Gold Medal for Green
The Summer Olympics in Paris promise to be the greenest in history, but can the Games ever be truly sustainable?
The Olympic Games aren’t known for their environmental stewardship. However, this summer in Paris, French and Olympic officials plan to show the world that sport and sustainability can align and that it is possible to create a greener future. Can they pull it off?
PARIS—The 2024 Paris Olympics, beginning tomorrow with the Opening Ceremony on the Seine River, is set to be a landmark event, not only for the athletes and spectators but also for sustainability. Dubbed the "greenest-ever" Games, Paris 2024 is leveraging adaptive reuse and green technologies to create an event that aligns with The Paris Agreement, a multinational treaty that aims to limit global warming and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
“I want the Paris Games to be exemplary from an environmental point of view,” Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has said about the Olympic plans. However, recent reporting has suggested there have been some challenges to the mayor’s green pledge, including the clean-up of the Seine River, where questions remain about its safety for swimmers despite the mayor taking a plunge last week. Various countries, including the United States, have pledged to travel with their own air-conditioning units to cool rooms in the Athletes’ Village, despite temperatures here not expected to go above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius) for the duration of the Games.
Despite these challenges, Georgina Grenon, the director of environmental excellence for Paris 2024, believes that the Games are meeting their ambitious goals. She believes Paris can show the world that sustainability is possible on a large scale and affect change post-Games.
"If this Games managed to send that message across and that message is heard," Grenon said, "I think we have all won a really good medal out of this."
Making the Old New
Adaptive reuse is at the heart of Paris 2024’s strategy, with 95% of the venues being either pre-existing or temporary. Only two new venues have been built — one for aquatics and the other for badminton and rhythm gymnastics. This approach radically reduces the need for new construction and the use of concrete, thereby minimizing the environmental impact.
Key examples include:
Stade de Roland Garros: Known primarily for the French Open, this iconic venue will host tennis and boxing, as well as wheelchair tennis and seated volleyball, during the Paralympic Games in August. This adaptation highlights how existing sports infrastructure can be repurposed for multiple uses, extending its lifecycle and reducing the need for new builds.
Bercy Arena (Accor Arena): Traditionally a concert venue, it’s been transformed to host basketball and gymnastics for the Olympics and wheelchair basketball events for the Paralympics. The venue’s pre-existing capabilities make it an ideal candidate for adaptive reuse, showcasing its versatility.
Chateaú de Versailles: The former palace of King Louis XIV and its grounds, dating back to the 1600s, will host the equestrian, para-equestrian, and modern pentathlon events. This transformation includes constructing temporary structures that respect the historical site’s integrity while providing modern facilities for the different competitions.
Grand Palais: This historic exhibition hall, which opened in 1900, has been adapted to host fencing and taekwondo for the Olympics and wheelchair fencing and para-taekwondo for the Paralympics. Using such a prestigious venue not only preserves its historical significance but also underscores the adaptability of historic structures for modern use.
Building Sustainability
The Paris 2024 Olympics are setting a new benchmark for green architecture, aiming to halve the event’s carbon footprint compared to previous games. "We believe the success of Paris is how we will commit to this, maybe, main challenge of the society at that time," said Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee.
Key examples include:
Athletes' Village: The newly constructed village is powered by geothermal and solar energy. After the games, it will transform into a residential and business district, demonstrating a model for sustainable urban development. With almost 9,000 trees planted to enhance biodiversity, the village sets a new standard for eco-friendly living spaces.
Saint-Denis Aquatics Centre: This is one of two newly constructed venues for the Games, but it is the only one purposely built for sport. It features 5,000 square meters of solar panels, making it the largest solar farm in France. The center’s construction utilizes bio-based and recycled materials, emphasizing sustainable building practices.
Porte de la Chapelle Arena (Adidas Center): This is the second newly constructed venue for Paris 2024. It is made with recycled materials and wood. Its seats are made out of 100 tons of recycled plastic, and 80% of the building’s surface, including its roof, is covered with living plants.
Further Reducing the Footprint
Paris 2024 committed to halving the carbon emissions of the previous Games, which have averaged 3.5 million tonnes. To support this ambitious goal, they’ve employed several additional innovative strategies.
Key examples include:
Renewable Energy: All venues will use 100% renewable energy, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Diesel generators will be replaced with biofuel, hydrogen, or battery-powered alternatives.
Public Transport and Cycling: The games are structured to leverage Paris’s extensive public transport network, with more than 400 km of new bike lanes facilitating low-carbon travel. Over 80% of the venues are within a 10 km radius of the Olympic Village, reducing the need for long commutes.
Sustainable Catering: The Paris 2024 Food Vision includes a commitment to deliver meals with half the carbon emissions of an average French meal. By doubling the proportion of plant-based ingredients and sourcing 80% of food locally, the games will reduce their environmental impact while promoting healthier eating habits.
Challenges Persist
According to Grenon, this game’s carbon breakdown is projected to be 34% transportation, 33% operations, and 33% construction— a shocking 395,000 metric tons of carbon emissions are expected to come from spectators traveling alone. So, even with all the green measures in place, the Olympics will still create a significant carbon footprint. If Paris hits its ambitious targets, according to The Washington Post, the game’s carbon footprint will still be equivalent to 376,000 cars being driven nonstop for a year.
“It is important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but to say that the Games are sustainable makes no sense,” asserts Marie Delaplace, co-founder of the Observatoire de recherche sur les méga-évènements (ORME), which conducts research on the legacy and impact of events like the Paris 2024 Olympics on host territories in terms of image, attractiveness, and sustainability across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. “Holding this sort of an event will always have more of an impact than if it didn’t take place.”