.

Date Time Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
5 June 1938 17:00  France 3–1  Belgium Round of 16 30,454
12 June 1938 17:00  France 1–3  Italy Quarter-final 58,455
19 June 1938 17:00  Italy 4–2  Hungary Final 45,000

2024 Summer Olympics

[edit]
Host nation France preparing for their match against Japan in the 2024 Summer Olympics women's field hockey tournament

The site has been completely renovated between 2021 and 2023. Designed by the architectural firm Celnikier et Grabli Architectes and rebuilt by the construction group Léon Grosse, the work was completed in December 2023. The new complex will house the French Field Hockey Federation and its national training center, which will have the two floodlit synthetic pitches from the Olympic tournament, one of which has a 1,000-seat stand around a building constructed with administrative premises, meeting rooms and changing rooms.

The complex also includes seven new football and rugby union pitches. The legendary main pitch sees its famous Olympic athletics track surrounding it removed in favor of a small 200 m ring (only suitable for warming up) located a few hundred metres away. The track therefore now excludes any possibility of athletics competition, being now reserved for schools and associations.

However, its historic grandstand has been upgraded with new seats. It can now accommodate 6,000 spectators. The historic stadium has approximately 9,500 seats with the temporary grandstands installed for the 2024 Olympic Games. The natural grass pitch is being replaced by a brand new blue synthetic pitch.

The entire sports complex can accommodate around 13,500 spectators during the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The total cost of the project is 101 million euros; this budget was financed by the Hauts-de-Seine department and the Olympic Works Delivery Company (Solidéo).

In addition to the installation of the French Field Hockey Federation and its national training centre, it is planned that the field hockey section of Racing Club de France and the football section, Racing Club de France Football, will eventually become the resident clubs of the stadium and that Racing 92 may play a few rugby union matches and train there.

[edit]

The Olympic races involving Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell, which are portrayed in the film Chariots of Fire, were run here, although the Colombes stadium was not used for the film.[8] The stand-in stadium for filming was the Oval Sports Centre, Bebington, Merseyside, near Liverpool, England.

The stadium was portrayed in the 1981 film Escape to Victory starring Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine, but the stand-stadium used in the filming was the Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion (1947) in Budapest, Hungary.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Stade Yves-du-Manoir is a historic multi-purpose sports stadium located in , in the northwestern suburbs of , . Originally constructed in 1907 as part of a former racecourse site dating back to 1883, it was significantly expanded to a capacity of 45,000 for the , where it served as the primary venue for the , athletics competitions, and the inaugural accommodating 3,000 athletes in wooden barracks. Renamed in 1928 in honor of French rugby player and aviator Yves du Manoir, who died in a plane crash at age 23, the stadium has since hosted numerous high-profile events, including the —where defeated 4–2 before 45,000 spectators—and the 1938 . Following a €100 million renovation completed in 2023, which included the installation of an eco-friendly turf using 80% organic materials and requiring 40% less water, the venue was adapted to host field hockey competitions at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the only stadium worldwide to feature in two Olympic Games exactly a century apart and joining an elite group of venues that have hosted multiple Olympics. With a current capacity of approximately 15,000 spectators (including temporary stands), it continues to function as a departmental facility for rugby union, track and field, and football events, supporting local clubs and international gatherings while preserving its legacy as a cornerstone of French sports history.

Overview

Location and access

The Stade Yves-du-Manoir is situated at 12 Rue François Faber, 92700 , in the department of , approximately 9 kilometers northwest of central . Its geographic coordinates are 48°55′ N 2°15′ E. The stadium is integrated into Colombes' local infrastructure, with the nearest rail access at Le Stade station on the line J, offering a 15-minute walk to the venue from . Colombes station on the line lies about 2 kilometers away, facilitating connections from central and beyond via bus line 164 or a short walk. The site's development began in with the of the original Vélodrome du Matin, which spurred ' growth as a key suburban destination by attracting infrastructure investments and visitors. This expansion accelerated post-1924 Olympics, when three connecting lines were refurbished and the dedicated Gare Le Stade station was established to support event attendance and urban connectivity. Today, access prioritizes , with multiple bus routes (including lines 235 and 304) serving the area from nearby RER and metro stations. On-site parking is limited, accommodating fewer than 500 vehicles to promote sustainable travel, while the Olympic renovations introduced enhanced pedestrian pathways, improved lighting, and safer routing around the 18-hectare complex for better visitor flow.

