Just over a week into an exhilarating Olympic Games in Paris, and it’s no surprise that hundreds of thousands of fans are packing out the stands at the legions of events taking place across the French capital.
But some spectators are pulling as much of the focus watching the sports on display as the athletes themselves, with a number of famous faces taking advantage of their VVIP status to bag some of the hottest tickets in town.
While some celebrities are at the Games in an official capacity – such as NBC’s special correspondent Snoop Dogg – others are merely enjoying the opportunity to watch memorable moments, such as USA claiming Artistic Gymnastics all-around team gold, or Leon Marchand’s heroics in the pool.
But who were some of the biggest notables present during week one?
Here, Mail Sport runs through the big names in the crowd at this year’s Games.
Fresh from performing at the Opening Ceremony, Lady Gaga has been spotted at a number of events in Paris
A three-time Olympic champion herself, Serena Williams has been cheering on Team USA
Snoop Dogg is a constant presence at the Games in his official capacity as a correspondent
Lady Gaga
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Hot on the heels of opening Paris’ Seine-side Opening Ceremony with a Francophonic performance of ‘Mon Truc en Plumes’, the American popstar switched her allegiance back to another red, white, and blue team, even donning Team USA Olympic kit as she took in a number of events.
The A Star is Born actress attended women’s Artistic Gymnastics all-around qualifying on Sunday, recording a bird’s eye view video of Simone Biles‘ flawless beam routine, which she later posted to Instagram.
‘She nailed it, what an honour to be so close!!!! (crying emoji, US flag emoji)’, Gaga posted, which prompted Biles to reply with a volley of red-heart emojis.
Gaga also attended the swimming on Sunday at the La Defense Arena, cheering on a number of her compatriots including Nic Fink – who shared silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke with Team GB‘s Adam Peaty.
The A Star is Born actress watched Simone Biles and Co book Team USA’s final spot on Sunday
The artist gleefully posed for pictures with fans fresh from her triumph on the River Seine
Gaga was also in stands at La Defense watching the swimming events on Sunday evening
Kendall Jenner
The Kardashian-Jenner scion is an avid sports fan, having previously taken in a number of Paris Saint-Germain matches on earlier trips to the French capital. Needless to say, the model was keen to bag seats for arguably one of the biggest events for Team USA fans – the women’s all-around Artistic Gymnastics individual final.
Jenner watched Simone Biles make history as not only the oldest woman to claim gold at the Games in her field, but the one to reclaim one at non-consecutive Olympics. She did so just metres from her ex-boyfriend, Team USA athlete Devin Booker, in the stands alongside his basketball team-mates including Steph Curry and Kevin Durant – as well as a sporting legend.
Fresh off his star turn in the Opening Ceremony, Zinedine Zidane was in the stands at the Bercy Arena, likely cheering on French-born Algerian gymnast Kaylia Nemour, who finished fifth.
Kendall Jenner is an avid sports fan and has previously watched PSG games in the capital
The Loreal ambassador looked on keenly as Simone Biles leaped to historic gold on Thursday
Jenner was kitted out from head to toe in Team USA colours courtesy of Ralph Lauren
Also in the stands on Thursday were members of Team USA’s basketball team, including Devin Booker (right) and Steph Curry (left)
Unbeknowst to Jenner, she was seated in front of France legend – and Olympic torchbearer – Zinedine Zidane
Snoop Dogg
After a cameo carrying the Olympic torch through the streets of Paris before the start of the Games, Snoop has since carved out a role for himself as a special correspondent for NBC Oympics – and, in the words of the US network, their ‘ambassador for happiness’ in the French capital.
The rapper previously worked for the broadcaster as the co-host of a highlights show during the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, but his enlarged role in Paris has seen him link up with a number of sporting icons, such as Billie Jean King and Michael Phelps, for special pre-recorded segments as well as roving commentary.
Snoop has taken in fencing, judo, skateboarding, and tennis, where he watched Spain’s superstar doubles pair Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, as well as bagging a spot to watch Team USA qualify for the women’s Artistic Gymnastics all-around team final.
The 52-year-old sported a custom Simone Biles t-shirt to cheer the heavily decorated gymnast and her team-members – but handed another piece of bespoke merchandise to Coco Gauff, who posted a picture of her limited edition Snoop Olympic pin to social media on Monday.
The rapper has been a joyful presence at the Games with his exuberant support of his USA compatriots
In a segment for NBC, Snoop hopped in the pool with swimming legend Michael Phelps (left)
The 52-year-old has been described as a general ‘minister for happiness’ in the French capital
Coco Gauff was pleased as punch to get a limited edition Olympic pin featuring the rapper
Ariana Grande
Along with her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo, the hitmaker was one of a number of US superstars in attendance at Sunday’s Artistic Gymnastics all-around qualifying event.
After taking in the Opening Ceremony among a raft of celebrities, Grande and Erivo greeted American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and director Baz Luhrmann at the Bercy Arena, to watch Simone Biles and Suni Lee claim their places in the all-around individual finals, as well as all four USA gymnasts booking individual apparatus finals.
Ariana Grande (left) and Cynthia Erivo (right) were determined not to miss the Team USA stars
The Wicked star was seen greeted American Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour (right)
Wintour, who also took in the tennis on Phillippe-Chatrier, attended the event with Australian director Baz Luhrmann
Natalie Portman
Also in attendance on Sunday was Natalie Portman, whose sporting connection runs deep as one of the owners of Angel City FC, a Los Angeles-based women’s football club.
