The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most iconic cities, promise to be a grand spectacle of athletic prowess, international camaraderie, and cultural celebration. The world’s eyes will undoubtedly turn to Paris as athletes from over 200 nations gather to compete in the ultimate test of skill, endurance, and sportsmanship. For two weeks, the city will be alive with the spirit of competition, and the world will come together to celebrate the triumphs and challenges of the human body and spirit. From the dazzling opening ceremony along the River Seine to the heart-stopping finals in track, swimming, and gymnastics, the 2024 Summer Games will showcase some of the best athletes in the world. However, beneath the glittering surface of this global event, there lies a crucial question that is often overshadowed by the excitement: Do we really need to spend all that money?
While the world marvels at the extraordinary feats of athletes and the grandeur of the opening and closing ceremonies, it’s important to consider the financial and logistical burden that hosting the Olympics places on the host city and, ultimately, the taxpayers. Behind the scenes, the price tag of hosting the Games is staggering, and the costs extend far beyond the construction of venues and the operational expenses of running the event. Cities that host the Olympics often face significant long-term financial commitments, from infrastructure improvements to security measures, and these costs are frequently passed on to local residents in the form of higher taxes or public debt. Furthermore, many Olympic host cities have struggled to find long-term uses for the venues they build, leading to the creation of expensive, underutilized facilities that serve as lasting reminders of the financial strain the Games can place on a city.
The Opening Ceremony: A (criticized) Spectacle of Grandeur
The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics was nothing short of breathtaking, an awe-inspiring display of Parisian grandeur that captivated spectators both in-person and around the world. Held along the iconic banks of the Seine River, the ceremony took full advantage of Paris’s historic and picturesque landmarks, turning the entire city into a theatrical stage. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and other architectural marvels served as a stunning backdrop to the parade of nations, where athletes floated down the river on specially designed boats. This unique approach, mixing tradition with innovation, highlighted both the timeless beauty of Paris and the city’s forward-thinking approach to hosting the Games. The sight of athletes from over 200 nations gliding down the Seine created a striking visual that will undoubtedly become one of the lasting images of the 2024 Olympics.
The artistic segments of the ceremony were equally impressive, celebrating French culture and providing a vivid display of the nation’s rich artistic heritage. World-renowned French artists, dancers, and musicians took center stage, offering performances that ranged from classical to contemporary, all while emphasizing the themes of unity and global solidarity. The ceremony was a love letter to French art and history, with nods to everything from Impressionist painting to haute couture fashion, transforming the opening ceremony into a veritable feast for the senses. One particularly notable aspect of the ceremony was its emphasis on sustainability. In an era where environmental consciousness is becoming increasingly important, the organizers made a concerted effort to ensure that the ceremony was as eco-friendly as possible. Much of the event was powered by renewable energy, and the costumes and set designs prominently featured recycled and eco-friendly materials, underscoring the message that the future of global events must prioritize environmental stewardship.
However, despite the undeniable grandeur and artistic brilliance of the ceremony, it did not escape criticism. The opening ceremony’s visual splendor came with a hefty price tag, and many observers could not help but question whether it was truly necessary to spend such a staggering sum on a single evening of spectacle. Reports suggest that the opening ceremony alone cost upwards of €100 million, a figure that raised eyebrows not only in France but around the world. For many, this lavish expenditure seemed out of step with the broader economic realities facing France and the world at large. The timing of such an extravagant display has been a particularly sore point, given the context of economic uncertainty and rising public debt that has plagued France in recent years. Critics were quick to point out that while the ceremony was a dazzling success from an aesthetic standpoint, it also represented a significant financial burden for a country still grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic, inflation, and widespread social unrest over economic inequality.
The Games Period: A Summary of Events
The two exhilarating weeks of competition during the 2024 Paris Olympics were a showcase of not only athletic excellence but also the raw emotions that define the Olympic experience. The Games were filled with moments of triumph, heartbreak, and history-making performances as athletes from more than 200 countries competed in 329 events across 33 sports. From time-honored Olympic staples like track and field, gymnastics, and swimming to newer additions such as skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing, the diversity of events ensured that there was something for every type of sports fan. Each competition carried the weight of years of preparation, sacrifice, and dreams, and every victory was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the athletes.
The traditional Olympic sports, particularly athletics and swimming, once again provided some of the most thrilling and unforgettable moments during the Games. In swimming, several athletes shattered world records, leaving spectators in awe of what the human body can achieve when pushed to its limits. For example, the men’s 200m freestyle saw a stunning display of speed and endurance, with a new world record being set in a race that had the crowd on its feet. Similarly, in track and field, the 100m sprint finals—both for men and women—offered the kind of electrifying performances that have long been the hallmark of the Olympics. Athletes from different corners of the globe competed for the coveted title of “fastest person on Earth,” and the results did not disappoint. The roar of the crowd, both in the stadium and from millions of viewers around the world, encapsulated the spirit of the Olympics—moments that transcend sports and become part of our collective memory.
