Beach volleyball at Eiffel Tower Stadium draws the crowds looking for the perfect social media post

Beach volleyball at Eiffel Tower Stadium draws the crowds looking for the perfect social media post
The Eiffel Tower sparkles at dusk as the US, on left, plays Czech Republic in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday in Paris. (AP)
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Updated 29 July 2024
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Beach volleyball at Eiffel Tower Stadium draws the crowds looking for the perfect social media post

Beach volleyball at Eiffel Tower Stadium draws the crowds looking for the perfect social media post
  • TikTok said the Eiffel Tower location tag on its app had over 80,000 posts Sunday, with the beach volleyball hashtag around 88,900
  • American college gymnast and social media influencer Olivia Dunne was there Saturday night getting some shots for all her socials

PARIS: Lena Von Schonlaub used Eiffel Tower Stadium as a backdrop for her own personal photo shoot.

Von Schonlaub shifted her head from side to side, smiling big while she held her phone in front of her face and clicked over and over. Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower hovered right behind her, overlooking the site where beach volleyball is being played at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

It has been one of the most popular attractions of the Olympics, drawing hundreds of people looking for the best photo to post on their social media pages. The perfect setting for a digital age.

“I think it’s the most beautiful location you can have,” said Von Schonlaub, who traveled to Paris from Munich, Germany. “It’s Instagrammable.”

The sand and upbeat DJ music always give beach volleyball the feel of a party. The sport has been played at plenty of iconic sites, including Copacabana Beach at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where beach volleyball is very popular.

But for many athletes and visitors, Eiffel Tower Stadium is an unparalleled background.

The 13,000-seat stadium was built specifically for the Olympics at Champ de Mars, a garden where Parisians and tourists typically sit on the grass for picnics or July 14 firework displays. The site draws hundreds of people on any regular day, but since the start of the Olympics, people buy tickets to beach volleyball matches just to squeeze through crowds of people for the perfect selfies and videos with the tower and sand in the background.

“We don’t really follow beach volleyball but we wanted to see the site with the Eiffel Tower,” said Solene Naeye, a local Parisian who came to the spot for pictures. She took in her surroundings and noted the beauty of the moment. “It’s a way for us French people to rediscover our city, so that’s really nice.”

Matt Knigge, an alternate with the US men’s indoor volleyball team, came to the stadium on his night off from training Sunday. Knigge, from California, has traveled all over playing volleyball but said he’s never seen such an “emblematic” location.

“You’re hard-pressed to find anything more beautiful than what we have right now,” he said, pointing up at the tower. “The sun is setting in the background. I think if you were writing a fairytale of beach volleyball at the Olympics, this is it.”

He took photos of himself with his digital camera, and then asked a stadium attendant to get a photo of him, hoping for the best angle possible. Then he took a few more on his phone.

“In the day and age of social media and people marketing based on social media, this is it,” Knigge said while pointing around. “They’ve done it. They’ve achieved it.”

TikTok said the Eiffel Tower location tag on its app had over 80,000 posts Sunday, with the beach volleyball hashtag around 88,900.

Athletes from sports all across the Games have come over. French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the stadium on Wednesday, posted a selfie video from the top row of the stands facing the Eiffel Tower.

American college gymnast and social media influencer Olivia Dunne was there Saturday night getting some shots for all her socials. She shared a video with her 8 million followers on TikTok, as well as photos on her Instagram stories. Her TikTok post, during which she was standing right in front of the Eiffel Tower, had 1.6 million views and more than 173,000 likes only 23 hours later.

Right around 10 p.m. Sunday, the lights at the stadium dimmed. The tower lit up. Orange streaks painted the blue sky. Suddenly, the tower began to glitter and everyone “ooh’d” and “ah’d” in harmony. They all raised their phones, the same image displayed thousands of times throughout the venue.

“I’ll definitely be making a post on Instagram,” said Kaden Augustine, of St. Louis, Missouri, standing next to his brother, Kanen, in matching overalls displaying the US flag. “Just because of how pretty it is here.”


Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes

Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
Updated 06 October 2024
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Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes

Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
  • “After seven games, we have 19 points, that’s the reality and the truth, and we’re really happy about that,” said Monaco coach Adi Huetter

PARIS: Monaco went top of the Ligue 1 table on Saturday with a 2-1 win away to Rennes, moving three points ahead of reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Goals from Thilo Kehrer and Folarin Balogun sent the principality side to 19 points. PSG, who are on 16 with a better goal difference, will have the chance to overtake them when they play Nice on Sunday.
“After seven games, we have 19 points, that’s the reality and the truth, and we’re really happy about that,” said Monaco coach Adi Huetter.
However, he added: “The championship is not a 100-meter sprint, it’s a 400-meter race, and we’ve started very well.”
Monaco’s match in the rain in Brittany was decided early in the first half. Kehrer opened the scoring before Ludovic Blas levelled and Balogun then tucked home the winner, all in the first 22 minutes.
Continuing his fine start to the season, Monaco youngster Eliesse Ben Seghir had a part in both of his side’s goals.
His sixth-minute corner met the head of Kehrer, who glanced it into the back of the net despite the efforts of a defender on the line.
Blas put Rennes back on terms five minutes later with a rocket of a left-foot strike from more than 35 yards that flew past Philipp Koehn.
But Balogun wrapped up the points for Huetter’s side when he clipped the ball past an advancing Steve Mandanda in the 22nd minute after a defense-splitting pass from Ben Seghir.
Earlier on Saturday, Lille moved up to fourth, coming from behind to win at home against lowly Toulouse.
Zakaria Aboukhlal gave the 16th-placed side a surprise lead six minutes before the interval when he squeezed a shot on the rebound over the line from a tight angle.
But former Manchester United playmaker Angel Gomes levelled for Lille on 57 minutes when he prodded home Osame Sahraoui’s lofted pass from close range.
Mitchel Bakker made it two wins in a week at home for Lille — after Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League — with a composed finish in the 72nd minute, rounding off a swift counter-attack.
A hat-trick from Zuriko Davitashvili propelled Saint-Etienne out of the relegation zone as they beat Auxerre 3-1 at home.
The Georgian opened the scoring first after a quarter of a hour with a thumping finish after carrying the ball 40 yards into the visitors’ penalty area.
He hit his second on 54 minutes after again cutting in from the left flank and taking aim with his right foot.
Theo Bair halved the deficit with 15 minutes remaining, before Davitashvili completed his triple with a dinked finish on 87 minutes.
On Sunday, Lyon host Nantes while Reims and Lens are also in action, before PSG travel to ninth-placed Nice.


Inter Miami dampens Toronto FC’s postseason hopes with 1-0 victory

Inter Miami dampens Toronto FC’s postseason hopes with 1-0 victory
Updated 06 October 2024
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Inter Miami dampens Toronto FC’s postseason hopes with 1-0 victory

Inter Miami dampens Toronto FC’s postseason hopes with 1-0 victory
  • Campana scored for the eighth time this season for Inter Miami (21-4-8), which has already wrapped up the Supporters’ Shield

TORONTO: Leo Campana took a pass from Luis Suárez and scored in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, 38-year-old goalkeeper Oscar Ustari had seven saves and a clean sheet in his first start in the league, and Inter Miami put a damper on Toronto FC’s playoff hopes with a 1-0 victory on Saturday.
Campana scored for the eighth time this season for Inter Miami (21-4-8), which has already wrapped up the Supporters’ Shield and the top seed in the postseason that comes with it. Suárez notched his seventh assist to go with 18 goals after subbing into the match in the 71st minute.
Toronto (11-19-4), which played without top scorer Federico Bernardeschi after he drew a red card in a match against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, will have to way until the end of the day to find out whether it has been eliminated from the postseason. A win or draw by the Philadelphia Union or D.C. United would end Toronto’s slim playoff hopes. Both clubs also have a game in hand on Toronto, which has a bye Oct. 19 on Decision Day.
Sean Johnson finished with one save in goal for Toronto.
Lionel Messi, coming off a two-goal effort in Inter Miami’s win over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, entered in the 61st minute. He has 17 goals and 15 assists in 18 appearances this season.
Inter Miami is off until Oct. 19 when it will host the New England Revolution to close out the regular season. A victory would give the club 74 points, one more than the New England Revolution had in their record-setting 2021 season. Inter Miami is the fourth team in history to top 70 points.


