The Paris 2024 Olympics have set a transformative precedent in the world of global events, marking a significant step forward in sustainability and ESG strategy. As the first Olympic Games to fully align with the environmental goals established by the Paris Climate Agreement, Paris 2024 was not just about collecting medals and breaking records. It was designed to be a turning point in how global events can integrate sustainability, inclusivity, and long-term community benefits, offering valuable lessons for future host cities. 

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Paris Games was its commitment to being the “greenest-ever Games.” The organizers aimed to reduce overall emissions by 50% compared to the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games by embracing a circular economy approach. In contrast to a linear economy, which follows a “take, make, dispose” model, a circular economy aims to close the loop of resource use by maintaining the value of products, materials, and resources for as long as possible. This approach not only delivers significant environmental benefits but also leads to substantial economic savings. 

A prime example of this sustainable approach is the Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, constructed from sustainable wood and equipped with solar panels on its roof. The 6,000-seat venue, designed to serve the local community long after the Games, is a testament to the long-term thinking that guided Paris 2024. After the Games, the Aquatics Centre will be transformed into a community sports facility, featuring 2,500 seats and amenities such as a climbing gym and five-a-side football pitches. This ensures that the investment made into the infrastructure continues to benefit the community, minimizing the environmental footprint and avoiding the “white elephant” projects that have burdened past host cities. 

The Paris 2024 Games also demonstrated the economic benefits of integrating sustainability into large-scale events. By limiting new construction to just 5% of the venues and focusing on temporary or existing structures, Paris drastically cut infrastructure costs. The Bank of France estimates a 0.45% GDP boost from the Games, with economic gains ranging between €7.3bn and €12.1bn for Paris and the surrounding Île-de-France region from 2018 to 2034. These gains were largely driven by sectors such as tourism, construction, and events, with nine million tickets sold and a record-breaking 34 million viewers, a 79% increase in viewership from the 2020 Games in Tokyo. 

However, the true value of the Paris 2024 Olympics transcends financial returns. The Games set an important sustainability legacy, sparking a transformation within the city itself and reflecting a broader vision: that a city can emerge from the Olympics better equipped, with new infrastructure that meets residents’ needs, and that contributes to, even accelerates, important local social initiatives. 

Sources: 

https://www.imd.org/ibyimd/sustainability/paris-2024-the-greenest-ever-games-has-set-a-new-standard-for-global-events/ 

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/03/paris-most-sustainable-olympics-2024/ 

https://basis.org.uk/2024/07/26/paris-2024-the-greenest-games-ever/ 

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