The Paris Olympics 2024
It was a Sunday.
August 11, 2024.
The day felt like the morning after the party. And the party was grand — one that lasted more than two weeks.
Some folks were just going to bed, the hosts were finally beginning to stretch and yawn, while those who didn’t pick up the hint were exhausted, and the few last party-hards were doing god knows what in dark corners.
Sure, some athletes would still compete fiercely today, but many athletes had decided to skip the closing ceremony and had flown back home already. Those who stayed back were beginning to unwind.
With France being France, the women’s marathon runners were running on the last day (unlike men’s marathon runners who usually get to do this on the last day of the Olympics). This was done specifically to highlight the historic Women’s March of Versailles in 1789, the earliest and the most significant event of the French Revolution.
Serbia and Croatia would be battling it out in water polo today, while Germany would face Denmark in handball, the US women’s basketball team would try to equal China’s gold medal tally in their final against France, a few cyclists would race at the velodrome somewhere, and a few weightlifters would compete at Arena Sud.
Betting had slowed down, the shelves were becoming empty, there was mess everywhere, and the cleaning crews were already starting in, getting everything ready to go all over again in the Paralympics.
The atmosphere was a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration.
Welcome to the last of the Paris Olympics 2024!
Before the Games began, there were myriad concerns. Security fears loomed large with potential terrorist threats and cyberattacks. Crowd management was another significant worry, compounded by the threat of labor strikes and political tensions. Even the viability of hosting swimming competitions in the Seine was questioned due to pollution levels.
Side Note: The movie ‘Under Paris’ on Netflix was made with the aim of taking a shot at Paris hosting the Olympics — in particular about the dangers of Seine.
Additionally, President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call for early legislative elections added to the political chaos just before international athletes and fans arrived.
A mid-July poll by Ifop revealed that more than two-thirds of adults in France were indifferent, worried, or angry about the forthcoming Olympics. France’s enthusiasm for the Games was near the bottom compared to 33 other countries surveyed by Ipsos. And then something happened over the next few weeks that changed everything including the French enthusiasm.
Here we were. On the last day of the Olympics.
The Paris 2024 Olympics was one of the most anticipated events of the year. However, with high stakes came high risks. From potential terrorist threats and cyberattacks to crowd crushes and political turmoil, the path to the Olympics was fraught with challenges.
But as the Games concluded, it became clear that Paris had successfully navigated these hurdles.
A Triumph against All Odds
Despite the challenges mentioned above, Paris delivered a spectacular Olympic Games. The city amazed visitors and viewers with stunning venues that showcased its iconic landmarks in breathtakingly new ways. Spectators returned in full force for the first time since the pandemic, bringing a renewed energy to the capital. Some Parisians even cut short their vacations to be part of the excitement.
The 2024 Paris Olympics will be remembered as one of the most memorable and stylish Games in history. With its blend of thrilling competition, iconic venues, and a uniquely French flair, it was a celebration that brought together athletes and spectators from around the world, offering a brief but cherished sense of global community.
“It has been the perfect Games for Paris, for France, and — if you want — for Macron,” said French political scientist Dominique Moïsi.
Even Macron’s low approval ratings saw a slight uptick.
Not everything went smoothly though. Investigations are still open into arson attacks on high-speed rail lines on the eve of the Opening Ceremonies. Some athletes and organizers reported receiving threats and online harassment. Torrential rains elevated pollution levels in the Seine, leading to canceled training sessions, and a delayed triathlon.
However, the worst-case scenarios never materialized.
“We French, we like to complain. But honestly, right now everything that’s happening is rather positive,” said political researcher Pierre Mathiot.
A Model for Future Games?
Paris set an example for future Olympic hosts. Using existing venues and encouraging public transport not only made the Games more sustainable but also seamlessly integrated them into the city. Iconic locations like the Grand Palais, the Eiffel Tower’s foot, the Palace of Versailles, and Place de la Concorde hosted various events, adding to the allure.
However, the Games were not without criticism. Reports surfaced about the “social cleansing” in the city center, with over 12,545 homeless and migrant people being expelled from Île de France before the Games. Despite the glamour, this underlying issue highlighted the complexities of hosting such a massive event and Paris, in its own way, showed it is not very different from a few other big cities that hosted the games in the past when it came to hiding the city’s other side.
Moments to Remember
Paris rose to the occasion spectacularly, much like Céline Dion striding onto the Eiffel Tower esplanade in her shimmering Christian Dior gown to sing “L’Hymne à l’amour.”
This imagery encapsulates the essence of the past fortnight, filled with many more unforgettable moments.
Here are a few moments that stuck with me.
The roaring shouts of “Allez!” echoed each time Léon Marchand broke the water during his 200m medley, winning his fourth gold medal.
Katie Ledecky equalling the Olympic record of 12 medals in swimming when she won the gold in the 1500m freestyle swimming.
Julien Alfred’s victory in the women’s 100m gave Saint Lucia its first-ever medal, proving that even underdogs can triumph in hyped events.
Noah Lyles lived up to his own lofty expectations, winning the men’s 100m final by just five-thousandths of a second (and also lost many fans through his somewhat high-horsy comments).
Quincy Hall’s breathtaking comeback to win the 400m final.
Simone Biles landed the Yurchenko double pike, a feat now named in her honor.
Mondo Duplantis’ record-breaking pole vault feat (and his visibly hungover interview the next morning).
Novak Djokovic finally secured his elusive gold medal, beating the greatest player of the next generation.
The USA artistic swimming team wowed spectators with an underwater moonwalk while performing to MJ’s Smooth Criminal. (They also performed to AR Rahman’s Taal medley during an early round).
Steph Curry’s four three-pointers in two minutes clinched the men’s basketball final against France.