Facilities and capacity

The Stade Yves-du-Manoir has a permanent seating capacity of approximately 7,000 as of November 2025, following the removal of temporary stands after the 2024 Olympics. Historically, during the , its capacity reached approximately 45,000, enabled by its expansive layout in the suburb northwest of . For the 2024 Olympics, temporary expansions increased spectator areas to accommodate up to 15,000 for hockey events. The stadium's main playing surface is a synthetic blue turf installed in 2023 specifically for international standards, which was retained after the Olympics. Prior to this upgrade, the venue featured natural grass pitches suitable for football and rugby. Key facilities include two international-standard synthetic hockey pitches, with the primary one surrounded by the main stand offering 6,000 permanent seats. Additional amenities encompass a new 200-meter athletics track for warm-ups and training, floodlighting for evening competitions, and upgraded media and press areas to support broadcast and reporting needs. features, including dedicated sections, were enhanced between 2022 and 2024 to ensure compliance with inclusive standards. Modern technical specifications feature LED floodlights providing illumination for night events and integrated scoreboard systems for real-time match displays, though exact lux levels are not publicly detailed post-renovation. These upgrades were part of a €101 million project from 2021 to 2024, funded by the Departmental Council in partnership with Solideo, the public establishment overseeing Olympic infrastructure.

History

Construction and early years

The stadium, initially known as the Stade du Matin, was established in through the partial transformation of an existing racecourse site dating back to , creating a multi-sport venue in the suburb near . Spanning an 18-hectare area, the early facility included basic stands and a , serving primarily as the home ground for the Racing Club de France's football and rugby sections from its inception, while also accommodating local athletics and cycling competitions. Ahead of the , where it would function as the primary venue, the stadium saw gradual expansions such as the construction of covered stands, elevating its capacity to 45,000 under the guidance of architect Louis Faure-Dujarric, who prioritized an open-air layout conducive to mass gatherings.

1924 Summer Olympics

The Stade Yves-du-Manoir, then known as the Stade Olympique de Colombes, served as the primary venue for the in , hosting the on July 5, 1924, before an attendance of approximately 45,000 spectators. This event marked the stadium's emergence as a of , with temporary stands and facilities erected to accommodate the influx of athletes and crowds, expanding its capacity from an initial 20,000 seats to 45,000 during the Games. The stadium hosted a wide array of competitions, including all athletics events (), gymnastics, tennis, track cycling, equestrian disciplines, the finals of the football tournament, rugby union matches, and segments of the modern pentathlon such as fencing and running. Among the standout performances were those of British runner , who secured gold in the men's 400 meters on July 11, 1924—a victory that later inspired the film —and Finnish distance runner , who dominated by winning both the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters golds on July 10, setting Olympic records in the latter with a time of 14:31.2. These achievements underscored the venue's role in showcasing athletic excellence across multiple disciplines. Following the Games, the temporary infrastructure was partially dismantled, but key elements like the athletics track were retained, allowing the stadium to continue supporting events long-term. The 1924 Olympics elevated the stadium to a national icon in French sports, influencing subsequent infrastructure developments by demonstrating the feasibility of large-scale, multi-sport facilities and solidifying its status as a hub for rugby, football, and athletics competitions.

Developments and renovations

Post-war and late 20th-century changes

Following the , the stadium was renamed Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in 1928 to honor French rugby international and aviator Yves du Manoir, who died in a plane crash that year. After , the venue was returned to local authorities in 1949, followed by repairs to address wartime damage and subsequent expansions that increased its capacity to over 60,000 seats. By the mid-1950s, these efforts had stabilized operations, allowing the stadium to resume its role as a major multi-sport facility, though its capacity was later adjusted downward for safety reasons. In the , renovations included the installation of a synthetic around 1968–1970, inspired by its debut at the Olympics, enabling continued athletics events alongside football and rugby. Floodlights were added during this period to support evening matches, and the venue hosted several French Cup finals as well as international rugby fixtures for the French national team, such as the 1972 Five Nations game against . The team used the stadium as its primary home ground from the post-war era until around 1985, after which it shifted to other venues amid the club's declining fortunes in higher divisions. Occasional athletics meets persisted into the late , leveraging the , but overall usage began to wane. From the onward, aging infrastructure and competition from modernized facilities like the renovated led to underuse, prompting the demolition of three of the four original stands and a sharp capacity reduction to approximately 13,000 by the early 2000s. This decline marked a transition from national prominence to local and intermittent regional events, setting the stage for later revitalization efforts.

