One of the biggest fans of the 2024 Summer Olympics was basketball legend Tony Parker. The France-raised athlete competed in prior Games, including the 2012 and 2016 editions, but this year, he enjoyed playing the role of spectator.
Parker joined in the fun at the Visa Lounge for Chase Sapphire Reserve. The cardmember-only hangout popped up at Maryland’s Ocean Calling music fest in September and will make an appearance at New York’s Eeeeeatscon food festival in October, but the Olympics lounge was particularly memorable.
“The place that they chose was very unique — on the boat in the middle of Paris,” recalls Parker, who mingled with hoop lovers at the lounge. “It was a great choice. And I had a great time during those events, meeting the fans. It’s always nice to see them up close and share our experiences.”
It’s probably hard for Parker, a former San Antonio Spurs star inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, to find fault with anything connected to his home. The owner of an ambitious company that does everything from racing horses in Chantilly to running a pro basketball team in Lyon, Parker will forever have his heart in France. So, when it was time to reflect on the Paris Games and get a list of top Monaco restaurants, we knew who’d have the score.
What do you want people to remember the most about Paris hosting the Games?
Well, it was clearly an unbelievable success. The ceremony at the beginning was unbelievable, and from that, it went up and up. And the fans around the world, they came [and everyone had] fun. That’s what sports do. They bring people together. I hope it will inspire a whole generation of little French kids who can be good at sports and make sure that they understand why sports are important in everyday life. Hopefully, it will inspire the champions of tomorrow.
What are your favorite places in France?
I really love to travel, but I don’t really have a favorite spot. I love to go see different places, different countries, different cultures, different food. So, it’s hard for me when people ask me like, “Oh, what’s your favorite?” Like me, I was born in Belgium. My mom is Dutch. I’m international. I like everything. I felt like I have the best of both worlds, between France and the U.S. growing up. So, I try to keep it like that.
What do you love to do in Monaco?
I love the F1 [race]. The F1 is unbelievable. I did my birthday over there last year, and my boat is over there. Obviously, I love Monaco. It’s a great place to be at peace. I work so hard, so just to [relax] a little bit and get some rest [is great]. Monaco has that vibe. I don’t know how to put it, but it’s just when I’m over there, I feel like I’m at peace.
Is there a favorite restaurant you would recommend in Monaco?
I like Le Louis XV in Monte Carlo from Alain Ducasse. Mayabay is really good. It’s fun vibes over there. Beefbar is really nice over there.
Tell me more about your brand, Infinity Nine Group.
It’s a group that is based on my passions. We have four spots where we invest: we have sports; we have education, where I give back to the community; we have all my wine and champagne investments; and then we have tech. We basically focus on those four and the goal is to have an impact on our society and make sure I give back to the next generation. I love to share my experiences, and I’m animated by that.
You have many business and family commitments that require a lot of travel. Are you a last-second luggage packer or do you plan things out and ahead?
No, I plan everything. My schedule is pretty much done for the next six to eight months. We schedule ahead of time. Because I like to be organized, it’s tough when you want to go to the big events.
We were talking about F1. If you don’t [plan for] it a year before, you’re not going to get the best spots with the boat or whatever you want to do. I think when you want to go to the big events, you have to schedule ahead. Even when I go on vacation, I’m used to organizing things in advance and picking out the restaurants. I like to prepare. Every time we go to Asia, the same thing — we always prepare everything.
Do you travel with a lot of luggage?
I’d say normal. I don’t take a lot. I don’t take three, four bags. I’ll have one bag.
What’s a vacation spot you can visit over and over again?
I like the Maldives. Those islands over there are really nice. I like to go over there.
Any place in the U.S.?
I don’t really go on vacation in the U.S. because I live over there. I don’t look at the U.S. like a vacation spot because, for 20 years of being in the NBA, I’d go to every city every year. I love going to New York. Love going to Miami. Love going to L.A. I love Malibu, but it’s hard for me to say it’s a vacation. But great cities, for sure.
