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| A photo was taken by AFP’s photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo on August 27, 2021. |
HÀ NỘI – Twenty-four photos by Agence France Press (AFP) are being displayed at an exhibition entitled Road to 2024 in Hà Nội to celebrate the Olympic games and spirit.
These original shots were taken by AFP photographers at past Olympic competitions and at events leading up to the next games to be held in Paris in 2024.
The exhibition goers can experience or relive the most memorable moment of these major sporting events through AFP’s unique perspective — a blend of expertise, creativity, and innovation.
AFP’s photos are at the heart of our coverage, according to Alice Philipson, Hà Nội bureau chief.
“This year alone, AFP has won awards for its photography at 12 different global prizes, and almost half of those were for sports pictures,” said Philipson at the exhibition press conference held at the French embassy in Hà Nội.
“AFP has a very long history in Việt Nam, we’ve been here for more than half a century, and it makes me very proud to be showcasing our work right in the heart of your gorgeous city and hopefully bringing AFP to a new audience and help them understand what we do.”
Exhibition visitors will see images of the most popular events, such as the 100m, fencing and swimming race, and lesser-known but equally impressive disciplines, such as table tennis and the long jump in the Paralympics.
Moreover, the visitors will also admire some of the most iconic views of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe decked out in Olympic colours in the run-up to 2024.
The photos highlight the determination and courage that drive the athletes and allow people to imagine what the Paris Olympics will be like.
A photo of Egypt’s Ibrahim Elthusseiny Hamadtou, a table tennis athlete, was highlighted by French ambassador Nicolas Warnery.
“The photo clearly depicts the values of the Olympics,” said Ambassador Warnery.
“This is the brave, the determination and the equal. No matter how physical, athletes can participate in the biggest sporting event on the planet.”
Photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba captured the athletes making the first serve during the men’s table tennis singles Group match against China’s Chao Chen at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo on August 27, 2021.
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| An underwater view taken by Francois-Xavier Marit at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on August 3, 2021. |
“AFP is global leader when it comes to sports photography, a discipline which is constantly evolving, especially in terms of technology,” said Manan Vatsyayana, AFP’s South East Asia photo chief.
“Recent years have seen the arrival of motorised and underwater cameras and drones which offer new ways to capture the world.”
The exhibition is held outside the French embassy under the framework of the International Photography Biennial – Hanoi ’23 launched by the French Culture Institute with the support of Hà Nội ‘s People Committee. It runs till June 24. – VNS
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