2024 OLYMPIC GAMES MORE NEGATIVE THAN POSITIVE IMPACTS FOR PARIS ?

Infrastructure already ready, or almost

In the area of ​​infrastructure, Paris is already prepared, or at least almost, even before the Games begin. Indeed, nearly 95% of the equipment needed for the 2024 Games has already been erected.

More specifically, it remains mainly to finalize the construction of an aquatic center as well as the Olympic village, which will later be transformed into housing, located in the municipality of L'Île-Saint-Denis.
Given that France remains the world's leading tourist destination, the reception of spectators and visitors is also fully assured.

According to estimates by Bureau Veritas, France is able to simultaneously accommodate more than 1 million tourists in its hotels, thus having 470,000 rooms. It should be noted that "a third of the 155,000 rooms in Île-de-France will be reserved for the Olympics", underlines the study, highlighting the fact that 60% of French hotel establishments have a classification of 3 to 5 stars.
The quality of transport networks is also highlighted. The launch of the Grand Paris Express project, described as "one of the largest projects in the world" by the firm of experts, with its 68 new stations and 200 kilometers of new metro lines, will allow, in the next fifteen years, to halve the travel time between Roissy and Orly airports. These infrastructures contribute to reinforce the compactness of the sites, given that most of the competitions will take place within a radius of 10 kilometers.

The end of mismanagement ?

Since Paris is almost ready, she can hope to minimize the financial damage, which is a crucial point. Indeed, most of the previous editions have resulted in considerable losses. This was the case for Athens in 2000, Beijing in 2008, London in 2012, Sochi in 2014 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016. In October 2016, Rome decided to withdraw, mainly due to the decision of Virginia Raggi, the new mayor of the city elected four months earlier, not to "compromise the future of his city".
On the surface, funding is secure and expenses will be under control. Indeed, the overall budget will amount to approximately 6.6 billion euros. An organizational budget of 3.6 billion euros, called the "Cojo budget" (Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games),

This budget will not be financed by public funds, but by income from the IOC, ticketing and the marketing program (1 billion euros). It aims to cover the accommodation and catering costs of the athletes, as well as the temporary installations which will be dismantled after the Games.
As for the budget excluding Cojo, intended for the construction of the infrastructures that will remain after the Games, it is estimated at 3 billion euros. Half of this amount comes from private funds, while the other half comes from public investment, of which 1 billion euros will be paid by the State.

This budget will finance the Olympic village, the cost of which is estimated at 1.2 billion euros and which will be transformed into an eco-district after the event. It will also cover expenses related to the nautical center (108 million euros), the construction of footbridges in Seine-Saint-Denis, the development of an interchange on the A86 in Saint-Denis, as well as burying high voltage lines

When the costs exceed the benefits

 According to a study published in June 2016 by the Center for Sports Law and Economics (CDES) in Limoges, the impact of the Games in Paris could be around 5.3 to 10.7 billion euros on the capital and the Ile-de-France region. Compared to the French GDP, this therefore remains measured.

Although under certain favorable conditions it seems possible to obtain a boost in the local economy, studies on the economic impact of GESI above all illustrate the way in which the costs almost always exceed the benefits, leading economists to evoke the "curse of winner" of the Olympic bid. In fact, economic impact studies do not distinguish between winners and losers: they simply measure whether there is a monetary gain.

Many Olympiads present the case of a public expenditure whose debt for the taxpayer has stretched over several decades, like the Games in Montreal in 1976 or Rome in 1960.

If the protesters denounce a waste of public funds for projects that would not have sufficient social utility, the choice to apply for a major international sporting event (GESI) would be justified for others by the promise of an economic heritage. and social sustainability that will benefit everyone.

A mixed lasting impact on the lives of Parisians

The impact of the Olympic Games can also have repercussions on the daily life of Parisians. Studies have assessed factors such as sense of belonging, happiness and satisfaction. The 2012 London Olympics were instructive in this regard, highlighting both elements of pride and well-being, as well as potential harms, depending on the contexts and populations studied.
The issue of social cohesion and local identity is also addressed.

The Olympics are meant to help break down social barriers and encourage the development of interpersonal relationships. However, these moments of identity communion can be ephemeral and sometimes lead to divisions and feelings of exclusion, as was observed during Euro 2016 in certain Parisian districts with little involvement in the event.
An increase in physical activity?

Another aspect to consider is the impact on physical activity. The 2012 London Olympics were accompanied by an effort to promote physical activity and sport, with mixed results. Some articles and surveys point to slightly positive effects (the rate of inactivity – less than 30 minutes per week – going from 29% to 27% between 2012 and 2021), while reporting an increase in inequalities between population categories . Ten years later, childhood obesity remains a major public health problem in England, including in the neighborhoods bordering the Olympic sites.

What could we expect from London 2012, a two-week event, in terms of developing sports practice?

If public policies are not able to meet the challenges related to food, lifestyle, lack of space and equipment, as well as the development of means of transport such as walking or cycling , so what can we really expect from such events? In July 2022, Sport England highlighted that hosting big events is not enough to drive long-term behavior change nationwide.

It's up to Paris 2024 to learn from these past experiences so as not to repeat the same mistakes.