With the promise of becoming the best Olympic Games ever, we explore what Paris 2024 leaves behind.
It’s hard to stay away from the spectacle that is the Olympics. This summer, we witnessed a blend of celebrations and controversies. Since Paris was announced as the next host city, the organizing committee has raised our expectations. We were promised that Paris 2024 would be the most sustainable, most inclusive and most responsible Olympic Games ever held.
It was predictable. Paris has been a hub for environmental initiatives in recent years, largely due to the leadership of its mayor, Anne Hidalgo. Under her leadership, Paris has moved towards sustainability with visible results: today, locals already prefer to get around the city by bike rather than by car, according to studies by the Institut de la Région de Paris.
Paris city of love and environment
The French capital is moving towards what every metropolis needs, a transformative vision for the future. It was here that the historic Paris Agreement was agreed in 2015. In an act of global unanimity, countries pledged to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C. While it is an international treaty made by and for countries, it also charts the way toward coordinated and universal climate action, allowing companies and organizations, such as the Olympics, to pull in the same direction.
The environmental impact of the Olympics
Paris 2024 pledged to halve its carbon footprint compared to London 2010 and Rio 2016. Measuring the environmental impact of an event of this magnitude is complex. From the energy used in facilities and offices to the food served in cafeterias; from the travel involved in organizing the event to how spectators will move around the city to visit the various sporting venues.
One of the biggest impacts comes from the travel of athletes and spectators. The committee estimated that this factor would account for a third of the total emissions from the Games. In previous editions, the strategy was to sell a small percentage of tickets to tourists and the majority to locals. However, for Paris 2024, the decision was made to open ticket sales worldwide from the outset. Although figures are not yet confirmed, it is estimated that more than 11 million people had traveled to Paris for the event.
Another significant factor is the emissions from constructing Olympic venues. It is well known that host cities of international events often build stadiums, arenas, and other necessary infrastructure from scratch. In line with its sustainability strategy, Paris 2024 committed to ensuring that 95% of the competition venues would be pre-existing or temporary facilities. Of the 35 stadiums, only two have been newly built.
The Olympic Village, which served as a temporary residence for athletes and delegations, will be transformed after the Games into a new residential and business district, with a quarter of these residences reserved for public housing. To ensure circularity, the current furniture was made from cardboard, repurposed parachute fabric, and bottle caps. Additionally, the 16,000 mattresses will be donated to various organizations in Paris, including the Paris Opera Ballet School.
Elements to rethink
Despite their clear intentions, some decisions have turned out to be questionable. One example is the potential damage to the coral reefs at Teahupo’o on the island of Tahiti, where the surfing competitions were held. Although a petition with over 250,000 signatures, a new three-story aluminum jury tower was constructed. It is feared that this construction will damage the coral reefs for decades and even alter the wave patterns of one of the world’s most iconic surf destinations.
Moreover, among its main sponsors is Coca-Cola, one of the world’s largest contributors to plastic pollution. The discontent extended to athletes. Over 100 elite athletes signed a letter urging Coca-Cola to eliminate single-use plastic and commit to reusable packaging once and for all. Despite assurances that there would be numerous beverage stations offering reusable and returnable bottles, the French newspaper Le Monde reported that at least 40% of drinks would be served in plastic bottles. This is not the first time this multinational has faced controversy as a sponsor of major events.
The legacy of Paris 2024
Anyone who associates the Olympic Games exclusively with sport is only seeing one side of the coin. The Games embody our aspirations for a future marked by peace, tolerance, and respect. While athletes pursue medals, they use this prominent platform to amplify messages of unity and promote values urgently needed in a world where polarisation dominates the headlines.
This is reflected in iconic moments. The first medal for the International Refugee team, the gesture of sisterhood from US gymnasts to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, the first-ever gold medal for two Caribbean countries St Lucia and Dominica, the global support for boxer Imane Khelif reminding us to break with Western beauty standards, the growing network of athlete ambassadors for climate action and Noah Lyles’ advocacy for mental health.
This is the legacy that Paris 2024 leaves us, a reflection of our collective aspirations and the unifying power of sport. With Los Angeles as the next host city in 2028, the competition could expand to what host cities can offer. And so, I ask myself what kind of entertainment we want for our future. My answer is clear: nothing less than this. Nothing less than a sporting event where social and environmental progress takes center stage from the very beginning.