But the Games were also filled with surprise upsets, particularly in traditionally dominant sports like gymnastics and cycling. In the highly anticipated gymnastics competitions, several favorites stumbled in the final rounds, making way for underdogs to claim victory. A young gymnast from an unexpected nation took home the gold in the women’s all-around competition, a result that shocked both fans and analysts alike. In cycling, a similar story unfolded as a previously unheralded rider managed to outpace seasoned veterans in the road race, securing a victory that few had predicted. These dramatic turnarounds reminded everyone that the Olympics are, at their core, about unpredictability—where anything can happen, and the expected outcome is never guaranteed.
Another significant highlight of the 2024 Games was the introduction, or continued popularity, of new sports that appealed to younger, urban audiences. Skateboarding, which made its Olympic debut in the Tokyo 2021 Games, continued to draw large crowds, particularly in urban settings where the sport has deep cultural roots. The skateboarding competitions were held in specially designed parks across Paris, attracting thousands of spectators who gathered to watch athletes perform gravity-defying tricks. The inclusion of these newer sports has been part of an intentional effort by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make the Games more relevant to younger generations who may not have a strong connection to traditional Olympic sports. The inclusion of sport climbing and surfing also brought in new fans and added an element of modernity to the Games, drawing large crowds and significant media attention.
The Closing Ceremony: A Contrast in Tone
In stark contrast to the high-energy, visually extravagant opening ceremony, the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics was a much more subdued and reflective affair. Held at the iconic Stade de France, the closing ceremony marked the official end of two weeks of intense competition, national pride, and athletic excellence. However, unlike the grand spectacle that opened the Games along the Seine River, the closing event was notably toned down, both in terms of scale and budget. While the opening ceremony dazzled with its innovative use of Paris’s historic landmarks and a parade of athletes floating down the river, the closing ceremony took a more traditional approach, focusing less on spectacle and more on celebrating the athletes themselves. The emphasis shifted from the city and its cultural heritage to the people who truly make the Olympics what they are—the competitors who had spent years training for this moment.
One of the most striking features of the closing ceremony was its deliberately smaller budget. While the opening festivities reportedly cost upwards of €100 million, the organizers of the closing ceremony opted for a more modest production. This shift in tone was immediately apparent, with fewer of the jaw-dropping special effects and elaborate performances that had characterized the opening ceremony. Instead, the event was centered around more intimate celebrations of athletic achievement and global unity. The ceremony featured performances by local artists, including musicians, dancers, and performers who showcased Paris’s rich artistic traditions, but the focus remained firmly on the athletes. Notably, the athletes themselves played a central role in the evening, with a parade of competitors from every participating nation taking over the stadium, marching in a final show of solidarity. Unlike the opening ceremony, where athletes march in under their national flags, the closing ceremony allows them to walk together, symbolizing the unity and camaraderie that the Olympics are meant to foster.
For many, this more understated approach to the closing ceremony was a welcome change. While the opening event was undeniably spectacular, there was a sense that its grandeur overshadowed the true purpose of the Games—the athletes and their incredible achievements. In contrast, the closing ceremony allowed the spotlight to return to the athletes, giving them the recognition and applause they deserved after two weeks of competition. The more minimalist design of the event also placed a greater emphasis on the human stories that had unfolded throughout the Games. Athletes who had triumphed against the odds, set new world records, or simply overcome personal challenges to compete were given their moment of recognition. This shift in tone allowed the closing ceremony to feel more personal and emotionally resonant, with a clear focus on the shared experiences of the athletes rather than the sheer spectacle of the event itself.
In addition to being a celebration of the athletes, the closing ceremony also served as a moment of reflection for the host city of Paris. The more restrained nature of the event seemed to acknowledge the financial and logistical challenges that had come with hosting the Olympics. While the Games had certainly been a success in terms of athletic achievement and global engagement, they had also placed a significant strain on the city’s infrastructure and public resources. By scaling back the extravagance of the closing ceremony, the organizers appeared to be signaling a more pragmatic approach, one that recognized the need for balance between celebrating the Olympics and managing the long-term implications of hosting such a large-scale event.
