Beach volleyball at Eiffel Tower stadium draws the crowds looking for the perfect social media post

PARIS (AP) — Lena Von Schōnlaub used Eiffel Tower Stadium as a backdrop for her own personal photo shoot.

Von Schōnlaub shifted her head from side to side, smiling big while she held her phone in front of her face and clicked over and over. Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower hovered right behind her, overlooking the site where beach volleyball is being played at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

It has been one of the most popular attractions of the Olympics, drawing hundreds of people looking for the best photo to post on their social media pages. The perfect setting for a digital age.

“I think it's the most beautiful location you can have," said Von Schōnlaub, who traveled to Paris from Munich, Germany. “It’s Instagrammable.”

The sand and upbeat DJ music always give beach volleyball the feel of a party. The sport has been played at plenty of iconic sites, including Copacabana Beach at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where beach volleyball is very popular.

But for many athletes and visitors, Eiffel Tower Stadium is an unparalleled background.

The 13,000-seat stadium was built specifically for the Olympics at Champ de Mars, a garden where Parisians and tourists typically sit on the grass for picnics or July 14 firework displays. The site draws hundreds of people on any regular day, but since the start of the Olympics, people buy tickets to beach volleyball matches just to squeeze through crowds of people for the perfect selfies and videos with the tower and sand in the background.

“We don't really follow beach volleyball but we wanted to see the site with the Eiffel Tower,” said Solene Naeye, a local Parisian who came to the spot for pictures. She took in her surroundings and noted the beauty of the moment. “It's a way for us French people to rediscover our city, so that's really nice.”

Matt Knigge, an alternate with the U.S. men's indoor volleyball team, came to the stadium on his night off from training Sunday. Knigge, from California, has traveled all over playing volleyball but said he's never seen such an “emblematic” location.

"You're hard-pressed to find anything more beautiful than what we have right now," he said, pointing up at the tower. “The sun is setting in the background. I think if you were writing a fairytale of beach volleyball at the Olympics, this is it.”

He took photos of himself with his digital camera, and then asked a stadium attendant to get a photo of him, hoping for the best angle possible. Then he took a few more on his phone.

“In the day and age of social media and people marketing based on social media, this is it," Knigge said while pointing around. "They've done it. They've achieved it.”

TikTok said the Eiffel Tower location tag on its app had over 80,000 posts Sunday, with the beach volleyball hashtag around 88,900.

Athletes from sports all across the Games have come over. French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the stadium on Wednesday, posted a selfie video from the top row of the stands facing the Eiffel Tower.

American college gymnast and social media influencer Olivia Dunne was there Saturday night getting some shots for all her socials. She shared a video with her 8 million followers on TikTok, as well as photos on her Instagram stories. Her TikTok post, during which she was standing right in front of the Eiffel Tower, had 1.6 million views and more than 173,000 likes only 23 hours later.

Right around 10 p.m. Sunday, the lights at the stadium dimmed. The tower lit up. Orange streaks painted the blue sky. Suddenly, the tower began to glitter and everyone “ooh'd" and "ah’d” in harmony. They all raised their phones, the same image displayed thousands of times throughout the venue.

“I'll definitely be making a post on Instagram," said Kaden Augustine, of St. Louis, Missouri, standing next to his brother, Kanen, in matching overalls displaying the U.S. flag. “Just because of how pretty it is here.”

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Katia Souza of Brazil takes a selfie from Eiffel Tower Stadium after a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

A light show at Eiffel Tower Stadium dazzles spectators prior to a beach volleyball match between The United States and Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

The Eiffel Tower sparkles at dusk as the United States, on left, plays Czechia in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

French spectators at Eiffel Tower Stadium watch beach volleyball at sunset at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

in a beach volleyball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Maeva Ratoanina and Pierre-Yves Massive, of Paris, enjoy a romantic moment while taking selfies during sunset at Eiffel Tower Stadium prior to a beach volleyball match between The United States and Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Spectators photograph a colorful sunset at Eiffel Tower Stadium prior to a beach volleyball match between The United States and Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

CHICAGO (AP) — This wasn't exactly the debut Caleb Williams envisioned. Good thing for him, his defense made just enough plays.

Tyrique Stevenson returned an interception 43 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, part of a defensive performance that bailed out Williams, and the Chicago Bears beat the Tennessee Titans 24-17 on Sunday.

