Rethinking the post-Olympics infrastructure
One of the most enduring challenges for any host city is what to do with the infrastructure once the Games are over. Paris 2024 is setting a new standard in this regard, steering clear of the “white elephant” projects – large-scale infrastructure developments that become underutilized, expensive to maintain, or completely abandoned once the event concludes – that have burdened past host cities.
After the Rio Olympics in 2016, for instance, many of the venues within the Olympic Park were left unused and deteriorated, becoming symbols of excessive spending and poor planning.
However, by limiting new construction to just 5% of the venues and focusing on temporary or existing structures, Paris ensures that its Olympic venues will serve long-term community needs rather than becoming a costly and underutilized relic.
One example is the Olympic Village, built on revitalized industrial land in the historically underserved area of Seine-Saint-Denis. Post-Games, the athletes’ dormitories will be transformed into 2,800 “affordable” housing units. This strategy not only reduces the environmental impact but also promotes social equity, turning what could have been short-lived structures into lasting community assets.
The decision to host swimming events in the newly cleaned River Seine is another powerful example, turning a century-long environmental challenge into a positive legacy.