Ultimately, the contrast between the two ceremonies—the opening’s grandeur and the closing’s more subdued nature—highlighted the dual nature of the Olympic Games. On the one hand, the Olympics are a global spectacle, an opportunity for the host city to showcase its culture, history, and capabilities to the world. On the other hand, they are also an intensely personal event for the athletes who compete, many of whom have spent their entire lives preparing for this moment. The closing ceremony reminded everyone that at the heart of the Olympics are the athletes—their dreams, their struggles, and their victories. By adopting a more reflective tone, the closing ceremony allowed the Games to end on a note of humility and humanity, a fitting conclusion to a global event that, despite its challenges and controversies, remains a celebration of what is possible when nations come together in the spirit of competition and unity.
Financial Analysis
Hosting the Olympics is notoriously expensive, and Paris 2024 is no exception. When Paris was first awarded the Games back in 2017, the initial budget estimates were cautiously optimistic, weighing in at around €8.3 billion (approximately $9.7 billion USD). This figure, though eye-watering, was seen as a manageable sum for a global event of this magnitude. It included the costs of constructing new venues and refurbishing existing ones, ensuring the city’s infrastructure could handle the influx of visitors, and implementing robust security measures to safeguard both athletes and spectators. Additionally, the operational expenses of running the Games—everything from staffing, logistics, and transportation to catering and event management—were factored into this initial budget. The hope was that the investment would not only pay off during the two weeks of competition but also leave a positive legacy for the city in the form of improved infrastructure and increased tourism in the years to come.
However, as is often the case with large-scale public events, the initial budget projections have proven to be optimistic, if not outright unrealistic. As the Games have drawn closer, the complexity of the preparations has grown, and new costs have emerged. According to more recent estimates, the total outlay for the Paris 2024 Olympics could well exceed €10 billion. This sharp increase in costs is largely due to a variety of factors that are difficult to predict years in advance. For example, the cost of construction materials has surged globally, driven by supply chain disruptions and inflation. Similarly, security costs have ballooned as the need to safeguard the event from potential terrorist threats has become more apparent, particularly in a major city like Paris that has been the target of attacks in recent years.
Beyond these immediate and necessary costs, there are also the more intangible expenses that often go unnoticed in the breakdowns of Olympic budgets. For instance, the opportunity cost of diverting public funds toward the Games instead of other crucial public services needs to be considered. Critics argue that the billions being funneled into the Olympics could be better spent on addressing pressing social issues such as housing, education, and healthcare, particularly in a country like France where protests over economic inequality have been widespread in recent years. The question many are asking is whether the long-term benefits of hosting the Olympics—such as increased tourism, global visibility, and potential economic growth—truly outweigh the immediate financial burdens and the risk of leaving behind a legacy of debt and unused infrastructure. The Paris 2024 budget, while still under scrutiny, serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved in hosting an event of such monumental scale.
- Venue construction and refurbishment: €3 billion
- Security and policing: €1.2 billion
- Ceremonies and cultural events: €500 million
- Transportation and infrastructure upgrades: €2.5 billion
- Operational costs (logistics, staff, etc.): €3 billion
Who Pays?
When it comes to financing the Olympic Games, the funding structure is complex and multi-faceted, but it can be summed up in a few key sources. A significant portion of the financial backing for the Paris 2024 Games will come from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which contributes through various channels such as global sponsorship deals and the sale of broadcast rights. The IOC, in collaboration with major corporations, secures lucrative sponsorship agreements with multinational companies seeking to associate their brands with the prestige of the Olympics. These corporate sponsors pay millions, if not billions, to have their logos displayed at Olympic venues, on athletes’ uniforms, and during media broadcasts. Additionally, the sale of broadcast rights is a massive revenue generator. Major networks such as NBC in the United States pay astronomical sums for the exclusive right to broadcast the Games. For Paris 2024, these television rights are expected to generate billions in revenue, as the Olympics remain one of the most-watched global events.
However, despite these substantial contributions from the IOC, corporate sponsors, and broadcasters, a considerable portion of the financial burden still falls on French taxpayers. The French government has committed around €1.7 billion in public funds to directly support the Games, covering a wide range of expenses such as security, transportation, and venue construction. Local governments are also chipping in, contributing hundreds of millions more to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place for the Games to run smoothly. These public funds are being funneled into long-term projects intended to benefit the city well after the Olympic torch is extinguished, such as upgrades to public transportation systems and the development of new housing complexes in the Olympic village. However, these investments are not without risk, and critics argue that the burden placed on taxpayers is disproportionate, particularly considering that the long-term benefits of hosting the Olympics are far from guaranteed.
