I love the Olympic Games. I wait in eager anticipation for the next Games to come, and when they do I try to soak them in as much as possible. From the Opening Ceremony to the sporting events to interviews to the Closing Ceremony, I enjoy it all. It is so fun to watch all the countries compete and see athlete’s dreams come true. It’s cheesy, but the Olympic Fanfare Melody gives me chills every time it is played.
And yet, I know that I’ve bought into the marketing of the Games. I know that the Games are riddled with corruption and cheating and scandal. I know that, more often than not, the Games are destructive to their host city. I know this, and I understand this, and I acknowledge this–but it doesn’t keep me from my enjoyment. I personally believe that I can enjoy the Games while still being critical of them.
I like the Olympics so much that I’ve actually completed two research papers about them. For my year-long senior project in high school, I studied the effects of the Games on their host cities and analyzed the viability of Washington D.C. as a possible host. In Fall 2016, I focused strictly on the Atlanta 1996 Games and how their Games delivered–both consciously and unconsciously–an American narrative. Now that I’m in Paris and I’m seeing the Paris 2024 logo around, I’m curious as to what the Paris Games might look like and how they would function in this city.
Technically, Paris is still in the running for 2024 against Los Angeles. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently adopted a measure that would allow them to nominate two cities for different years at the same meeting. For example, they could officially choose Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 in one tidy movement, instead of having to wait to nominate for the 2028 Games. In my opinion, this is a very good move on the IOC’s part, since fewer and fewer cities want to be involved with the Olympics these days. If they lock in cities through 2028, at least they know they have that future, and they can also avoid the embarrassment of potential cities dropping out of the bid, petitioning against it, or outright refusing.
Now, the only problem is if Paris and Los Angeles will cooperate. Both cities are still angling strongly for 2024. If they don’t come to an agreement, then the IOC will choose just one city for 2024, and 2028 will be reopened to any city that wants it.
At the moment, it looks like Paris has the stronger argument for 2024. 2024 is the one hundred year anniversary of the last time Paris hosted the Games (they’ve hosted twice before, in 1900 and 1924. Los Angeles has also hosted twice: in 1932 and 1984). European sponsors are excited about the potential European Games. Land has already been reserved for the Olympic Village on Île Saint-Denis, and it is possible that this land won’t be saved until 2028. In that case, Paris would have to entirely restructure its plan. Paris is working strictly towards 2024. By giving Los Angeles the 2028 Games, it would grant the city more time to prepare its transportation network. It would also ensure that Donald Trump is out of the White House by then, which is a concern for the IOC due to his Muslim ban and other racial rhetoric.
As I travel around Paris, I am curious as to how a Paris Games would function. How many visitors would the Games draw in, and does the city have the capacity to hold them all? Is Paris’s transportation network up to the task? Where would the sporting events take place? If Paris is planning to build any permanent structures or sports facilities, what will be their use after the Games? How will the city handle crime and terrorism?
These are very complex questions, but hopefully after some research and better understanding of Paris, I will be a little closer to having answers.
This was so cool to read. I never really thought much about how they pick the Olympic cities but it would be a great idea to lock in two at the same time. On the preservation side it will be really interesting to see where they put such high tech sports facilities in a city that is so enriched with history everywhere. I personally hope they have it in Paris in 2024 so I can say I was there during the campaign.
Just as you probably are, I’m excited to see what conclusion the IOC, Los Angeles, and Paris will come to for the 2024 and 2028 games. It will definitely be interesting to see how Paris could potentially handle the influx of people, both spectators and athletes, as well as land and space for the events to take place. I hope to read more about your ideas and answers to those questions you posed!