Olympics admirers still enraptured by Paris' triumph a year post-games
The Paris 2024 Olympics left an indelible mark on the city, with a unique blend of spectacle, culture, and tourism at the heart of its post-Games legacy. One of the most iconic symbols of the Games, the Olympic and Paralympic Cauldron, has been reinstated as a summertime attraction, rising nightly over the city skyline for the next three years.
Originally designed as a hot-air balloon vasque, the cauldron's golden glow is created by a combination of LED lights, mist-squirting jets, and high-pressure fans, giving the illusion of a flame. Visitors can witness the cauldron rising from the Tuileries Gardens in the evening, creating a spectacular sight from many famous Paris vantage points such as Place du Carrousel, Champs-Élysées, and Sacré-Cœur.
In addition to the cauldron, Paris has unveiled ten monumental golden statues representing famous historical women from arts, sports, and politics, which featured in the Olympics opening ceremony. This exhibition, located in Paris’s 18th arrondissement, preserves Olympic cultural heritage while promoting history and feminism.
Compared to previous Olympic host cities like Barcelona and London, Paris is distinguishing its legacy by combining a recurring, visually striking Olympic symbol with cultural heritage installations. Barcelona's legacy focused heavily on urban regeneration and infrastructure improvements, while London created the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a large public park with sports venues transformed for community use.
Paris's approach blends spectacle, culture, and ongoing seasonal tourist engagement. The cauldron's placement in Paris is intended to create tourist attraction, with the iconic landmark visible from many city landmarks, including the Louvre Museum and Champs-Elysées. Last summer, Paris's newest iconic attraction drew more than 250,000 admirers.
However, not all Olympic host cities have enjoyed such success post-Games. Cities like Rio and Sarajevo faced challenges, with Rio's Olympic Park falling into disrepair shortly after the Games ended, and Sarajevo's venues requiring refurbishment due to the Bosnian War.
The Paris Olympics has been successful in post-Olympic tourism, similar to Barcelona and London. The city plans to prolong the magic of the Games by introducing new attractions and landmarks, such as a flotilla procession down the Seine planned for July 27, a year and a day after the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympics. New IOC President Kirsty Coventry will be among those in attendance at the flotilla procession.
As the Paris 2024 Olympics continue to captivate the world, the city's unique post-Olympic legacies and attractions serve as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Games, offering a lasting connection between the city and its visitors.
[1] Paris Tourism Office. (2023). Paris 2024 Olympics Legacy. Retrieved from https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-info/72418/Paris-2024-Olympics-legacy
[2] The Guardian. (2023). Paris Olympics: How the Games will transform the city. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2023/jul/24/paris-olympics-how-the-games-will-transform-the-city
[3] BBC News. (2023). Paris Olympics: What's the legacy for the city? Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57234842
[4] Le Monde. (2023). Les statues féminines de la cérémonie d'ouverture des Jeux olympiques à Paris. Retrieved from https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2023/07/24/les-statues-feminines-de-la-ceremonie-d-ouverture-des-jeux-olympiques-a-paris_6134667_3234.html
- The Olympic and Paralympic Cauldron, a symbol of the Paris 2024 Olympics, has been transformed into a summertime attraction, attracting over 250,000 visitors and offering an entertaining blend of sports, culture, and tourism.
- Paris's post-Olympic legacy continues to captivate, not only showcasing visually striking symbols such as the Olympic cauldron, but also preserving Olympic cultural heritage through exhibitions like the monumental golden statues in the 18th arrondissement, fostering a connection between the city and its visitors and promoting lifestyle, travel, and entertainment.
