Paris 2024: Triumph or Fiasco for the Controversial Olympics?
Paris 2024 Olympics: A Resounding Success
Two days after the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the world is left pondering whether the event can be deemed a success or a failure.
Caught in the crossfire of French political conflicts and escalating global tensions, the “Jeux Olympiques” have dominated the media for the past month, for better or for worse.
Since the outset, the Paris Olympics have been embroiled in controversies and concerns.
France has just emerged from a heated electoral cycle and continues to grapple with a governmental crisis.
Last year, hundreds of protests engulfed the country, particularly Paris, leading many to question the city’s readiness for the Olympics.
Moreover, there were significant worries regarding extremist violence, especially given Paris’s recent troubled history and the new tensions in the Middle East.
The opening ceremony irked many conservatives and was deemed the epitome of the so-called “woke” culture.
Nevertheless, the Paris Olympics can be deemed a success.
Why the Paris 2024 Olympics were a Success
Despite the myriad challenges, the Paris Olympics can be considered a triumph.
For two weeks, the French people rallied behind their flag, showcasing to the world that they are a nation looking towards the future, not the past.
“Les Bleus,” the French athletes, concluded with a historic medal haul, winning 64 medals and 16 golds, France’s best performance since the 1900 Paris Olympics.
Leading French newspapers Le Monde and Le Figaro, typically representing opposite ends of the political spectrum, agree that the Paris Olympics reignited France’s “élan.” “The Paris Games have gifted the capital and the entirety of France with over two weeks of fervor and happiness,” stated Le Monde, “particularly unexpected and appreciated as they followed a political landscape dominated by decline and xenophobia, leaving the country more divided than ever and without a government.”
The Paris Olympics also proved to be a spectacular success from an economic standpoint.
Nearly 10 million tickets were sold, surpassing the previous record of 8.3 million set in Atlanta 1996.
While breaking attendance records, the Paris Olympics were also relatively cost-effective: $8.2 billion compared to Tokyo 2020’s $15.4 billion and Rio 2016’s $13.1 billion.
Ticket prices ranged from 100 to 1,500 euros, indicating that the ceremony likely recouped its expenses.
Not to mention the economic impact on the city itself, with tourism increasing by 19% and Airbnb bookings soaring by 400% annually.
As per the French Institute of Statistics, the Paris Olympics will add 0.3-0.4% to the current quarter’s GDP growth.
Lastly, several initiatives will endure even after the games’ conclusion, such as efforts to clean up the Seine.
According to Le Figaro, the French government will continue investing in this project, opening the Seine for public bathing by 2025.
In conclusion, despite all doubts and criticisms, the 2024 Paris Olympics were a triumph and already serve as a blueprint for Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 to follow.