Al-Hilal come from behind in dramatic win over Al-Ahli to stay top of Saudi Pro League

Al-Hilal come from behind in dramatic win over Al-Ahli to stay top of Saudi Pro League
Updated 05 October 2024
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Al-Hilal come from behind in dramatic win over Al-Ahli to stay top of Saudi Pro League

Al-Hilal come from behind in dramatic win over Al-Ahli to stay top of Saudi Pro League
  • Going into the game, Al-Hilal had won 38 and drawn three of their previous 41 league games

JEDDAH: Al-Hilal came back from a goal down to defeat Al-Ahli 2-1 on a dramatic Saturday evening in Jeddah to maintain their perfect record at the top of the Saudi Pro League. Two goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic at a packed King Abdullah Sport City made it six wins from six for last season's champions and this season's leaders.

Going into the game, Al-Hilal had won 38 and drawn three of their previous 41 league games, a quite staggering statistic. No wonder then that in the week, coach Jorge Jesus had said that his team would be competitive in any of the big leagues in Europe. On this showing, few would disagree.

Yet, inspired perhaps by an electric atmosphere, Al-Ahli took the lead after 12 minutes. Firas Al-Buraikan was in the centre circle and chipped a simple pass over the top for the sprinting Gabri Veiga. The Spaniard, just onside by a whisker, outpaced the chasing defenders into the right-side of the area, ran past Yassine Bounou and then fired into the empty net to the dismay of the blue-shirted fans behind the goal. They did not feel any better when the former Celta Vigo man then held out his arms in the style of Jude Bellingham and then put his fingers to his lips

It seemed to wake Hilal up. After 20 minutes Renan Lodi curled a delightful ball into the area. Aleksandar Mitrovic got there before Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, in goal for the injured Edouard Mendy, but Merih Demiral managed to get back to hook the ball clear off the line. Soon after, Mitrovic fired just wide from the edge of the area.

It seemed to be third time lucky for the Serbian sharpshooter two minutes before the break. Joao Cancelo floated over the perfect cross from the right and there was no way that Mitrovic was going to waste such an invitation and he headed firmly into the net. His eighth goal of the season was, however, ruled out for offside.

After the break, the Blues continued to push for the equaliser and didn’t have to wait too long. It was Mitrovic again and it was an excellent Lodi cross again. The Brazilian found the former Fulham forward on the edge of the six yard box and there was only going to be one outcome. It was the 69th successive game in which Al-Hilal have scored --a phenomenal record.

There was almost another on the hour as Al-Sanbi had to dive smartly to push away a Ruben Neves free-kick that was destined for the back of the net. And then, somehow, a few minutes later, Hilal were denied again. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s shot from inside the area was blocked on the line, then Al-Sanbi got down very well to keep out Salem Al-Dawsari’s attempt from the rebound. 

Al-Hilal were turning the screw and got their big chance with 18 minutes remaining as Rayan Hamed brought down Malcom in the area. Mitrovic stepped up to take the spot kick but Al-Sanbi guessed right and made another fine diving save. Unfortunately for the home fans, and perhaps all those hoping to see Al-Hilal drop points, the ‘keeper had come off his line to make the save and a retake was ordered. Mitrovic made no mistake at the second time of asking. 

The hosts did their utmost to get an equalizer but were unable to do so - Riyad Mahrez came close with a shot that went just wide in the 95th minute - and have now lost three of their first six games. Al-Hilal moved three points clear of Al-Ittihad in second while Al-Nassr are in third thanks to a comfortable 3-0 disposal of Al-Orubah.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring after 17 minutes, firing home from the spot after a handball in the area to record his fifth league goal of the season. The Portuguese megastar then turned provider 12 minutes later with a smart pass from the left into the feet of the incoming Sadio Mane who then took one touch and then fired a low shot into the far corner.

