Not too many empty seats in the Bercy Arena for the evening session of the gymnastics. And in one corner the colour green stood out. Irish rugby jerseys on tour again. And in the corner above them, a tricolour.
They were here to see one man.
Rhys McClenaghan, three years on from the disappointment of Tokyo, is desperate to get that Olympic medal. He's won it all: world medals and European medals. A score of 15.2 saw him shoot to top of the rankings in qualifying for the pommel horse final alongside the USA's Stephen Nedoroscik. Behind them is Max Whitlock, and Rhys knows all about Max.
Watch McClenaghan's routine
Nedoroscik was in action in the morning session. "He's one to watch", said RTÉ commentator Gerry Kelly, and he was more assured of that assessment after the American finished his routine.
Milton Erickson was a famous psychiatrist who specialised in studying body language. If he were alive today, he would have noted that McClenaghan showed some worried signs on his face as he entered the arena. And that, considering the misfortune that befell him in Tokyo, perhaps was no surprise. Paris 2024, no doubt, is all consuming for the Newtownards native - whether he likes to admit it or not.
He has said he wants to be the best there has ever been on the pommel horse. Another Ulster competitor, who we'll see in the pool later this week - Daniel Wiffen - recently told RTÉ Sport that he has one of the best mentalities in sport.
Ulster determination; Ulster confidence - very much to the fore - and they have medals in the bank. Now they want the one that means the most.
McClenaghan's 15.200 combined an difficulty score of 6.300 and an execution mark of 8.900. His execution was higher than that of Nedoroscik, a telling stat should the pair finish level again a week from now.
I earlier got a crash course on gymnastics scoring from RTÉ commentator Colm Murray, a balancing act in the true sense of the word.
The word from the experts is that McClenaghan can improve his difficulty score.
And the man himself wasn't getting carried away afterwards. His coach Luke Carson reiterated the 25-year-old's view that "it could be better but it was solid". Still, McClenaghan knew he had the work and was throwing kisses to the crowd even before the scores came in.
The media mixed zone was a crowded place as the now Olympic finalist took questions, with all comers looking for a word. They had to wait though as Simon Harris got a one-on-one.
And so on Saturday 3 August at 4.16pm (Irish time), McClenaghan will get his shot to complete the grand slam; the cherry on his cake. Few would begrudge him his success. Last December, he was a popular winner of the RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year Award, proud of the fact that he was taking home world medals as an Irish gymnast.
You can expect more Irish jerseys, more flags, more dignitaries at the Bercy in seven days' time.
If there such a thing as a gymnastic shootout, we could have it then. In which order will the Irish, Great Britain and USA anthems be played after the respective routines?
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