Mativo's Paris Chronicles: Why Stade de France is historic for Kipchoge, Zidane

The Paris Olympic Games' athletics programme rolled off proper on Friday with track events sparking a buzz of excitement especially for Kenyans who are aware the sport is always the beacon of hope during the Summer Games.

Indeed, the focus now shifts to Stade de France-the largest modular stadium, able to hold 80,000 to 100,000 spectators depending on its configuration, and this facility stands as a proud landmark for the French people.

Besides its magnificence which I will talk about later on, this facility located in Seine-Sant-Denis at the heart of Paris was built specifically for hosting the 1998 World Cup.

It is here the French demigod Zinedine Zidane scored a brace to inspire a 3-0 win against Brazil in the final.

Fast-forward to 2003, former world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge announced his name on the global stage at this facility as he defied all predictions to win his first track medal in 5000m at World Athletics Championships.

His star has shone to dazzling effect for 21 years now since flooring then red hot track stars Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele and Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco to win the final in 12:52:79-a championship record then.

Kipchoge is returning to Paris with fond memories of the city that gave him his first ever win of an international event and now he bids to become the first man to win an Olympics marathon three-peat at the City of Love. To him, it could be the city of firsts or the city of luck.

Although the marathon races will be held on the streets of the French capital, Kipchoge will be in Stade de France for the closing ceremony and so will be Zidane, who among other stars took part in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony last Friday.

For the two legends, Stade de France will bring fond memories.