Reaction of Chinese gymnast Zhou Yaqin during the medal ceremony and the subsequent medal-biting celebration arising out of an innocent FOMO.
A golden legacy for Diana Taurasi.
Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina caught on camera looking like he is floating above the water. A deserving entry for Jerome Brouillet (Getty Images) in the ‘Olympics Photography Hall of Fame’ for sure.
A genius move by the DJ, who played John Lennon’s “Imagine”, during the women’s beach volleyball final to diffuse the tension when the French and Brazilian players were involved in a heated argument. Players smiled, the crowd sang along, and the atmosphere lightened immediately.
Bob the ‘Cap Catcher’ and his two minutes of fame.
Anthony Ammirati’s “I don’t know if I should take it well or not” moment during his failed pole vault jump.
Australian breaker Raygun’s kangaroo impression.
For Indian sports fans, the iconic image of Sreejesh (playing his last match) being carried around, after the Indian field hockey team won a Bronze medal against Spain.
Turkish Shooter Yusuf Dikeç and his casual shooting style where he put one hand in his pocket. This style became quite viral even among the athletes, and many were seen posing for pictures with their medals in Dikeç style.
And finally, Snoop Dogg — the only legitimate star of the Paris Olympics. He carried the Olympic torch, captivated audiences as NBC’s prime-time correspondent, swam with Michael Phelps, attended a U.S. women’s soccer game with Megan Rapinoe, danced with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, and cheered on Caeleb Dressel alongside the swimmer’s wife and son. Then rounded it all up with a sensational performance from Los Angeles with Dr. Dre during the closing ceremony.
Needless to say, there were so many more memories and moments that gave us joy, tears, heartbreaks, and laughs— all emotions that truly embody the spirit of the Olympics. This is not even considering those specific moments of brilliance from the opening and the closing ceremonies.
The Track and Field events offered so many exciting moments, standout and superlative athletic performances that I figured I would condense them all into one list and give away 10 awards.
Of course, this is a very subjective list.
Best Male Athlete — Mondo Duplantis 🇸🇪
Best Female Athlete — Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone 🇺🇸
Breakout Star — Letsile Tebogo 🇧🇼
Clutch Performer — Andre de Grasse 🇨🇦
Fan Favorite — Sha’carri Richardson 🇺🇸
Game Changer — Letsile Tebogo 🇧🇼 and Roje Stona 🇯🇲
Best New Comer — Masai Russell 🇺🇸
GOLD Standard — Gabby Thomas 🇺🇸
Most Impactful — Julie Alfred 🇱🇨
MVP — Shifan Hassan 🇳🇱
The Verdict
President Macron aimed to capitalize on the Games’ success to bolster his legacy. Although he played a minor role during the Opening Ceremonies, he was actively engaged throughout the Games, sharing updates and celebrating victories with athletes. However, some critics felt his actions were politically motivated. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also staked her reputation on these Olympics. Despite years of criticism, she claimed victory over skeptics. She used the Games to advance efforts to limit car traffic, extend bike lanes, and open more pedestrian spaces. Her boldest project was the Seine cleanup, a feat that had not been attempted since swimming was banned in the river in 1923.
The Paris 2024 Olympics have undoubtedly boosted France’s global image and soft power. However, the true test will come next summer when the city aims to make sections of the Seine swimmable for the public. The success of this initiative will determine if the hefty investment was worth it. The Opening Ceremonies on the Seine were particularly daring, given Paris’s history of terrorist attacks and current geopolitical tensions. Yet, Paris managed to pull it off, setting a new standard for future Olympic hosts.
Now that we have the visuals and data to look at and analyze, it is safe to say that the Paris 2024 Olympics was a gamble that paid off. Despite numerous challenges, the city delivered an unforgettable experience. The Games not only showcased the best of athleticism but also the resilience and spirit of Paris. Now, all eyes are on the upcoming Paralympic Games, and the city is ready to shine once again.
In many ways, there was nothing aspirational about these Paris Games. The organizers didn’t commission any multimillion dollar mega construction projects. They built a new aquatics centre, which will apparently serve the local community, Saint-Denis, and a new climbing wall that will continue to serve the community there. But the key is that the French did not raze any neighborhoods, or construct any vast new stadiums.
Paris did a brilliant job of using its assets, from the fencing under the great glass roof of the Grand Palais, to the beach volleyball arena at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the equestrian events on the backyard of the Palace of Versailles, and the urban sports in the Place de la Concorde.
In contrast, the Chinese, British and Brazilians — all treated the Olympics as an exercise in showing the world what they could be. The French, unapologetically reconciled to themselves, didn’t seem to be trying to project anything except who they already are. To me what particularly stood out in these Games was the fact that Paris celebrated individuality and excellence without the need for these extravagant new constructions. The French embraced their identity, offering a Games that reflected their culture and values.
The decision to stage the competitions in existing venues, and to encourage everyone to use public transport, ought to be a model of how to hold the Games in the 21st century. From thrilling competitions to moments of controversy and joy, the Paris Olympics will be remembered for their unique charm and unforgettable stories.
The success of the Paris Olympics was the result of a collective effort involving over 4,000 officials, 45,000 volunteers, 35,000 police and gendarmerie officers, 18,000 French soldiers, and 1,800 foreign law enforcement personnel. Their work continues as the Paralympic Games are set to begin on August 28.
And as Raygun aptly put it, “Don’t be afraid to be different. Go out there and represent yourself — you never know where that’s gonna take you.”
This motto resonates with the spirit of the Olympics and the extraordinary athletes who make it so special.
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PS:
If I have to do a power ranking of the Paris Olympics 2024 just for fun, this is what it would look like:
