Paris 2024: Is it Worth It ?
By Sarah Martinage
Symbol of openness, diversity and universality, France hosted this summer the world's largest event for the third time in its history. After an edition without visitors in Japan in 2020 due to the pandemic, almost 15 million spectators were expected in France to cheer on the 14,850 athletes and parathletes taking part in the Olympic and Paralympics Games 2024, for an edition that promised to be unique.
France sets the tone
As the eyes of the world turn to France, let’s see what characterises the Olympics in France, the land of firsts. While women were allowed to compete from the 1900 Paris Olympics onwards, the 2024 edition was the first in the competition's history to be completely parity-based (Paralympic Games excluded). The eagerly awaited opening ceremony, unique for being held outside a stadium, took place on the Seine, with a six kilometres parade ending at the Trocadero, a challenge in terms of organisation and safety for an opening that promises to be grandiose. Another strong marker of this year's event, albeit one that has been criticised, is its ambition to be ecologically sober. The objective set was to halve emissions compared to the London (2012) and Rio (2016) Games and to finance projects that contribute to climate change in line with the emissions that exceed this threshold. To achieve this, major efforts have been made to capitalise on existing sites (95% of which already exist or will be temporary) and to reduce as far as possible the construction of new infrastructure, which accounts for almost a third of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the organisation of the event.
The Athletes' Village was a model construction site in this respect, with emissions cut by almost half compared to a conventional construction site, thanks to the use of photovoltaic and geothermal energy, transport of materials by river and the use of low-carbon materials, among others. The remaining two-thirds of emissions were divided between travel by athletes, officials and spectators, and operations (catering, accommodation, logistics, etc.).
The underlying question is whether the very model of the Olympic Games, based on mass tourism and associated air transport, is compatible with planetary boundaries. If the IOC (International Olympic Committee) has included an objective to minimise carbon emissions for future editions, this is more of an incentive empty of figures than a measurable and accountable commitment. The ambition that Paris alone has set itself is therefore commendable. It will be more virtuous than previous editions, undoubtedly. Is it enough?
Are the Olympics worth the cost?
The Olympic Games invariably exceed their anticipated costs and deliver less economic benefit than projected. Since 1972, the competition's budget has been exceeded by an average of 100%, with the smallest overrun being 30% for Atlanta in 1996, and the largest at 1,100% for Beijing in 2008. This almost systematic underestimation of budgets and overestimation of economic benefits have contributed to the dwindling number of candidate cities.
With an initial budget of €6.3 billion, re-evaluated to €8.8 billion last year, how does Paris compare with previous editions? The Games' budget is shared almost equally between Cojop (Organising Committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games), responsible for organisational expenditure, and Solideo (Olympic Delivery Authority), the public body tasked with building the infrastructure. Budget overruns are most often due to capital expenditures, which are under Solideo’s remit for Paris 2024.
To maintain budgetary balance despite rising expenses, the organisers have increased commercial revenue, particularly from ticket sales, secured additional public funding, and attracted new sponsors. In February 2024, the consultancy firm Asterès estimated an additional €3 billion in spending, mainly related to security. If these forecasts are accurate, with a total budget of €11.8 billion, France would be awarded the bronze medal of the least expensive Games among the past nine editions
Regarding the economic impact, only an estimate for Paris and the Île-de-France region has been assessed. Conducted by the Centre de Droit et d'Économie du Sport (CDES) and published in May 2024, the study focuses on the additional business generated by the Games between 2018 and 2034, rather than profitability. The economic impact is estimated to be between €6.7 billion and €11.1 billion, divided among organisation, construction, and tourism, the latter being the most uncertain. Although the study covers a broad period, only 16% of the benefits are attributed to the post-event phase (2025-2034), with the remainder resulting from the preparation and execution phases. Compared to the €782 billion annual GDP of the Île-de-France region in 2022, the increase in activity is modest.
Despite being difficult to measure, the intangible legacy of the Olympics should not be overlooked. Seine-Saint-Denis, the poorest department in France, which hosted the Olympic Village and Aquatic Centre, has been under the spotlight for the duration of the competition. Local stakeholders had the opportunity to highlight the assets and heritage of the department. Additionally, both volunteers and residents who gained work experience on the new infrastructure sites benefit from a legacy of skills. With successful Olympic Games, this significantly enhance the department's reputation.
The Dream of Olympic Universalism
While Pierre de Coubertin emphasised the apolitical nature of the Olympic Games and advocated for a truce in conflicts during the competition, the Games have always been both political and geopolitical, albeit in different contexts. The very nature of the decisions that the IOC must arbitrate reflects this, such as Russians competing under a neutral banner or the confirmation of a Palestinian delegation.
According to Lukas Aubin, Director of Research at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations, "The Paris Olympics are likely to be the most geopolitical since the end of the Cold War." President Emmanuel Macron’s ambition is "to construct a positive narrative to promote Paris internationally. The idea is to make these Games the 'Games of the world'. It is about thinking of sport beyond the Western world and ultimately ensuring that France is accepted by non-Western powers as well."
While the event, which attracts an average of four to five billion viewers, cannot escape geopolitical tensions, and though each organising committee adopts its own Olympic narrative, they are all grounded on shared values of humanity and popular enthusiasm. Paris is no exception.
Conclusion
Unique in its scope and the values it advocated, the quadrennial event placed France at the centre of the world's attention. It served as a true reflection of the issues of our time, whether they pertain to social and environmental progress or the geopolitical context. The economic aspect of the event remains a significant challenge, not unique to this edition, and a comprehensive assessment will have to await the conclusion of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Source:
Presse Paris 2024 https://presse.paris2024.org/actualites/les-jeux-olympiques-de-paris-2024-seront-les-premiers-jeux-strictement-paritaires-de-lhistoire-ad6e-e0190.html
France.fr https://www.france.fr/fr/article/jo-paris-2024-chiffres-cles/#6-kilometres-3
Le Monde https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2017/09/14/les-jeux-olympiques-un-budget-difficile-a-maitriser_5185650_4355770.html
France Bleu https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/tous-les-sports/nombre-d-athletes-medailles-budget-les-jo-de-paris-2024-en-chiffres-9962678
Asterès https://asteres.fr/budget-des-jo-de-paris-les-jeux-devraient-financer-au-moins-les-jeux/
Associated image: creativereview.co.uk
Centre de Droit et d’Économie du Sport (CDES) https://v1.cdes.fr/expertise/economie-sport/nos-r-f-rences/paris-2024-tude-dimpact
INSEE https://www.insee.fr/fr/outil-interactif/5367857/details/territoires/10_ECC/11_ECO/11I_FigureT1#:~:text=Donn%C3%A9es%20provisoires.&text=En%202022%2C%20en%20%C3%8Ele%2Dde,782%20639%20millions%20d'euros.