Paris Olympics: This Summer’s Sustainable ‘It-Girl’
Aim Wanglee ’27
Daphne Wong ’26
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics seized everyone’s attention with its groundbreaking performances and unique location. The Paris Olympics was the ‘it-girl’ of the summer–the talk of the town and everyone’s favorite channel on the TV. But have you ever wondered the extent of its commitment to sustainability? From creating beds for athletes out of recycled cardboard to transforming existing buildings into world-class venues, these were not just emblematic choices– they were part of a broader strategy to reduce waste, lower carbon emissions, and leave behind a sturdy foundation for a greener future.
At the heart of the infamous Olympic Village was an eye-catching feature that flooded news channels all over the globe: cardboard beds. These were not just beds; they symbolized Paris 2024’s mission to “reduce its carbon footprint by 50% percent compared to London 2021 and Rio 2016 average, aligning with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change” (Olympics, 2024). Furthermore, to accommodate the athletes, the beds were made from durable, recyclable cardboard, designed to be both lightweight and robust enough to withstand up to 200 kilograms. According to Cronkite News, after the games, the village was upcycled. Not only did Paris recycle “14,250 cardboard beds,” but it also repurposed the village into “a neighborhood with 2,500 homes, student residences, a hotel, parks and office spaces” (Cronkite News, 2024). This transformation will enormously benefit by reducing the environmental footprint, demonstrating that sustainability and comfort can go hand-in-hand, and opening the door for more innovative ideas.
The same forward-thinking mindset hovered over the Olympic Village and the actual games. Instead of constructing brand-new state-of-the-art facilities, the organizers transformed existing cultural icons like the Palace of Versailles for equestrian, the Eiffel Tower for beach volleyball, and the Esplanade des Invalides for archery into world-class stadiums and courses utilizing the city’s natural resources. All these transformations were built with eco-friendly materials such as wood and low-carbon concrete to reduce waste before and after the games. According to Fast Company, the buildings at the Olympics are designed to be as sustainable as possible, with construction that produces 50 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than standard construction,” illustrating Paris’s commitment to sustainability for the locations of the games (ConExpo Con/Agg, 2024). The prestigious medals were also made from a part of the Eiffel Tower, so the most skilled athletes could take a part of Paris home with them. By using existing cultural sites and focusing on sustainable construction materials, the organizers successfully reduced the event’s carbon footprint while maintaining Paris's rich cultural history.
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics set an influential example of how top-tier global events could be eco-friendly and extravagant. From cardboard beds to transforming elegant venues, the Games seamlessly intertwined eco-conscious decisions into every aspect of the event. The legacy left behind sets a high standard for the future of environmental sustainability and innovation that will sculpt how other worldwide events lay out in the long run.
References:
A look into the construction of the Paris 2024 olympic village. (2024, July 17). ConExpo Con/Agg.
https://www.conexpoconagg.com/news/a-look-into-the-construction-of-the-paris-2024-oly
All you need to know about Paris 2024 sustainability. (n.d.).
https://olympics.com/ioc/news/all-you-need-to-know-about-paris-2024-sustainability
Butler, L. (2024, August 9). Olympic athletes divided over eco-friendly cardboard beds. Cronkite News.
Joseph, S. (2024, July 23). Paris 2024 venues: Where every sport is being held at the Olympic Games.
