Unseen Side of Paris Olympics

written by 20106 Kim Choeun

The Olympics have the whole world’s attention at once. During the Olympics, almost everyone in the world pays attention to Olympics broadcasts.

From the magnificent opening ceremony that shows the features of the host country to each sports match that makes you competitive and nervous, to catch people’s attention internationally

The host country has many tasks to solve before, during and especially after the Olympics.

As the host city of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Paris built stadiums and sports facilities because the Olympics is a massive undertaking that requires years of planning, coordination and investment.

The French government also renovated stadiums, arenas and other sports facilities so that they could meet Olympic standards.

The French government decided to place stadiums and sports facilities all over the city, especially at infamous landmarks. The beach volleyball matches were held in front of the Eiffel Tower. The fencing stadium was located at the Grand Palais.

Since Paris has some of the most recognizable architectural landmarks, it was a clever idea to hold sports matches to show the heritage and features of French traditional values and art.

Because the construction of new facilities and infrastructure for the Olympics can lead to significant environmental degradation, the French government has also tried to adopt more sustainable practices.

The goal of the Paris Olympics was to be the “greenest-ever” Olympics by using 100 percent renewable energy sourced locally, reinforcing their commitment to sustainability.

Therefore, venues for the Olympics were connected to the grid, enabling them to use renewable energy without the need for temporary diesel generators and significantly reducing their carbon footprint.

The host country was even determined to have eco-friendly meals for athletes, but this did not end well.

The eco-friendly food supply led to problems related to insufficient protein-containing food for athletes. Athletes complained about an insufficient amount of food like eggs and chicken and not a lack of fruits or vegetables.

Moreover, the French government tried to improve the city environment during the Olympics. The transportation fee doubled in order to provide better service and quality.

The government sold a Paris Olympics transportation pass for effective transportation services.

They also tried their best to improve water quality around the city, especially in the Seine River.

However, fluctuating bacteria levels have been a constant concern throughout the Games due to the swimming portion of the triathlon and the marathon swimming events, both planned in the river, which were eventually canceled.

Because the Olympics require many changes and improvements in various aspects of the city and the country itself.

There are also lots of unseen problems that the Paris Olympics left after the event. The most common of these problems is how to use the Olympic venues even after the games conclude.

Many host cities are left with large stadiums and facilities that fall into disrepair due to lack of use or high maintenance costs. This contributes to wasted resources and economic strain.

During past Olympics, many stadiums, match centers and hotels for athletes, coaches and acquaintances were abandoned.

To solve this serious problem, there have been many cases where countries have tried to reuse and renovate buildings.

South Korea has turned Olympic stadiums and sites into Olympic parks. The main stadium was also used as a place for concerts and sports matches.

Other countries have turned Olympic infrastructure into buildings where residents can move into.

There were also many new stadiums and facilities built during the Paris Olympics, so it will be an important task for the French government to find ways to repurpose these facilities.

The future success of the Olympics lies not only in celebrating athletic achievement but in creating a lasting positive legacy for the host cities, their citizens and the global community, ensuring that the games leave behind opportunities rather than burdens.