Mane grabbed his second to seal the win, not that it was really in doubt, with a side footed volley 19 minutes from time that was originally ruled out for offside before VAR intervened. 


Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare

Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
Updated 05 October 2024
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Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare

Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
  • Mikel Arteta’s side were rocked by Cameron Archer’s shock opener for the winless visitors early in the second half at the Emirates Stadium
  • Bukayo Saka wrapped up Arsenal’s fifth win in seven league games

LONDON: Arsenal staged a stirring fightback to keep their Premier League title challenge on course with a 3-1 victory against struggling Southampton on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s side were rocked by Cameron Archer’s shock opener for the winless visitors early in the second half at the Emirates Stadium.
But Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli struck in quick succession to restore order, before Bukayo Saka wrapped up Arsenal’s fifth win in seven league games.
After finishing as runners-up to Manchester City for the last two years, the Gunners are again in contention for their first title since 2004.
Saka this week said he expects Arsenal to finally lift the Premier League trophy this season.
They sit in third place, one point behind leaders Liverpool, after extending their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions.
Four days after their statement victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Arsenal faced a Southampton side who have managed only one point from seven games since their promotion.
Aaron Ramsdale, who appeared 78 times in the Premier League for the Gunners, made his Emirates return and nearly gifted Arsenal an early opener with a sloppy clearance, but Raheem Sterling squandered the chance.
Arsenal dominated the first half without testing Ramsdale until stoppage-time when he parried Thomas Partey’s strike.
In the 55th minute, Sterling was out-muscled by Mateus Fernandes in midfield and he played in Archer, who broke free of William Saliba to fire a deflected shot past David Raya.
Southampton’s lead lasted just three minutes as Saka dispossessed Flynn Downes before finding Havertz in space, who confidently drilled home for his fourth goal in his last four games.
On the hour mark, Arteta introduced Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in a pair of substitutions that turned the tide.
Saka’s fine cross found Martinelli unmarked in the 68th minute and the winger’s side-footed volley went in through Ramsdale’s legs.
Tyler Dibling’s deflected shot hit the foot of Raya’s post and Adam Armstrong’s effort cannoned onto the bar in a tense finale.
But as the Saints pushed for an equalizer, Trossard broke free.
Yukinari Sugawara’s interception only fell to Saka, who blasted past Ramsdale to keep Arsenal in pursuit of their title dream.


Bayern rivals Leverkusen and Dortmund drop points in Bundesliga

Bayern rivals Leverkusen and Dortmund drop points in Bundesliga
Updated 05 October 2024
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Bayern rivals Leverkusen and Dortmund drop points in Bundesliga

Bayern rivals Leverkusen and Dortmund drop points in Bundesliga
  • Dortmund slumped at Union Berlin to a 2-1 defeat without injured forward Karim Adeyemi
  • Defending champion Leverkusen squandered an early two-goal lead over promoted Holstein Kiel and drew 2-2

BERLIN: Bayern Munich won without playing on Saturday as Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund dropped points to modest opponents.
Dortmund slumped at Union Berlin to a 2-1 defeat without injured forward Karim Adeyemi, who starred in the team’s 7-1 rout of Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Defending champion Leverkusen squandered an early two-goal lead over promoted Holstein Kiel and drew 2-2. It was only Kiel’s second point in its debut top-flight season.
Leverkusen played in a special black jersey with red trim to commemorate the club’s 120th anniversary, and for Xabi Alonso it was also a special occasion – the Spanish coach took over exactly two years before.
Leverkusen fans didn’t have to wait long to celebrate after Victor Boniface opened the scoring in the fourth minute and Jonas Hofmann made it 2-0 four minutes after that. Leverkusen looked set for a rout.
But the home team failed to make more of their dominance — Boniface had another goal ruled out for offside — and Kiel secured a lifeline before the break when Max Geschwil scored after a corner. Fiete Arp scored an unlikely equalizer from the penalty spot in the 69th.
Also, Freiburg won at Werder Bremen 1-0, and Wolfsburg enjoyed a 3-1 win in Wolfsburg.
St. Pauli was playing Mainz later.
League leader Bayern visit second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.