Perhaps with that in mind, the Oscar-winning actress engaged in a quick chat with an unlikely companion – FIFA head Gianni Infantino – before watching the nail-biting final.
Sharing a picture of the event to her Instagram Stories, Portman praised the competitors with a message of equality, writing: ‘It was extraordinary to watch the US women’s gymnastic team earn the gold medal with absolutely spectacular performances.
‘Thank you for the inspiration and the beauty. #everyonewatcheswomenssports’
Natalie Portman has a base in Paris and was another American abroad keen to catch Simone Biles and Co
Portman was spotted making somewhat unlikely conversation with FIFA’s Gianni Infantino
The actress shared a message of support for Team USA and for women in sports generally
Nicole Kidman
Another familiar face at the Bercy Arena was Nicole Kidman, in attendance with her two daughters Faith and Sunday Rose.
The Moulin Rouge star also took in the skateboarding on her trip to Paris.
Nicole Kidman has been taking in a number of events at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris
Kidman proved her cool credentials watching the skateboarding last weekend at La Concorde
Serena Williams
After playing a starring role in the relaying of the Olympic flame, the five-time French Open champion returned to Roland Garros to take in Novak Djokovic’s second-round clash with Rafael Nadal on Phillippe-Chatrier.
The three-time Olympic champion was seating alongside Bill Gates to watch what could be the last competitive meeting between the two tennis giants, which saw Djokovic inflict major damage on the Spaniard, 6-1, 6-4.
Williams also attended Sunday evening’s swimming session, before settling down alongside former champion Michael Phelps to watch the final of the women’s Artistic Gymnastic all-around team event on Tuesday afternoon.
‘We’re at the gymnastics having a good time, yay,’ Williams shared on a video posted to her Instagram Stories featuring her daughter Olympia. ‘I keep forgetting to film Simone and Suni and everybody because it’s like crazy.’
Williams is more than familiar with the courts at Roland Garros, having won the French Open five times
Just two days after motoring down the Seine on duty in the Opening Ceremony, the former player took in the swimming
Williams was reunited with Natalia Comenaci (covered) who shared her boat ride with the Olympic flame
Michael Phelps
The 28-time Olympic medal winner is another US star on media duty for Games broadcaster NBC, and has made trips to watch the all-conquering women’s Artistic Gymnastics team, and the US golfers.
But it should come as no surprise that Phelps has been an avid watcher of events unfolding in the pool at the La Defense Arena, and paying particularly close attention to French superstar-in-the-making Leon Marchand.
Marchand become the first swimmer since 1976 to claim two golds in a single session on Wednesday night, with Phelps previously stressing that he was excited, not threatened, by the 22-year-old’s ascendancy.
Michael Phelps’ historic feats at multiple Olympics have made him one of the standout athletes in the history of the Games
Phelps hasn’t just limited himself to following swimming, also watching Artistic Gymnastics
The former champion was also present on day one of the men’s golf at Le Golf National
‘Nobody believed that I was able to do the things that I was trying to do, right? But I did, deep down inside, and it’s same thing for him,’ Phelps said on Tuesday.
‘A lot of people said my records were never gonna be broken and untouched, but clearly it’s not that. And for me, I love it.’
Tom Cruise
After bagging a seat at Friday’s Opening Ceremony, the Top Gun: Maverick star flitted between events in the first few days of the Games.
Cruise was one of the legion of famous faces at the Sunday’s swimming and Artistic Gymnastics events, the latter he took in seated with Barbie director Greta Gerwig, before promptly returning to London after a whirlwind weekend.
Tom Cruise was joined by Greta Gerwig (front right) when he attended Artistic Gymnastics qualifying last Sunday
The Mission: Impossible star also took in the swimming, before returning promptly to London
Rolling Stone Mick Jagger was a surprise presence at the fencing on the first weekend of the Games
Mick Jagger
A noted cricket fan, the Rolling Stones frontman was an unexpected face in the crowd at the Grand Palais.
Jagger paid a trip to the French capital to take in the first day of the fencing at the iconic venue, alongside his seven-year-old son Devereaux.
Bill Gates
The Microsoft co-founder was a captive member of the audience watching Biles and Co claim gold in Team USA’s victorious final on Tuesday, and has also been taking in a slew of tennis events at Roland Garros.
Bill Gates (right) had prime seats to watch likely the last-ever match between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal
The billionaire later opted to watch the most coveted ticket in town – the women’s Artistic Gymnastic team final
Gates’ daughter Jennifer is married to an Olympian set to compete next week – Nayel Nassar
The billionaire tech mogul watched Tokyo 2020 gold medal winner Alexander Zverev beat his first-round opponent Jaume Munar, and had a seat for the hot ticket as Djokovic downed Nadal days later.
But Gates had an additional purpose likely to keep him in Paris into next week – supporting his son-in-law, a competitor at this year’s Games.
Nayel Nassar is a member of the Egyptian Jumping team, and is set to begin his Olympic journey on August 5 with his horse Coronado at Versailles, where the equestrian events are being staged.
Nassar married Gates’ daughter Jennifer in 2021, and the couple recently confirmed that they are expecting their second child together.