As the City of Light prepares to host the 2024 Olympics, a new narrative is emerging: Paris is on track to host the most cost-effective Olympics of the 21st century.
In an era when Olympic budgets often spiral out of control, the French capital is taking a refreshingly frugal approach that dates back to London's 1948 “Austerity Olympics.”
With a budget of just under $10 billion, a fraction of recent hosts such as Sochi and Beijing, Paris is revolutionizing the Olympic model through sustainability and clever reuse of existing infrastructure. Of the roughly 40 venues, only three are purpose-built: the Aquatic Centre, the Porte de la Chapelle arena, and the Olympic Village.
Financial burden of past Olympics
In recent Olympics, host cities have fallen into financial difficulties and venues have been abandoned.
Athens 2004 is a glaring example of how few purpose-built venues have stood the test of time: even the iconic Olympic Stadium was closed in 2023 due to roof defects caused by lack of maintenance. Similarly, Rio 2016's swimming facilities are in a state of neglect just four years after the Games.
The ongoing costs of maintaining these facilities can be staggeringly high: Beijing's Bird's Nest Arena requires approximately $10 million per year in maintenance, while Sydney's stadium costs a staggering $30 million per year.
Some cities continued to carry debt long after the Olympics ended: Montreal only paid off its debt in 2006, 30 years after the 1976 Olympics.
Paris' innovative approach
Compared to these cautionary tales, Paris is on a different path.
Paris' approach to hosting the Olympics has focused on sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term urban planning. By using mostly existing venues and building only a few new facilities, Paris was able to keep construction costs to less than $4.5 billion, roughly one-tenth of China's spending on the Beijing Olympics.
The focus on sustainability is also evident in the construction choices made for the new venue.
The 5,000-seat aquatics center in Saint-Denis is built primarily from wood and assembled like a giant Lego set, while the 8,000-seat Porte de la Chapelle arena features a wooden framework clad in recycled aluminum—choices that reduce costs and demonstrate innovative, environmentally friendly construction techniques.
The Olympic Village, a concept pioneered a century ago when Paris last hosted the Olympics, has been thoroughly modernized.
The new village will consist of apartment blocks of up to eight floors built from wood and glass. Heat pumps and renewable energy will meet all the buildings' energy needs. After the Olympics, the apartment blocks will be converted into social housing and office space, providing home to around 6,000 people and work for a further 6,000.
Urban regeneration and long-term benefits
Paris' Olympic strategy goes beyond the Games, incorporating new construction into a broader urban renewal plan. The Aquatic Center and Porte de la Chapelle arena are located in areas facing economic decline and poverty, and the city hopes that by placing them in these areas, they will spark regeneration and bring lasting benefits to the local community.
This approach addresses one of the most persistent criticisms of the Olympics: their tendency to leave behind long, redundant structures that serve little purpose after the Games.
By focusing on venues that can be reused or that are already part of the urban fabric, Paris is ensuring that its Olympic investments will continue to benefit residents long after the closing ceremony.
assignment
While Paris' Olympic preparations are generally progressing well, it faces some challenges when it comes to its transport infrastructure.
The spectacular Grand Paris Express metro extension, which includes four new lines (15, 16, 17 and 18), will not be fully operational during the Olympics, which could cause inconvenience, especially for tourists arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport, who may have to wait longer to travel to the city centre.
But it's not all bad news on the transport front: Tourists arriving at Orly airport in the south of Paris will benefit from a new extension of Route 14, which will run through central Paris to the Olympic village of Saint-Denis. The city's improved transport network will serve Parisians and tourists well for many years to come.
Perhaps the most ambitious and challenging aspect of Paris' Olympic preparations is the plan to host swimming events on the Seine. The iconic river will be the venue for the swimming marathon and triathlon events, and will serve as the backdrop for the opening ceremony. However, swimming in the Seine has been banned since 1923 due to the poor quality of the water.
To address this issue, organizers are investing a massive $1.5 billion in a system to handle any untreated wastewater that may end up in the river. The success of this effort is important not only to the Olympics, but also to the long-term health of the river and the city's goal of making it possible for all Parisians to swim in the Seine in the future.
The system's effectiveness depends heavily on weather conditions — heavy rain would be a problem, but it should work well in dry weather. The ambitious project underscores Paris' determination to use the Olympics as a lasting force for environmental improvement.
A new model for future Olympics?
As the opening ceremony nears, Paris seems poised to host a successful and sustainable Olympics. By prioritizing long-term urban development over short-term spectacle, the City of Light may set a new standard for future Olympic host countries.
The Paris approach shows that with careful planning and innovation, it is possible to host a world-class sporting event without financially bankrupting or leaving behind unused infrastructure.
The model addresses many of the criticisms that have plagued the Olympics in recent times, from bloated budgets to environmental concerns to the abandonment of venues after the Games.
Moreover, by integrating Olympic development into a broader urban redevelopment strategy, Paris is ensuring that the benefits of hosting the Games will be felt long after the athletes have returned home.
A new venue in Saint-Denis, improved transport infrastructure and an ambitious cleanup of the Seine will all leave a positive legacy for Parisians.
Paving a new path
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games could be a turning point in Olympic history. By embracing sustainability, prioritizing existing infrastructure, and focusing on long-term benefits, Paris is showing a new path forward for hosting a major sporting event responsibly and cost-effectively.
The true test of the Paris effort will come not just during the Olympics, but in the years and decades that follow.
If the new venues continue to stay in good use, the Seine becomes swimmable again, and the regeneration of areas like Saint-Denis continues, Paris 2024 may be remembered not only as a great sporting event, but also as one that changed the Olympic Games for the better.
About the Editor
Deena Teresa A creative writer and journalist with a Masters in International Journalism, Deena's work includes writing for Indian dailies like The New Indian Express and reading primetime news for regional stations. Having grown up in three countries, this third culture kid feels home is both everywhere and nowhere. Deena loves to dabble in music and art and believes that the latter has a symbiotic relationship with science.
