Thank you Lille, now Paris, it's up to you

PARIS (France) - Spectators in Lille held up their end of the bargain, now it is up to fans in Paris to see if the Olympic Basketball Tournaments Paris 2024 can break the all-time Olympics attendance record.

The crowds at Lille's Pierre Mauroy Stadium were absolutely breathtaking, and thanks to them, the Olympic Basketball Tournaments Paris 2024 are still on pace to eclipse the mark from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics - even though there are 40 fewer games in France.

A total of 876,686 spectators showed up for the 36 men's and women's game at the converted football arena in Lille - that is 91.8 percent of capacity. A total of 466,053 fans showed up for the 18 men's games for an average of 25,983 or 94.6 percent of the 27,360 capacity. The 18 women's games drew 410,633 fans for an average of 22,813 or 83.4 percent of capacity.

With the men's game flourishing as strong as before, the 2024 Olympics has confirmed the world's growing love for the women's game, extending from the record-breaking crowds at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney.

The final game of the group stage - basketball's farewell from Lille if you will - saw 27,193 fans show up for hosts France's women's showdown against Australia. That set yet another record for biggest attendance for women's basketball in Europe.

Record crowds for women's games in Europe

The Olympics Basketball Tournaments shift from Lille to the Bercy Arena in Paris, and the all-time Olympics attendance record is well within reach.

At Atlanta 1996, a total of 1,068,032 spectators attended the 92 men's and women's basketball games with the Final Phase in the huge SuperDome and its over 30,000 capacity.

The 2024 Olympics include only 52 games, showing just how unprecedented the support in Lille was.

There are 16 games remaining at the Bercy Arena, which has a capacity of 13,000 spectators for a total of 208,000 possible fans. Paris 2024 remain 191,346 fans short of breaking the 28-year-old record.

An average of 11,960 fans or 92.0 percent capacity must show up for the 16 games for Paris to take over the all-time mark.

Attendances for Men's games at 2024 Olympics

Attendance figures for Women's games at 2024 Olympics

The greats of the game were amazed by the crowds in Lille.

"Incredible, man! 27,000... I looked around and I've seen so many different NBA jerseys in the stands. I just love when the game of basketball could bring people from all over the world together like that," USA superstar Kevin Durant after the team's win over Serbia game.

That highly-anticipated drew 27,328 fans - the only game that drew more fans than the final women's game between France and Australia.

And after playing in front of 27,021 fans in the first women's game of the tournament against China, Spain superstar Alba Torrens said: "It was an amazing atmosphere. You could feel the public having fun and us as well. This connection with the fans makes everything more meaningful. We are grateful to have this opportunity to play in front of this crowd."

To those in Paris, Lille did their job to set the record, now it's your turn to bring it home.

Here is a look at the attendance marks after two days of games

Paris 2024 is chasing the All-time olympic basketball tournaments attendance record

FIBA