Paris 2024: A Historic, Inclusive & Sustainable Olympic Games
A Transformative Moment Along the Seine
One year ago, under stormy summer skies, a historic moment unfolded along the River Seine. For the first time in Olympic history, the Opening Ceremony left the confines of a stadium and took to the heart of the city. Athletes representing over 200 National Olympic Committees, along with the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, glided down the river on a flotilla of boats, turning the Seine into a spectacular live stage.
Despite the rain, more than 300,000 spectators gathered along the riverbanks, with hundreds of millions tuning in from around the world. They witnessed a reimagined city brought to life through sport—radiating pride, creativity, and inclusivity.
Seventeen Days of Celebration and Sport
Over the course of the Games, Paris was electric. Nearly 90% of residents in the Paris region engaged with the events, creating a palpable buzz across streets, arenas, and public screens. From exhilarating moments at the Stade de France to deafening cheers at La Défense Arena, the entire city felt alive.
Spectacular athletic feats marked the Games: Simone Biles made a triumphant return, Léon Marchand dazzled with five swimming medals, and Armand Duplantis broke a world record in pole vaulting. Even Tahiti played a role, where surfers tackled the legendary waves of Teahupo’o—underscoring how Paris 2024 expanded the reach and significance of the Games. With five billion viewers, about 84% of the global potential audience, these Olympics became the most-watched ever.
A New Vision for the Games
Living up to its “Games Wide Open” motto, Paris 2024 was the first Olympics to fully reflect the Olympic Agenda reforms—aimed at making the Games more sustainable, inclusive, and aligned with the needs of host cities.
Every phase—from planning to execution to long-term legacy—was driven by a simple guiding question: how can the Games serve the people, the city, and future generations?
Sport as a Daily Habit
Paris 2024 brought physical activity into everyday life, especially for the youth. The “Bouger Plus” campaign integrated 30 minutes of daily exercise into French primary schools, and over 38,000 children learned to swim through the “1,2,3 Nagez!” initiative.
Since 2017, over five million young people have engaged with Olympic and Paralympic Week, including 700,000 in 2025 alone. Through the “Impact 2024” Fund, 4.5 million individuals benefitted from community projects promoting sport and social innovation.
Across France, more than 5,000 municipalities took part in the “Terre de Jeux” programme, hosting over 50,000 sports events since 2019. Of these, 370 towns and cities—home to over a third of the nation’s population—earned the “Ville Active et Sportive” label for forward-thinking sports policies.
The Paris 2024 Organising Committee closed with a €76 million surplus, which will fuel future investments in sport through the Paris 2024 Endowment Fund.
A Games for Everyone
Inclusivity was deeply woven into the Paris 2024 experience. One million tickets were distributed for free to local residents. All venues were built or renovated with accessibility in mind. People with disabilities participated not only as athletes but as volunteers, organisers, fans, and performers.
Paris 2024 was the first Olympic Games to achieve complete gender equality on the field, thanks to equal allocation of athlete quotas. Twenty-eight out of 32 sports reached full gender parity, and 196 countries chose both a male and female flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony.
Celebrations across thousands of communities brought the Olympic spirit into everyday life, reinforcing the idea that these Games truly belonged to everyone.
Lasting Economic and Social Benefits
The Games delivered an estimated €7 to €11 billion in net value to the Greater Paris area—stimulating local economies, supporting skill-building, and fostering lasting investments. Over 181,000 jobs were created, and 90% of suppliers were based in France—80% of them small or medium enterprises. More than 800 local businesses from the social and solidarity economy played a role, boosting visibility for inclusive entrepreneurship.
Seine-Saint-Denis—a region rich in diversity but often underserved—hosted the Olympic Village and Aquatics Centre. The Village is now being transformed into a sustainable urban neighbourhood with homes, schools, and green spaces. The Aquatics Centre is now open to the public, enhancing sports access in an area that long lacked such facilities. On July 26, 2025, one year after the Opening Ceremony, the Centre will open for free to mark the anniversary.
Upgrades in transport, parks, and public services were fast-tracked. Parc Georges-Valbon, once a fan zone, has been revitalised into France’s largest new urban park, offering green space and recreation to local residents.
The Seine River itself became a powerful symbol of renewal. Decades of pollution were reversed, and the river was reopened for public swimming. On July 5, 2025, three natural swimming spots—Bras Marie, Bercy, and Grenelle—welcomed swimmers.
New parks, cleaner streets, and a more relaxed urban rhythm are enhancing the lives of Parisians - not just visitors.
Sustainability at the Core
Paris 2024 raised the bar for environmental responsibility. It was the first Games to align with the Paris Climate Agreement, cutting carbon emissions by 50% compared to London 2012 and Rio 2016. Ninety-five percent of venues were existing or temporary, and only three low-emission structures were newly built.
Of the six million items used during the Games, nearly all were reused, recycled, or donated. The entire event ran on renewable energy—with no diesel generators and even solar panels installed on the Seine.
Most spectators—87%—used public or active transport, aided by an improved network of bike lanes and a Games layout designed for accessibility and efficiency.
A New Standard, Not a One-Size-Fits-All
Paris didn’t just host an Olympic Games—it redefined what it means to do so. Central to this evolution were the principles of Olympic Agenda: flexibility, local relevance, and long-term impact. The Games are no longer a rigid formula; they adapt to a host’s unique goals—whether those involve social equity, environmental sustainability, economic growth, or urban renewal.
Paris 2024 proved that, when grounded in purpose, sport can become a catalyst for deep and lasting change—built with inclusivity, intention, and integration from the start.