The Bears, who have their sights set on a playoff spot after going 10-24 over the previous two seasons, rallied from a 17-0 first-half deficit, and they did it without a touchdown from their revamped offense. They shut down the Titans over the final two quarters and spoiled the debut of Tennessee coach Brian Callahan.

“It was a frustrating game,” Williams said. “But the most important thing is that it shows a bunch of the personality of this team, I would say — the fight, the resiliency that we had.”

It was frustrating for Tennessee, too. The Titans shut down Chicago's offense, only to give up 17 points off turnovers.

“It was a winning effort on defense,” Callahan said. “They did a really nice job. They made life hard for those guys, exactly how we wanted to. And we just handed them points.”

Williams, the No. 1 overall pick, finished 14 of 29 for 93 yards with a 55.7 passer rating. The former Heisman Trophy winner at Southern California still became the first quarterback drafted first overall to win his initial start since 2002, when David Carr led Houston past Dallas. The past 15 No. 1 picks were a combined 0-14-1 in first starts, beginning with Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer in 2003.

The Bears had just cut it to 17-16 on a field goal by Cairo Santos when Stevenson put Chicago on top midway through the fourth quarter. With DeMarcus Walker about to sack him, Will Levis flung the ball in desperation. Stevenson grabbed it and ran untouched down the sideline for his first first career touchdown. A 2-point conversion pass from Williams to D’Andre Swift made it 24-17.

Jaylon Johnson sealed the win with just over a minute remaining when he intercepted a deep pass intended for Tyler Boyd on fourth down at the Tennessee 40, giving fans who spent a big portion of the afternoon booing a reason to cheer.

In the Super Bowl era, teams that scored zero touchdowns and trailed by 17 or more points are 3-1,225. Two of those wins are by Chicago, with the 2006 team beating Arizona. The other was by Kansas City against Carolina in 2016.

“It’s one hell of a team, a team full of dogs,” Stevenson said. “At some point it’s going to be them helping us out. It is what it is. We still got the win. I’m happy for the boys.”

With Williams struggling with his accuracy, Chicago's vaunted receiving corps was quiet, too. DJ Moore caught five passes for 36 yards. Keenan Allen had 29 yards receiving in his Bears debut, and rookie Rome Odunze caught just one pass for 11 yards.

Chicago finished with 148 yards of offense and got its only other touchdown on special teams. Daniel Hardy blocked a punt in the third quarter, and Jonathan Owens recovered and returned it 21 yards for a score that got the Bears within 17-10.

Owens' play drew a roar from the crowd and delighted his wife, star gymnast Simone Biles, who answered “I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK” in response to a post on X asking how she felt. His first touchdown as a Bear after playing for Green Bay last season came about five weeks after he took time away from training camp to watch her capture three more Olympic gold medals and a silver in Paris.

“It felt amazing,” Owens said. “Going back to the sideline, all the guys are excited for you. The defense is excited. The energy from the stadium is just rolling in. It didn't feel like real life.”

Santos cut it to 17-13 early in the fourth with a 50-yard field goal. The Bears then had a huge opportunity when Darrell Taylor strip-sacked Levis and T.J. Edwards recovered at the Tennessee 31, only to settle for another field goal that made it a one-point game.

Levis was 19 of 32 for 127 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions to start his second season. Tony Pollard ran for 82 yards and a TD for Tennessee.

“We just got to be better,” Levis said. "That’s not us. That first half was a winning offensive football game. Second half, that can lose you games. Not good across the board.”

Callahan said the Titans did not have any major injuries. RG Dillon Radunz (ribs) was hurt blocking on a pass play early in the third quarter but returned.

Titans: Host the New York Jets on Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis and Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams talk after the Bears' 24-17 win over the Titans in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Bears' Jonathan Owens (36) celebrates with teammates after scoring on a blocked Tennessee Titans' punt during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson smiles as he walks back to the bench after his touchdown off a pass attempt by Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III celebrates his sack of Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis carries the ball and is tackled by Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards (53) and safety Kevin Byard III (31) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis stretches out and throws an incomplete pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III, left, sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III, left, sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo catches a touchdown pass over Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson from quarterback Will Levis, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (29) heads to the end zone for a touchdown after intercepting a pass by Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)