Reason why athletes ring giant bell after winning Olympic gold medal at 2024 Paris Games

Fans inside the Stade de France were treated to a real show on Sunday night as Noah Lyles romped home to win gold in the 100m men's final.

Having been made to wait patiently for the outcome of the race, the American sprinter paraded around the stadium after being declared the winner before ringing a giant bell in celebration.

But why, many have since asked? Here's everything you need to know about the bell and why athletes are being asked to ring it in Paris this summer.

Every gold medalist in the athletics is being given the chance to ring the bell situated at the edge of the running track.

Inscribed with 'Paris 2024', the huge instrument is set to be relocated to the Notre-Dame cathedral once the Games are over.

With renovation works to the cathedral still ongoing after the devastating fire of 2019, the idea is that the sound of Olympic glory will forever be heard from the Notre-Dame when the bell is relocated to its permanent home.

Only twice have the bells inside Notre-Dame rung since the fire; for the burial of former French President Jacques Chirac that year and again in 2020, to remember the first anniversary of the disaster which destroyed much of the building.

Olympic Bell at Paris 2024

"In a way, Paris 2024 is helping to rebuild Notre-Dame," Pierre-Andre Lacout, a manager at the Stade de France said.

"A part of the Games and the Olympic spirit will remain in Notre-Dame for life."

Head of the Paris 2024 organising committee, Tony Estanguet, has also hailed the bell-ringing as a way to bring supporters together to help celebrate France and its culture.

"It’s just for the gold medalists, and it’s a great way for them to celebrate," Estanguet explained.

Tradition is continuing on as the Olympics gather momentum, with each ring of the bell symbolising another nod to French culture.

The victorious rugby sevens men's French team, who defeated defending Olympic champions Fiji to win the event and earn the hosts' first gold, rang the bell with tremendous joy in front of a partisan crowd of 70,000 spectators.

We expect to see plenty of similar celebrations before the closing ceremony on August 11.