Making the Olympics Successful: Key Takeaways from Paris 2024
Amid torrential rain on July 26th, as boats paraded along the River Seine, Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach officially declared the Paris 2024 Olympics Games open. During two weeks of intense competition, Paris became the epicenter of global attention. Athletes from across the globe captivated spectators, while the cultural and historical landscape of Paris provided an iconic backdrop. Now that the Paris 2024 Olympic Games have drawn to a close, here are some key takeaways from the biggest sporting event in the world.
“Le sport rassemble”: This was the party French people desperately needed
Arguably the most powerful aspect of the Olympics is its ability to unite and inspire people. Paris 2024 was the perfect example of this. In the months preceding the Games, France struggled with political uncertainty, economic challenges, and the looming threat of the far-right coming into power. Despite these tensions, the French rallied around the Games, and as soon as the Opening Ceremony kicked off, all that mattered was sport.
Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, joyously exclaimed “From one day to the next, the whole of France became Olympic”. Everywhere, from the beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower Stadium to the rugby in the Stade de France, the noise of French supporters was deafening. The “Marseillaise” anthem rung hundreds of times across all events, breathing new life into the French spirit after divisive legislative elections. As national pride swelled and the French morale soared, “le sport rassemble” (sport brings us together), became the mantra of Paris 2024.
The Olympics proved a resounding success for Paris, France, and the mood of the French people. As the Games have come to an end, memories of contagious excitement and vibrant energy will remain part of the French spirit for years to come.
Paris 2024 took sustainability to a whole new level
Paris 2024 set out with an ambitious goal: to be the greenest Olympic Games to date by reducing its carbon footprint by 50% compared to past editions. To achieve this, the Games turned to plant-based foods, renewable energy sources and even rented sport equipment to minimize its resource consumption. Hosting the Olympics also motivated the city to clean out the polluted Seine River, transforming it into the venue for the open-swimming events. While the project cost a staggering $1.5 billion (£1.1 billion), swimming the in the Seine, something Parisians wouldn’t even consider five years ago, became reality.
Similarly, the Olympic Village was designed with sustainability in mind. The athletes’ living quarters were built with eco-friendly materials and methods, featuring the now infamous cardboard beds. Moreover, the Olympic Village is to be reused and repurposed as low-income housing units for over 6000 residents, benefiting the Parisian community for years to come. Paris 2024’s focus on sustainability paid out, making the Games a model for how worldwide events can be carried out in an environmentally and socially conscious way.
The Olympics remain a model for unity, inclusivity and social change
As Bach affirmed during the Closing Ceremony, “We know that the Olympic Games cannot create peace, but the Olympic Games can create a culture of peace that inspires the world.” The Games are unique, as citizens from every state in the world come together as peers, living together side by side in the Olympic Village. For two weeks, nationalities and political differences become second stage, as athletes strive for sporting excellence. North and South Korean athletes shared the podium in table tennis, showcasing the ways in which the Olympics become a celebration of unity.
Paris 2024 also highlighted the Games’ role as a vector for inclusivity and social change. For the first time in Olympic history, there was gender parity among athletes. Furthermore, the inclusion of new sports like skateboarding or BMX, which appeal to younger audiences, broadened the appeal of the Olympics and reinforced the event’s contemporary relevance.
Through initiatives like the “Impact 2024” program, Paris 2024 also demonstrated the ways in which communities can use sport to drive economic and social development. The program funds projects that harness sport to create a social impact, particularly in disadvantaged regions, such as Haiti. The United Nations recognizes sports’ contribution to meeting its Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in promoting health and education. Consequently, these Paris 2024 initiatives will create lasting societal change far beyond the Games itself, reinforcing the Olympics’ relevance and role on the global stage.
The challenge for LA 2028: Making the Olympics economically viable
While Paris 2024 was a success in many respects, it did come with its financial challenges. The Olympics Games exceeded their planned budget by 25%, with the total cost being over $10 billion (£7.5 billion). This over-budget costs, although not as dramatic as those of Sochi in 2014 or Rio in 2016, raise questions about the economic viability of hosting an Olympics Games. Los Angeles, the host of the next Summer Olympics in 2028, has already signaled its intent to make the Olympics economically sustainable, aiming to become the first Olympics to turn a profit since the 1984 Games, which were also held in LA.
Despite these concerns, hosting the Olympics comes with long-term benefits, including increased tourism, infrastructure development and urban regeneration. These benefits often outweigh the initial financial hardship; Paris’ investment in eco-friendly infrastructure, public transport and sport development programs will continue to benefit the city for decades.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be remembered for its athletic excellence, sustainable innovation and as a much-needed moment of communion for France and nations worldwide. As the world moves on, the legacy of Paris 2024 will continue to inspire and demonstrate the ways in which sport can drive positive change.
For this, I say: Merci, Paris.
Image courtesy of PA Photos/ABACA via Google Image, ©2024. Some rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the wider St. Andrews Foreign Affairs Review team.
