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)

ST. PETERSBURG. Fla. (AP) — Zack Littell allowed one hit over seven innings and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 2-0 on Thursday night.

Littell (8-9), who made his team-leading 28th start in his first full season as starter, struck out seven and did not issue a walk. After Edwin Uceta pitched a perfect eighth, Garrett Cleavinger worked a 1-2-3 ninth to get his sixth save in seven chances.

“I don’t think we could have predicted the amount of success, the workload,” Cash said of Littell. “Just how much day-in and day-out giving us chances to win.”

Nick Sogard's two-out single in the third was Boston's only hit of the game.

Boston starts a three-game series at Fenway Park against Minnesota on Friday, trailing the Twins and Detroit by four games for the final AL wild card. The Red Sox would also need to jump over Seattle. The Rays are five games out of the third wild-card position.

“Uphill battle, it’s tough,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “Realistically it’s very tough. But we have three games against (the Twins).”

Both the Red Sox and Rays have nine games remaining.

Boston has gone 22-35 since the All-Star break.

The Rays need to go 2-1 or better this weekend against Toronto in their final home series of the season to have an eighth consecutive winning record at home.

“I don’t think there’s anything glaring other than at the end of the day we just have not performed like we’re capable of,” Cash said.

Brandon Lowe drove in a run with a third-inning sacrifice off Brayan Bello (14-8). Bello gave up one run, five hits, two walks and struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings.

Dylan Carlson made it 2-0 on a run-scoring grounder in the seventh.

Boston slugger Rafael Devers went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts. He was hitless in 11 at-bats, including eight strikeouts, in the series.

“Right now, collectively, we’re slumping,” Cora said. “Same thing has been happening for a month and half.”

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: Closer Kenley Jansen, who has had some shoulder-lat issues, threw before the game after getting his 27th save on Wednesday and is fine … RHP Lucas Sims (right lat) was reinstated from the 15-day IL. … RHP Luis García (right elbow inflammation) could be back in the next few days.

Rays: Shane McClanahan (Tommy John surgery) is looking forward to throwing to hitters for the first time next Thursday. “It’s exciting,” McClanahan said, “I miss it. Miss it to death,”

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Face Minnesota RHP David Festa (2-6, 5.07 ERA) on Friday night. Boston has not announced its starter.

Rays: LHP Tyler Alexander (6-5, 5.58 ERA) will start or follow an opener Friday night against Toronto RHP José Berríos (16-9, 3.44 ERA). Berríos is 7-0 with an 1.51 ERA over his last seven starts.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello (66) celebrates with teammates after being taken out of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Jose Siri makes a catch on a fly out by Boston Red Sox's Tyler O'Neill during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Boston Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida, of Japan, flies out to Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Jose Siri during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls, left, celebrates with first base coach Michael Johns after his single off Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Zach Penrod during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls (6) steals second base as the throw gets away from Boston Red Sox second baseman Nick Sogard during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls scores in front of Boston Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen on a ground out by Dylan Carlson during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, right, throws out Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Diaz at first base on a ground ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Siri celebrates his single off Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Siri, right, scores ahead of the throw to Boston Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Lowe during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Zack Littell pitches to the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell delivers to the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)