A Viavoice poll published on 25 March revealed that only 37 percent of French people are eagerly anticipating the 2024 Olympics in Paris and other French cities like Marseille. The Olympics and Paralympics will take place between 26 July and 8 September.
So why is there a lack of enthusiasm?
In 2017, Paris was awarded the Olympics after other cities dropped out due to low public support. However, there was no consultation with the citizens of Paris. Sports sociologist Michel Koebel and Andreas Rüttenauer highlight the importance of measuring public consent accurately.
The French government promised to make Paris 2024 the “people’s Olympics and Paralympics” by focusing on accessibility and affordability, as most sports facilities are already in place. The city also benefits from being a top tourist destination.
Seine-Saint-Denis
Most Olympic facilities are located in Seine-Saint-Denis, the poorest department in France. With a high poverty rate and limited resources, the department faces challenges despite being economically active.
Despite the promises of benefitting the local community, concerns have been raised about rising property prices and inadequate public amenities.
The question of prices: tickets, accommodation, transport
Ticket prices for Olympic events, accommodation, and transport costs have all seen significant hikes, making it difficult for many to afford to attend the games. Public transport costs have also increased, contradicting earlier promises of free transportation for ticket holders.
These high prices have raised concerns about the affordability of the games for the general public.
“Social cleansing”
The issue of population displacement is a major concern, with reports of people being forced to leave their homes to make way for Olympic facilities. This has led to protests from various groups, including migrants, homeless individuals, and sex workers.
The displacement of thousands of people has sparked outrage and calls for action to protect the rights of those affected.
Overall, the preparations for the 2024 Olympics have raised questions about public consent, affordability, and the impact on local communities. It remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed as the games draw closer.
Reuters has also reported on the eviction of Roma from a building they had occupied in the Ile Saint-Denis.
Jules Boykoff, a professor of political science at Pacific University (Oregon, USA) and author of “What Are the Olympics For” (Bristol University Press, 2024), explains to Mediapart: “The Olympics are a machine that amplifies inequalities. There are some clear trends. For the Seoul Games in 1988, more than 700,000 people were displaced. The same happened in Beijing in 2008, with more than 1 million people displaced.”
While there are many groups, associations, and initiatives protesting these phenomena (Extinction Rebellion, Youth for Planet, Saccage 2024…), their voices are not being given widespread media attention, as Sylvia Zappi explains in Le Monde.
And the costs?
The initial budget of 6.8 billion euros first rose to over 9 billion euros, before reaching 11 billion euros, according to the consultancy firm Asterès. Another related controversy is the remuneration of Tony Estanguet, president of the Committee: 270,000 euros per year, which has led the financial prosecutor’s office to open an investigation. However, as Sylvain Bersinger, an economist at Asterès, tells us in La Tribune, the Games of 2024 “has had a limited cost compared to previous Olympic Games.”
Private sponsors cover a large part of the budget. They include EDF, Orange, Accor, Carrefour, BPCE, Sanofi, and LVMH. The luxury goods group of Bernard Arnault, “the richest man in the world,” has put up 150 million euros.
