The world will soon focus on Paris, the host city of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The town was chosen to host the games in 2018 due to its significant attributes, such as the utilisation of its iconic historic landmarks and its overall heritage. The bid was also praised for its modest and sustainable approach, emphasising the legacy of the Games. While sustainability is a fundamental aspect of the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Agenda 2020 roadmap, recent Olympics have faced criticism for unmet commitments and accusations of greenwashing. This raises the critical question: how sustainable will the Paris 2024 Games be? To evaluate this, we will analyse the sustainability of the games based on three pillars: environmental, social, and economic.
1 Martin Müller & Sven Daniel Wolfe & Christopher Gaffney & David Gogishvili & Miriam Hug & Annick Leick, 2021. "An evaluation of the sustainability of the Olympic Games," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(4), pages 340-348, April.
I. Environmental sustainability
Paris 2024 will use 95% of existing sports facilities, therefore minimising construction and environmental impact. The city’s focus on mobility through public transportation, efforts to improve ecosystems, responsible waste management, and sustainable food sources, as well as high environmental standards for new construction, all contribute to a more optimistic view of the environmental sustainability of the Games. One flagship example is the open water swimming contest planned in the Seine (Paris’ river), which requires tremendous improvement in water quality. Although feasibility is still highly uncertain, it’s part of the flagship “bathing plan” programme. It aims to create bathing sites in the region by improving water quality, thereby promoting a functional ecosystem.
Paris 2024 aims to be the first games aligned with the Paris Agreement, signed at COP21. The goal is to achieve a 55% reduction in carbon footprint compared to the London 2012 Games. The plan to use existing infrastructure makes this reduction achievable. However, the need for more transparency in the carbon footprint assessment affects its credibility, especially in calculating international travel emissions, which make up a significant portion of the Games’ carbon footprint
II. Social sustainability
Firstly, the public approval process has been handled superficially, with limited surveys and the idea that the consultation processes ensure the support of the population and civil society.
Secondly, the Games will be held in two main areas: Paris, to showcase the city’s rich heritage, with competitions at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, and the Seine-Saint-Denis département. This poor suburban department has a young, cosmopolitan population. It stands to benefit significantly from the legacy of the Games and the facilities built, including housing, sports facilities, and urban transport. However, one can be concerned about the potential adverse effects on local populations, such as gentrification and rising rents, as seen in the Stratford district following the London 2012 Games.
Thirdly, despite high sustainability standards, problems remain, particularly regarding the social aspect. The use of undocumented workers has been revealed, and the displacement of populations, although ordinary features of Games and probably backed up legally, remains morally questionable, especially in the absence of information on the impact of such displacements on the populations concerned.
III. Economic sustainability
Economic sustainability is a central issue for the Olympic Games. The Olympics are one of the world’s most expensive events, but Paris 2024 should be particularly modest. The budget of the organisation of Paris 2024 amounts to 4.4 billion euros, 96% of which is being financed by the private sector. According to the principle of “the games pay for the games”, the revenue will cover those spendings.