Sports in Paris (Part 3 of 3)

Our series on sports in Paris continues.    

Throughout the year, we have seen various televised sports:  of course, football (soccer), rugby, tennis, basketball, car and motorcyle racing, even petanque (the French version of bocce).    

One sport caught our attention, team handball.  If you have never seen team handball, it is like a mix of soccer and and basketball.  Two 7-player teams compete to score the most goals by using their hands to dribble, pass or briefly carry the ball in order to throw it into the other team's goal. 

So, we decided to attend a match.  Fortunately, Paris is home to a very good team, Paris Saint-German Handball.  PSG is highly ranked in the French league and in the European league.  They play in a dedicated handball arena in the 16th arrondissment.  

From start to finish, the game was an enjoyable, extraordinary experience.  The match had all the usual trappings of a theatrical sporting event--including energetic music, lighting, player introductions, and a mascot.  

PSG mascot, named Germain

Plus, there was a large, vocal cheering section that included drums, banners and organized cheers and songs.  The fans in the cheering section were loud and energetic throughout the match.  They were never seated or quiet, except during halftime.  Even after the game ended, the cheering section kept cheering.  They appeared well-behaved, perhaps because they were surrounded by many security guards.  We have seen cheering sections in the past, including the Cameron Crazies of Duke University Men's Basketball.  The PSG take cheering to the next level.  

The game was fun to watch.  It was fast-paced like hockey, with many fast breaks as in basketball.  Plus, it was high-scoring.  We enjoyed watching and learning about the sport.    Here are some photos of the action.  

This PSG player scored on break away.  Only the goalkeeper stood in the way.

In case you want a better sense of the exciting atmosphere of the match, click on the videos below.  The last video is especially amusing.  

The home team won the game, which added to the excitement of the experience.

Thanks for learning more about sporting events in Paris with us.

P.S.  Did you know team handball has been an Olympic sport since the 1970's?

P.P.S.  After attending a few sporting events in Paris, we noticed something at the end of each game.  In the U.S., most spectators leave at the final buzzer, while some leave sooner if the outcome is not in doubt.  

We noticed that here in Paris the final buzzer sounds and all of the spectators stay seated.  The game ends, with loud clapping if the home team wins.  Next, the players of both teams greet each other with the French equivalent of "good game".  Then, the home team players turn to the audience to clap and wave in thanks for attending and supporting the team.  The crowd likewise claps for the team.  Finally, spectators rise to leave.  We like the French end-of-game custom.  It is friendly and sporting.