The organizers aim to kickstart the district's development.

Paris is set to host the Olympics for the second time and aims to set a new standard for the Games in 2024. They aspire to lead the way for future summer Olympics by showcasing an event that diverges from the trend of escalating costs and underutilized facilities that have characterized the Games in recent decades.

Previously, such an ambition would have been challenging due to the strict requirements set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). However, following recent experiences that led to a decrease in interest for hosting the Games, several cities, including Hamburg, Rome, and following referendums and petitions, Budapest, withdrew their bids for the 2024 Olympics. This left Paris and Los Angeles as the remaining contenders. The IOC then made the unconventional move of awarding the Games to Paris for 2024 and Los Angeles for 2028, giving Paris a stronger negotiating position than previous host cities.

This situation is not without precedent: the 1984 Olympics were awarded to Los Angeles in a similar manner and turned out to be the last profitable Games. Paris plans to emulate this success, intending for the Olympics to be not only cost-effective but also sustainable and socially beneficial.

SUSTAINABLE, EXISTING, AND TEMPORARY VENUES

The Paris Olympics aim to achieve environmental and economic sustainability by utilizing existing sports facilities, a strategy that proved successful in making the 1984 Games profitable. Unlike previous hosts, which often constructed new stadiums for almost every sport, the IOC has now adopted a more flexible approach due to the lack of cities willing to meet the old requirements.

For the Olympics, two new complexes are being built: a water sports center next to the Stade de France, connected by an overpass. The venue, designed with environmental considerations and constructed using recycled materials and a wooden roof hosting one of France's largest solar panel installations, will host diving, swimming, and water polo events. Post-Olympics, the venue's capacity will be halved to 2,500 for community use. Originally estimated to cost 70 million euros, the final cost ballooned to 188 million euros.

Another permanent facility is an 8,000-seat arena for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics, built with environmentally friendly materials. Post-Olympics, it will become a home for a local basketball team, costing around 125 million euros to construct.

The Yves-du-Manoir Olympic Stadium, host of the 1924 Games, will be used for field hockey after significant renovations. Other historical sites, including the Grand Palais for fencing and taekwondo and the gardens of the Palace of Versailles for equestrian events, will also serve as venues, alongside using the Stade de France for athletics.

The football matches will be held across France, but not including Hungarian players this time, with the final at Parc des Princes in Paris. Tennis will take place at Roland Garros stadium.

Surfing events will be hosted in Teahupo'o, French Polynesia, raising concerns about environmental and community impact. Plans for open water swimming in the Seine have been scrapped due to pollution issues.

The opening ceremony might take place on the Seine, allowing spectators to watch from a 6-kilometer stretch of the riverbank. Due to security concerns, the number of spectators has been reduced, and 200,000 tickets will be distributed by invitation to locals.

Despite a smaller number of new facilities, costs are expected to exceed the original budget of 6.8 billion euros, possibly reaching over 10 billion euros. Most expenses are covered by sponsorships, but significant public funds are still being used.

OLYMPIC INVESTMENTS IN A NO-GO ZONE

Many investments related to the Olympics are being made in Seine-Saint-Denis, aiming to benefit the local community long-term by turning the Olympic village into housing for 6,000 people and creating around 150,000 jobs. Priority has been given to local SMEs for contracts, and the infrastructure improvements are expected to benefit residents in the long run.

However, the city’s approach to relocating homeless people and refugees to temporary accommodations has faced criticism, dubbed by some as "social cleansing."

Even with fewer new facilities, this approach to hosting the Olympics represents a significant financial undertaking for France, although still below the average overspend for the Summer Games according to an Oxford analysis. This setup aims to mitigate past issues with post-Olympic use of venues and stimulate development in one of the country's poorest regions.