One year ago, under stormy summer skies, a historic moment unfolded along the River Seine. For the first time in Olympic history, the Opening Ceremony left the confines of a stadium and took to the heart of the city. Athletes representing over 200 National Olympic Committees, along with the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, glided down the river on a flotilla of boats, turning the Seine into a spectacular live stage.
Despite the rain, more than 300,000 spectators gathered along the riverbanks, with hundreds of millions tuning in from around the world. They witnessed a reimagined city brought to life through sport—radiating pride, creativity, and inclusivity.
Seventeen Days of Celebration and Sport
Over the course of the Games, Paris was electric. Nearly 90% of residents in the Paris region engaged with the events, creating a palpable buzz across streets, arenas, and public screens. From exhilarating moments at the Stade de France to deafening cheers at La Défense Arena, the entire city felt alive.
Spectacular athletic feats marked the Games: Simone Biles made a triumphant return, Léon Marchand dazzled with five swimming medals, and Armand Duplantis broke a world record in pole vaulting. Even Tahiti played a role, where surfers tackled the legendary waves of Teahupo’o—underscoring how Paris 2024 expanded the reach and significance of the Games. With five billion viewers, about 84% of the global potential audience, these Olympics became the most-watched ever.
A New Vision for the Games
Living up to its “Games Wide Open” motto, Paris 2024 was the first Olympics to fully reflect the Olympic Agenda reforms—aimed at making the Games more sustainable, inclusive, and aligned with the needs of host cities.
Every phase—from planning to execution to long-term legacy—was driven by a simple guiding question: how can the Games serve the people, the city, and future generations?
Sport as a Daily Habit
Paris 2024 brought physical activity into everyday life, especially for the youth. The “Bouger Plus” campaign integrated 30 minutes of daily exercise into French primary schools, and over 38,000 children learned to swim through the “1,2,3 Nagez!” initiative.
Since 2017, over five million young people have engaged with Olympic and Paralympic Week, including 700,000 in 2025 alone. Through the “Impact 2024” Fund, 4.5 million individuals benefitted from community projects promoting sport and social innovation.
Across France, more than 5,000 municipalities took part in the “Terre de Jeux” programme, hosting over 50,000 sports events since 2019. Of these, 370 towns and cities—home to over a third of the nation’s population—earned the “Ville Active et Sportive” label for forward-thinking sports policies.
The Paris 2024 Organising Committee closed with a €76 million surplus, which will fuel future investments in sport through the Paris 2024 Endowment Fund.
A Games for Everyone
Inclusivity was deeply woven into the Paris 2024 experience. One million tickets were distributed for free to local residents. All venues were built or renovated with accessibility in mind. People with disabilities participated not only as athletes but as volunteers, organisers, fans, and performers.
Paris 2024 was the first Olympic Games to achieve complete gender equality on the field, thanks to equal allocation of athlete quotas. Twenty-eight out of 32 sports reached full gender parity, and 196 countries chose both a male and female flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony.
Celebrations across thousands of communities brought the Olympic spirit into everyday life, reinforcing the idea that these Games truly belonged to everyone.
Lasting Economic and Social Benefits
The Games delivered an estimated €7 to €11 billion in net value to the Greater Paris area—stimulating local economies, supporting skill-building, and fostering lasting investments. Over 181,000 jobs were created, and 90% of suppliers were based in France—80% of them small or medium enterprises. More than 800 local businesses from the social and solidarity economy played a role, boosting visibility for inclusive entrepreneurship.
Seine-Saint-Denis—a region rich in diversity but often underserved—hosted the Olympic Village and Aquatics Centre. The Village is now being transformed into a sustainable urban neighbourhood with homes, schools, and green spaces. The Aquatics Centre is now open to the public, enhancing sports access in an area that long lacked such facilities. On July 26, 2025, one year after the Opening Ceremony, the Centre will open for free to mark the anniversary.
Upgrades in transport, parks, and public services were fast-tracked. Parc Georges-Valbon, once a fan zone, has been revitalised into France’s largest new urban park, offering green space and recreation to local residents.
The Seine River itself became a powerful symbol of renewal. Decades of pollution were reversed, and the river was reopened for public swimming. On July 5, 2025, three natural swimming spots—Bras Marie, Bercy, and Grenelle—welcomed swimmers.
New parks, cleaner streets, and a more relaxed urban rhythm are enhancing the lives of Parisians - not just visitors.
Sustainability at the Core
Paris 2024 raised the bar for environmental responsibility. It was the first Games to align with the Paris Climate Agreement, cutting carbon emissions by 50% compared to London 2012 and Rio 2016. Ninety-five percent of venues were existing or temporary, and only three low-emission structures were newly built.
Of the six million items used during the Games, nearly all were reused, recycled, or donated. The entire event ran on renewable energy—with no diesel generators and even solar panels installed on the Seine.
Most spectators—87%—used public or active transport, aided by an improved network of bike lanes and a Games layout designed for accessibility and efficiency.
A New Standard, Not a One-Size-Fits-All
Paris didn’t just host an Olympic Games—it redefined what it means to do so. Central to this evolution were the principles of Olympic Agenda: flexibility, local relevance, and long-term impact. The Games are no longer a rigid formula; they adapt to a host’s unique goals—whether those involve social equity, environmental sustainability, economic growth, or urban renewal.
Paris 2024 proved that, when grounded in purpose, sport can become a catalyst for deep and lasting change—built with inclusivity, intention, and integration from the start.
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