As a testament to the societal hope placed in the Olympics, Presidents Sarkozy, Hollande, and Macron have directly involved themselves in the Paris 2024 project. Beyond the capital, an entire country can benefit from this assignment. Provided that the organization of such a competition is enhanced with a focus on social value, as outlined by Renato Tullio Ferrari, Bruno Kauffman, and Jérôme Vandamme, to the students of the School of Journalism during a symposium-debate.
The Olympic flame overlooking Paris does not shine yet. However, the Olympic spirit, its values, already shines brightly in France. The echoes heard from Lima on September 13 will continue to grow until the auditory peak expected on August 2, 2024, the date of the opening ceremony.
The Olympic motto “Higher, Faster, Stronger” is there to remind us. Renato Tullio Ferrari also remarks, “I hear everywhere: ‘We got the Games’ … That’s false. This is just the beginning. Let’s speak in the present then. Paris 2024 begins now if we want these Games to be beneficial in various aspects,” warns the former member of the Rome 2004 Olympic bid committee.
Much like an athlete’s warm-up, an entire country must now begin its preparation to be ready in 2024.
The athletes will not be the only actors of this “great cause that unites an entire nation,” affirms Bruno Kauffman, former communications director of the French Rugby Federation during the 2007 World Cup. A competition of this magnitude can bring economic benefits. But the benefits to be reaped are primarily for society.”
The triumphant echo from Lima must therefore continue to resonate throughout France. In sports clubs, schools, Hope Centers… Everywhere this generation 2024 lives and grows.
“From the Olympic ideal to the ideal of our youth”
The project is called Paris 2024, but all of France must be involved. The athletes are highlighted, but the entire population must feel concerned. The kickoff is scheduled in seven years, but all the work starts now.
Jérôme Vandamme, chief of staff to the President of the Union for Enterprise 06 (UPE06), attests, “the Olympics are a hope to enchant our country, our youth again. It is important to involve our youth, to provide new hope through this project.” The Paris 2024 generation is currently in schools. Exit the 1998 generation “quickly diluted,” according to him, “this generation of the Games must be prepared in advance.”
The organization of the Olympics is an excellent means of transcribing the values of Olympism into our youth and sports policy. This social and sustainable heritage is ours to create.”
One hundred years after Paris 1924, French enthusiasm for this bid has continued to grow. As proof, even Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, is now touched by the Olympic fever. She, however, was vaccinated against the early beginnings of the candidacy.
“There is always this symbolic side of participating in the Games. Whether for the athletes, even the last, and for the organizers. Apart from Los Angeles in 1984, all have lost money organizing the Olympics,” warns Renato Tullio Ferrari. But none are disappointed for having organized them.” A testament to the reputation that the Olympics still enjoy.
Despite national consensus for the competition’s organization—unions, employers, the political sphere, and especially the population are, for once, in tune—the flame can quickly spread.
Just like a long jumper, Paris has successfully gained momentum with this well-conducted campaign. Then its take-off, through the validation of its project by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The peak of the jump will be this summer 2024, but caution is needed upon landing to validate this attempt. Otherwise, all the benefits of this effort may be lost.
The main concern remains seeing these infrastructures built for an event and quickly becoming obsolete.
Those famous Greek or Brazilian “white elephants” dying despite their non-use. Except the project led by Tony Estanguet relies on 95% already constructed facilities. And especially on France’s youngest and poorest department, Seine-Saint-Denis, already on the starting blocks to inherit from this event.
Paris thus expects to welcome the world, showcase its know-how in a short and specified timeframe, but above all expects to enhance this social, societal, and material heritage in the long term.
For yes, the colors of Olympism are not the white of “elephants” but rather the bronze, silver, and gold of the medals.
by Alexandre Plumey, EdJ
