The 2024 Paris Olympics were drowned in criticism before they even started. In the end, were they a success or a failure?
Two days after the end of the Paris 2024 Olympics, many are wondering if the ceremony could be considered a success or a failure. Caught in the crossfire of French political strife and increasing global tensions, the “Jeux Olympiques” dominated most of the news cycle in the last month. For better and for worse.
From the beginning, the Paris Olympics were immersed in controversies and concerns. France just emerged from an incandescent election cycle and is still going through a government crisis. In the past year, public protests enflamed the country, and especially Paris, with many wondering whether the French capital was ready for the Olympics.
There were many concerns about extremist violence, especially as tensions in the Middle East reached historical peaks. Finally, the opening ceremony angered many conservatives and was considered the highest expression of the so-called “woke” culture.
In the end, however, the Paris Olympics overcame all shortcomings.
Why the 2024 Paris Olympics were a success
Despite all the challenges, the Paris Olympics could be considered a success. For two weeks, the French people united behind their flag and proved to the world they’re still a nation that looks to the future, not the past.
“Les Bleus”, the French athletes, pulled a historic account winning 64 medals and 16 golds, France’s best performance since the 1900 Paris Olympics. The French newspapers Le Monde and Le Figaro, generally on opposite sides of the political spectrum, agree the Paris Olympics reignited France’s “élan”.
“The Paris Games gave the capital and the whole of France more than two weeks of fervor and happiness,” Le Monde wrote yesterday, “all the more unexpected and appreciated as they came after a political situation dominated by decline and xenophobia, which left the country more divided than ever and without a government.”
From an economic standpoint, the Paris Olympics were also a staggering success. Almost 10 million tickets were sold, breaking the previous record of 8.3 million at Atlanta 1996. And while they broke attendance records, the Paris Olympics were also relatively cheap: $8.2 billion compared to Tokyo 2020’s $15.4 billion and Rio 2016’s $13.1 billion.
Ticket prices ranged between €100 and €1,500, meaning the ceremony almost certainly recouped its expenses. Not to mention the economic impact on the city itself, with tourism soaring 19% year-on-year and AirBnB bookings increasing by 400% annually.
According to the French Institute of Statistics, the Paris Olympics will add 0-3-0.4% GDP growth in the current quarter.
Finally, several measures will remain even after the games ended, including efforts to clean the Seine River. According to Le Figaro, the French government will continue investing in this project, opening the Seine to public balneation in 2025.
In short, despite everything that was said before, the 2024 Paris Olympics were a success and set an example for Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.
