Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo Highlights City’s 2024 Olympics Transformation
|
Listen to this story
|
PARIS, FRANCE: In a press conference at the Paris Media Centre at Le Carreau du Temple, Mayor Anne Hidalgo candidly reflected on how the 2024 Olympic Games have reshaped the city. This transformation, she emphasised, goes far beyond temporary sporting events, marking a profound shift in the city’s infrastructure, environmental policies, and social dynamics.
Hidalgo, a socialist who has governed Paris since 2014, acknowledged the enormity of the challenge of hosting the Olympics. “Many people are now aware of the colossal challenge of hosting the Games in the city,” she began, recognising the years of preparation and effort since Paris was selected to host in 2017. Yet, instead of focusing solely on the difficulties, she pointed to the Games as an opportunity to accelerate critical changes that might have taken decades otherwise.
“We have achieved what we set out to do. This is the result of 10 years of work. It’s not just fifteen days of happiness, it’s not an afterthought. The Seine is clean, it will stay clean, and we will swim in it – the whole population will swim in the Seine,” Hidalgo stated.
She suggested that the river’s cleanup is a lasting benefit of the Games, not a fleeting accomplishment. However, two triathlon athletes from the four-member Portuguese team who swam in the triathlon competition in the River Seine reportedly fell ill, amid concerns about the river’s water quality.
Hidalgo also highlighted the role of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in this transformation, particularly under the leadership of Thomas Bach. “Bach has done a lot to transform the Games – making them more sustainable, more inclusive, and serving the population beyond the Games to improve the quality of life,” she said. However, her focus remained on how these changes have directly impacted Paris, rather than on the broader Olympic movement.
Anne Hidalgo, Paris Mayor, Pierre Rabadan, Paris Deputy Mayor for sports, Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, and Lamia El Aaraje, Paris Deputy Mayor for urban planning and universal accessibility, at a press conference on the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France, on August 9, 2024, at Paris Media Centre. (Eric Lejoindre)
The Mayor’s vision for Paris was clear: a greener, more inclusive city where citizen participation is central. “There were three elements I wanted to align: my project, our collective project, and our vision for Paris – a greener, more inclusive city where citizen participation is central,” Hidalgo explained. She framed the Olympics as a catalyst for these long-term goals, pushing forward projects that might otherwise have stalled.
Hidalgo also spoke about the Games’ impact on social attitudes, particularly regarding gender equality. “It’s not just the first Olympic Games in history with an equal number of men and women; it’s more than that. I really like the fact that there is as much public interest in the men’s events as there is in the women’s,” she said.
The Mayor pointed to the full stadiums for both men’s and women’s events as a sign of progress, but she also acknowledged the broader societal implications.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Paralympic Games, Hidalgo stressed their potential to make an even more profound impact. “What we’ve seen with the Olympic Games is nothing like what we’re going to see with the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games are a cultural shock. Be prepared,” she said, hinting at the transformative power these Games could have on perceptions of diversity and inclusion in Paris.
As the press conference concluded, Hidalgo reflected on the enduring legacy of the Games. “The Olympic Games will never be forgotten. But the Paralympic Games, which are, in fact, the first Paralympic Games organised by Paris and by France, will be even less forgotten. And we will change attitudes towards diversity and uniqueness,” she said.
As Hidalgo described, the Paris 2024 Games have been more than just a global event. They have served as a critical juncture for the city, pushing forward essential changes and setting the stage for a more inclusive, sustainable future. However, as the Mayor made clear, the true test will be whether these changes can endure long after the Olympic flame has been extinguished.