21st-century renovations

In response to the stadium's decline in the late , significant renovations began in the to modernize facilities for contemporary sports use. A key upgrade occurred in 2017 to support the tenancy of rugby club , which included the construction of new stands and a renovated pitch to enhance playing conditions and spectator experience. This work brought the stadium's capacity to 15,000, allowing it to host professional rugby matches until the club's departure later that year. From 2021 to 2024, a comprehensive €101 million overhaul transformed the venue in preparation for the 2024 Olympics, featuring the installation of synthetic pitches for , a roof over the main stand to protect against , energy-efficient LED systems, and improved ramps and seating for diverse users. These enhancements enabled the stadium to serve as the primary venue for Olympic events. Environmental considerations were integral to the project, aligning with Paris 2024's sustainability goals through the use of recycled materials in construction—achieving 90% reuse or recycling rates—and synthetic turf that reduces water usage for maintenance by 40%. Following the renovations, the stadium maintains a permanent capacity of 15,000 spectators, with provisions for temporary stands to accommodate larger crowds during major events. As of 2025, it serves as the headquarters and center of excellence for the French Hockey Federation. The funding for these 21st-century projects was primarily provided by the department, supplemented by Olympic legacy funds from the Solideo delivery company.

Major events

1938 FIFA World Cup

The , hosted by from 4 to 19 June, selected the Stade Olympique de Colombes as one of ten venues across nine cities to accommodate the tournament's 16 teams, leveraging its status as France's largest stadium with a capacity exceeding 60,000 spectators following expansions after the 1924 Olympics. The venue, located in the Paris suburb of , hosted three key matches, drawing significant crowds and underscoring its role in the event amid rising European political tensions. The stadium's first World Cup fixture was the round-of-16 clash on 5 June between host nation France and Belgium, where France secured a 3–1 victory with goals from Émile Veinante in the 1st minute, Jean Nicolas in the 16th and 69th minutes, and Belgium's Henri Isemborghs replying in the 38th minute, before approximately 32,000 fans. Seven days later, on 12 June, defending champions Italy advanced in the quarterfinals with a 3–1 win over France, as Gino Colaussi scored in the 9th minute, Oscar Heisserer equalized for France in the 10th minute, and Silvio Piola netted in the 52nd and 72nd minutes, attracting a near-capacity crowd of over 58,000 in a charged atmosphere of national anticipation. The tournament culminated at Colombes on 19 June with the final, where Italy retained their title by defeating Hungary 4–2; Colaussi scored in the 6th and 35th minutes, Piola in the 16th and 85th, while Hungary's Pál Titkos and Gyula Sárosi replied in the 8th and 70th minutes, respectively, before an estimated 55,000 to 60,000 attendees. These matches unfolded under a tense atmosphere influenced by the era's , particularly Italy's fascist regime under , who reportedly demanded victory "win or die" and whose team arrived wearing black armbands in mourning for Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie's wife, provoking boos from French crowds already wary of Axis ambitions. The stadium's natural grass pitch, typical of 1930s European football, supported the heavy, tactical style prevalent at the time, with minimal adaptations beyond standard markings to suit the tournament's physical play. Hosting the final elevated ' profile as a premier football venue, though the event's success was soon overshadowed by the outbreak of in 1939, marking it as the last major international tournament before global conflict halted such competitions for over a decade.

