Host cities for the Olympics are immediately welcomed by boosted tourism, new jobs, and a sense of pride in their city. However, the environmental impact of traveling spectators and athletes, construction of infrastructure, and transportation has been detrimental in past games. To combat this, the Paris Olympics and Paralympics put an extra emphasis on making their games sustainable in 2024.
The city of Paris felt especially pressured to focus on climate change after the 2016 signing of the Paris Agreement. The UN treaty focused on reducing greenhouse gasses and helping finance developing countries to better adapt to the impacts of climate change. According to the sustainability plan released by the Olympic organizers, the games aimed to align with this agreement by halving their greenhouse gas emissions. A carbon–neutral approach was taken to alleviate negative environmental effects. To obtain their goal, the 2024 Olympics utilized many different strategies to mitigate climate change. The International Olympic Committee revealed that 100% renewable energy was achieved through the solar panels on both the aquatics center and the Olympic village. Single-use plastics from catering were reduced by 50%, and plant–based food in the village was doubled. A circular economy plan was used for infrastructure, so waste was limited. This means that already existing and recycled or repaired materials were used for venues. The games also used clean vehicles for transportation and venues that were easily accessible by public transportation for spectators.
One of the biggest aspects that has negatively affected the environment when hosting the Olympics is the building of new venues just for the games. A study conducted by JAMK University of Applied Sciences in Finland shows that most funds go to updating or constructing venues, and this can be beneficial by improving quality of life for residents and attracting investors. However, the need for infrastructure built just for the Olympics is often questioned due to a lack of benefits beyond the use during the games, especially after high greenhouse gas emissions from construction. The building of new infrastructure also commonly results in loss of biodiversity and habitats.
Part of the Paris 2024 Olympics strategy for sustainability was using mostly existing or temporary venues, which, according to the International Olympic Committee, accounted for 95% of venues for this year’s games. One example of this was the use of the Stade–de–France, home to the France National Football Team. This arena can hold up to 81,000 seats and was used for the closing ceremony and athletic events. New venues built for 2024 were constructed according to local needs, with both the aquatics center and the village being built in an area where under–invested neighborhoods are located. According to the Olympics Committee, the aquatics center will be redeveloped for use by families and schools after the games. This aims to make up for a lack of sports facilities in the area. Following on the same path, NBC Bay Area reported that the 2028 LA Olympics are projected to use 100% existing or temporary venues.
With a large spectatorship, the Olympic games hold a responsibility to raise awareness of climate change and prioritize its sustainability. The Paris games lived up to this potential and should be seen as a model and starting point for future games to prioritize this problem.
