Greeted by clapping volunteers and officials, the first home nation climbers entered the Le Bourget climbing venue today with women’s Speed climbers Capucine Viglione and Manon Lebon having the honour.

Walking through the front gates to the training centre – which will become a public gym once the Games has ended – Viglione admitted to shedding a tear: “It’s amazing. When I entered the gym, I was crying. It’s so good, and to think they only built this for the Olympics and the legacy.”

With her first impressions of the venue and village, Lebon said: “Seeing the training wall outside when we were walking was so amazing. I am so impressed and I can’t wait to climb. It’s crazy to be here with all the athletes, yesterday we went into the village and all I could say was ‘wow’.”

Being at home can have its advantages and disadvantages – there is the obvious support from the French public, but maybe also some added pressure to perform for them.

Talking about support, Viglione said: “All the volunteers are French and we talk with them and they show they are happy to see us and support us, and we really feel it.”

And it’s the same for Lebon: “I don’t feel more pressure being the home nation. But I definitely feel the support because of it. I’m just really happy to be here and be part of a home Games in France. I watched the opening ceremony, the gymnastics, the swimming on TV and you can see that the support for the French athletes is just amazing.”

A home Games can bring up emotions as Viglione has said and shown, but when competition comes around it’s time to put on the game face: “I’m happy to come today to get used to my environment,” said Viglione, “I feel like I can cry any minute so I need to get used to the place and know I can focus on being fast when I need to be.”

The first time the French duo need to be fast is when qualification for the women’s Speed event begins on Monday 5 August.