Other football and rugby events

The Stade Yves-du-Manoir has served as the home ground for the team since 1907, with the club using the venue continuously until 1985 before returning in 2012. It also hosted numerous matches for the French national football team, including qualifiers in the 1950s such as the 1954 friendly against and the 1956 qualifier versus , which drew 46,049 spectators. In rugby union, the stadium was the primary home for from 1906 until 2017, hosting key domestic competitions during this period. Notable matches included the 2016 play-off match against , where secured a 21-16 to advance. The venue also accommodated French national team games into the 1970s, contributing to its status as a cornerstone of French club and international rugby. Beyond football and rugby, the stadium hosted 42 finals from 1924 to 1971, with several in the late 1960s and early 1970s, such as the 1970 final won by over . It served as a site for international athletics meets, particularly in the 1980s, leveraging its track facilities for national and European competitions, including the 1982 . Concerts were rare but occurred occasionally in the late 20th century, including performances by French rock icon . Non-Olympic attendance records at the stadium reached peaks of around 50,000 for major rugby derbies and other high-profile matches in the and , underscoring its draw for domestic crowds. A standout figure was 63,638 spectators for the 1969 European Cup quarter-final replay between Ajax and Benfica. The departure of to the in 2017 marked a significant transition, reducing the stadium's primary focus on professional rugby and enabling greater emphasis on multi-use programming, including amateur football, , and community events. This shift has preserved the venue's role in French club sports while adapting to modern needs.

Legacy

2024 Summer Olympics

The Stade Yves-du-Manoir in , , was selected as the venue for the field hockey tournaments at the , marking it as the only site from the 1924 Games to be reused a century later. The stadium hosted all events from July 27 to August 9, 2024, following extensive 21st-century renovations that modernized the facility while preserving its historic character. To accommodate the competitions, temporary stands were erected, increasing the to 15,000 spectators. Two blue synthetic pitches were installed—one primary competition pitch equipped with LED advertising boards and a secondary pitch for additional matches—along with a dedicated training pitch, all meeting standards. The venue hosted the complete men's and women's tournaments, comprising 76 matches in total across both genders, with 12 teams competing in each. In the men's event, the secured gold with a 2-1 victory over in the final on August 8, while claimed bronze by defeating 2-1. The women's tournament saw the defend their title, winning gold on August 9 via a against the after a 1-1 draw, with taking bronze by defeating 2–2 (3–1 in the ). These events showcased high-intensity play, including dramatic penalty shootouts, and were broadcast globally to millions of viewers. Over the course of the tournaments, more than 340,000 spectators attended in person, reflecting strong international interest particularly from European hockey nations. Post-Games, the synthetic pitches were retained for use by the local Racing Club de France hockey team and the French Hockey Federation's high-performance center, ensuring ongoing community access. By 2025, the venue transitioned into a public multisport zone, promoting year-round recreational and elite training opportunities in the region.

Cultural significance

The Stade Yves-du-Manoir has been featured in popular media as a symbol of historic sporting drama. In the 1981 film , directed by , the stadium represents the site of key athletics events from the , including the sprints of British runners and , though the scenes were filmed at other locations such as Sports Centre in England. Similarly, the 1981 film , directed by and starring and , portrays a fictional World War II-era football match between Allied prisoners and German forces at the Colombes stadium, but filming occurred at the MTK Budapest Stadion in . These depictions underscore the venue's enduring cinematic appeal as an emblem of Olympic and wartime resilience. As one of the few venues worldwide to host events at two Olympic Games—1924 and 2024—the stadium embodies continuity in French sports heritage, serving as a tangible link between past and present athletic achievements. This dual role highlights its status as a cornerstone of national sporting identity, fostering a sense of historical pride in through initiatives like the 2024 plaque unveiling honoring , the Scottish runner who competed there in 1924 and whose legacy promotes values of perseverance and international friendship. Looking ahead, the stadium is set to evolve into a multisport hub following the 2024 Games, with facilities for fitness, , team sports, and paddle tennis operational by July 2025, enhancing community access and promoting inclusive . As the new headquarters for the French Hockey Federation, it holds potential to host additional international hockey competitions, building on its recent Olympic success. The venue's renovations exemplify sustainable models for Olympic legacies, prioritizing reuse of existing infrastructure to minimize environmental impact and ensure long-term community benefit, as seen in 2024's broader commitment to responsible event organization. This approach influences global standards for post-Games venue adaptation, demonstrating how historic sites can support ongoing urban vitality and eco-conscious sports development.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.