Paris 2024: Olympic Turning Point
After enduring two consecutive Summer Olympics that brought gold medal-level heartburn to the IOC, Paris is poised to deliver the curing tonic. The end of Rio 2016 was as messy as the runup. Tokyo 2020 – on its way becoming perhaps the best prepared Olympic host city in decades – – was dramatically postponed by one year in response to the pandemic.
The IOC and the coterie of sponsors and rights-holding broadcasters that depend on successful Games are expecting a turnaround. And while something could happen to derail Paris 2024, the outlook is overwhelmingly positive.
As Planned
For one thing, there will be no postponement such as Tokyo suffered. Delaying the Games cost the organizing committee hundreds of millions of dollars, in addition to losses endured by broadcasters and sponsors who had to abandon plans at the last minute.
The financials appear to be in line with previous forecasts for Paris 2024 and the public corporation responsible for overseeing the venues for the Games. That was not the case eight years ago in Rio de Janeiro, when organizers ran out of money in the final months before the Games. The cash crunch came as the national government was paralyzed by a leadership crisis. The IOC had to step in to guarantee funding for the first Olympics and Paralympics to be held in South America.
Questionable Dealings
Post-Olympics, the Rio organizing committee president and other OCOG executives were accused of financial crimes related to sponsorship and taxes, and their homes were searched – all captured by TV news crews. The traditional final report from Games organizers usually delivered to the first IOC Session following the Games didn’t happen, because those officials were barred from travel outside of Brazil. Eight years, later no report has been filed to the IOC.
Three years ago, Tokyo 2020 also was investigated after the Games for inside dealings regarding sponsorships handled by marketing agent Dentsu. Sapporo, the 1972 Winter Olympics host, was on its way to becoming the preemptive candidate for 2032 until the Japanese Olympic Committee withdrew it from consideration soon after the inquiry was launched.
A Spirit of Bonhomie
The relationship between IOC headquarters and Paris organizers has been solid from the moment in 2017 when it was awarded 2024. After dealing with host cities on the other side of the world, the proximity between Lausanne and Paris helps. Paris is a mere hour away by plane. IOC coordination commission chair Pierre Beckers, a Belgian grocery magnate, is also easily able to follow preparations.
Roadmap to the Future Now in Play
Olympic Agenda 2020+5, the so-called roadmap to the future of the IOC and Olympics, should be credited for the smooth preparations. IOC President Thomas Bach launched Olympic Agenda 2020 when he took office in 2013, insisting the four dozen recommendations it made were vital to the existence of the Olympics in the 21st Century. With an emphasis on sustainability, lower costs and eliminating complexity, Olympic Agenda has guided the operation of Paris 2024 from day one.
The youthful organizing committee is sensitive to the idea of creating a sustainable Olympics. President Tony Estanguet was barely 40 when he led the bid; he just turned 46 in May.
Sustainability Key
Nearly every venue in Paris and beyond is existing or temporary. The aquatics venue is the only major permanent venue to be built. After the Games it becomes a community center. The Olympic Village is set to be a new neighborhood for Paris once the Olympics and Paralympics move on. Existing venues likewise are being used across France rather than building temporary facilities in Paris.
City of Light … and Then Some
If the IOC needed a comeback city after the zero spectators of both Beijing 2022 and Tokyo 2020+1, Paris appears to be the answer.
Not surprisingly, Paris is proving to be a spectacular setting. Olympic rings now adorn the Eiffel Tower. The incredible restoration of Notre Dame is just months from completion. Versailles is ready for equestrian events. Marseilles for sailing, Lille for basketball.
The French territory of Tahiti will host surfing following its debut in Tokyo. At 15,800 km from Paris, Tahiti will be the most distant venue from the host city since Stockholm handled equestrian events for Melbourne in 1956. Those two cities were about 15,500 km distant. While it may not fit Olympic Agenda standards for complexity and cost, Tahiti will be one of the more exotic locales to ever fly the Olympic flag.
Torch Relay Burning Bright
Because French territories such as French Guyana and a half dozen islands in the Caribbean are found worldwide, Paris has been able to send the Olympic torch relay around the globe while technically never leaving France. That kind of travel has been discouraged by the IOC after problems with disruptive protests in 2008 ahead of Beijing. The torch relay is now back on the mainland, winding its way to Paris for the July 26 opening ceremony. The trouble-free relay is another sign of a return to Olympic normalcy.
Beaucoup de Fans
While there may be plenty of ambivalence among French citizens over the Olympics, there are still legions of fans in France and Europe willing to snap up their share of the 10 million tickets. And for those in France who are inclined to stay home, Olympic diehards who have not been able to buy tickets since 2016 are ready to jump into the ticket queue.
Political Considerations
A political wildcard bears watching in the next couple of weeks is the outcome of the snap legislative election called by President Emmanuel Macron. July 7 is the final day of voting which will determine whether Macron declares the opening of the Paris Olympics or a leader from the right wing circles of French politics.
But this upbeat view of Paris is tempered by some sobering issues. Russia and Belarus will not be in Paris as a result of the war against Ukraine launched three years ago. IOC sanctions say only athletes who can prove their neutrality regarding the military will be permitted to compete, although without national identification. Just a few dozen are expected to meet those standards compared to the hundreds normally sent.
Likewise tensions over the situation between Israel and Palestine could figure into drama around Paris 2024. Trouble may not come from athletes (just three from Palestine and 81 from Israel) but from protests outside Olympic security. Demonstrators could block travel to Olympic events, for example, given the heavy dependence on public transport.
Doping and Hackers
The first drug controversy from Paris is likely to show up in the early days. Among the competitors in the swimming events are 11 Chinese athletes who have been linked to positive tests in 2021 for the banned heart medicine trimetazidine. The World Anti-Doping Agency has cleared the swimmers but the U.S., Australia and other swimming powers are contesting that decision.
The most disruptive threat may be hackers or cyber criminals who attack the digital infrastructure for the Games. While protecting the Olympic network is of utmost priority, nothing in the world can be 100% certain against cyber attack.
A River Runs through It
Finally there is the question of whether the River Seine will be suitable for the marathon swim and swimming portion of the triathlon.
Mayor Anne Hidalgo has delayed her plans to be the first to swim in the waterway once it’s been declared clear of pollution. Despite billions spent over the past 10 years to clean the river, pollution — mostly from sewage — is persistent. Heavy rains earlier this month only aggravated the situation. No word on plan B from World Aquatics. The International Triathlon Union is said to be considering reducing the Paris event to two competitions running and cycling. Organizers are confident they will avoid the first-ever Olympic duathlon.
Written by Ed Hula
