A More Eco-Friendly Olympics

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JECNYC

4 min readSep 29, 2024

JEC NEW YORK CITY — The 2024 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France brought a huge tourism boom to the area’s economy that is expected to last for years to come. MarketWatch estimates that it cost $8.2 billion to host the Paris Olympics, with funds directed to hiring temporary employees to build out infrastructure, crafting security plans, implementing proper food service alternatives, and producing the opening and closing ceremonies. Although the costs were substantial, they may ultimately be outweighed by the economic benefits brought by the Olympics. According to Reuters, Tourism Minister Olivia Gregoire cited a 16% year on year increase in “people staying at hotels in French cities hosting Olympic events” and a 25% increase in those dining in restaurants or bars and exploring museums.

Moreover, in these Summer Olympics thought was put into making the games more environmentally friendly. On numerous occasions, technology assisted in efforts to make the events cleaner and reduce pollution.

Olympic Channel reported in 2021 that Paris’ goal with the Olympics was to “reduce its CO2 emissions” and support “projects with a “positive climate contribution.” The targets laid out included a 50% reduction in “emissions linked to the event” for Paris 2024.

Environmental Efforts

The 2024 Summer Olympic games were greener than past Olympics in multiple ways, listed below:

Opening ceremonies: In a surprise move to many, Paris decided to host the opening events around the Seine, outside of a stadium, which reduced construction costs and highlighted the natural beauty of the city. As Paris is not immune to threats of terrorist attacks, the city utilized “a system of QR-code screening for people who live and work along the river” to ensure security, according to the Washington Post. Local experts and authorities made sure traffic was lessened in the area before the events and outdoor seating for many restaurants was either eliminated or scaled back.

Approximately 30 ships with electric or hybrid drives overtook the Seine, according to Forbes. Paris hopes to complete climate-neutral river shipping by 2037, as reported by pvEurope. Charging stations and infrastructure are still being installed along the Seine.

Attire: Some nations sourced fashion for the 2024 Olympics from clean brands. Team Japan was outfitted with sportswear and shoes by Asics, a company known for using eco-friendly materials in its products. According to WWD, Asics shoes are “designed for easy recycling, maintaining high performance while reducing waste.” Haiti’s athletes wore bright colored outfits by Stella Jean that used recycled fabrics. AP notes that this sustainable move was done “not because it is trendy,” but because “in Haiti it’s both a tradition and a necessity.”

For the United States of America, designer Ralph Lauren unveiled new recycled cotton, a move away from its traditional virgin cotton polo shirts for TEAM USA athletes at the Paris Summer Olympics. Fast Company notes that cotton production “exacts a high cost on the planet;” therefore, to use “latest in chemical engineering technology” and make the manufacturing process more green, Ralph Lauren partnered with and invested in the technology startup Natural Fiber Welding (NFW). Over the past 6 years, the collaboration has resulted in Ralph Lauren introducing Clarus collections which aim to foster innovation and style for the future. Ecopreneur Luke Haverhals, CEO of NFW, mentioned in a 2022 press release that the two companies “are pioneering an entirely new system that simultaneously enables all-natural performance fabrics while reducing waste and eliminating the need for synthetic plastics.”

Medals: The Summer Olympic winners were awarded medals made of Eiffel Tower scrap iron fragments, according to Forbes. As mentioned in Smithsonian Magazine, these original iron parts were cut and preserved going as far back as 1889 whenever renovations occurred at the Eiffel Tower. High-end jeweler Chaumet designed the medals made by the Paris Mint which include recycled silver, gold, and bronze discs.

End Result

Authorities took strong steps to make the Paris Olympics more sustainable for all. Hopefully, officials will build upon this foundation for future games.