Proponents of hosting the Olympics often argue that the Games act as an economic catalyst, providing a much-needed boost to tourism and local businesses. They contend that the influx of tourists, media, and athletes will put Paris on the global stage, attracting visitors for years to come. In their view, the infrastructure built for the Games—such as new sports stadiums, transportation hubs, and hotels—will continue to serve the city long after the event has concluded, driving economic growth and improving the quality of life for residents. However, this optimistic view is not shared by everyone. Critics are quick to point out the cautionary tales of past Olympic host cities like Athens and Rio de Janeiro, both of which are still grappling with the financial aftermath of hosting the Games. Athens, which hosted the Summer Olympics in 2004, accumulated billions of euros in debt, much of which remains unpaid nearly two decades later. Several of the venues built for the event now stand abandoned, their upkeep too costly for the local government to maintain. Similarly, Rio de Janeiro, which hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics, has been left with a legacy of underutilized venues and unpaid bills. Many of the stadiums built for the Games are now in disrepair, and the city is still struggling to pay off the debt incurred during its preparations.
These examples raise an important question for Paris: Will the city be able to avoid the financial pitfalls that have plagued previous host cities? While the French government and Olympic organizers are confident that Paris will see long-term economic benefits from hosting the Games, the experiences of Athens and Rio serve as stark reminders that the financial risks are very real. The legacy of debt and underutilized infrastructure in these cities has fueled growing skepticism about whether hosting the Olympics is a wise use of public funds, particularly in an era where many countries are already struggling with economic inequality and budget deficits. For Paris, the challenge will be to ensure that the billions of euros being spent on the 2024 Olympics do not leave the city with a similar financial hangover.
Global Viewership and Public Engagement
Despite the astronomical costs associated with hosting the Olympics, one thing that organizers can almost always count on is the immense global audience that the Games attract. The Olympics are, after all, one of the few truly global events that captivate the attention of billions of people across the world, transcending national borders, cultures, and languages. The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are expected to draw billions of viewers, continuing a long-standing tradition of global enthusiasm for the Games. For comparison, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics—despite being held during a pandemic and without live spectators in many venues—reportedly amassed an impressive 3.05 billion viewers across all platforms, including traditional television broadcasts and online streaming services. This staggering number highlights the Olympics’ enduring appeal as a marquee global event, with fans tuning in from virtually every corner of the planet to watch their favorite athletes compete on the biggest stage.
The reach of the Olympics is truly global, with live broadcasts beamed into more than 200 countries. Thanks to advances in digital technology, viewers no longer need to rely solely on television to follow the action. Billions of social media impressions are generated across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, where fans engage with real-time updates, behind-the-scenes content, and viral moments from the Games. These platforms have become key venues for younger audiences, who are increasingly using social media to follow their favorite athletes and sports rather than watching traditional broadcasts. Moreover, the Paris 2024 Games are expected to see peak viewership during the most anticipated events, such as the 100m sprint finals, gymnastics, and swimming competitions, where the world’s best athletes will battle for gold. These events have historically drawn massive audiences, as they often feature dramatic finishes, record-breaking performances, and emotional victories that resonate with viewers worldwide.
However, despite this continued global interest, there is a growing trend of declining viewership for the Olympics, particularly among younger generations. This shift in audience behavior presents a significant challenge for organizers and broadcasters alike. The decline can be attributed to several factors, one of the most notable being the changing entertainment preferences of younger people. As sports fans in their teens and twenties increasingly gravitate toward e-sports, streaming platforms, and other forms of digital entertainment, traditional sports events like the Olympics are struggling to maintain their hold on younger demographics. E-sports, in particular, have seen a meteoric rise in popularity over the past decade, with global tournaments for video games like League of Legends and Fortnite attracting millions of live viewers and offering prize pools that rival those of traditional sports. For many young people, the fast-paced, interactive nature of e-sports offers a more engaging experience than the passive consumption of televised sports.
This shift in viewership patterns is particularly concerning for broadcasters, who pay astronomical sums for the rights to air the Olympics. NBC, for instance, has paid over $7.75 billion for the rights to broadcast the Olympics in the United States until 2032, making it one of the most expensive television deals in history. While the investment has historically paid off thanks to the massive audiences that the Olympics draw, the decline in viewership among younger generations is raising questions about the long-term sustainability of such deals. If the trend continues, broadcasters may struggle to recoup their investments, especially as advertisers become more reluctant to pay premium rates for airtime during events that are drawing fewer and fewer eyeballs. In response, broadcasters and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are exploring ways to make the Games more appealing to younger audiences, including increasing their presence on social media, offering more personalized viewing experiences via streaming platforms, and possibly even incorporating e-sports into future Olympic programs.
Reflections
As someone who has followed the Olympics closely over the years, I can’t help but feel conflicted about the 2024 Paris Games. On the one hand, the Olympics are a celebration of human achievement and bring together people from around the world in a way that few other events can. On the other hand, the enormous costs—both financial and logistical—seem increasingly difficult to justify.
The traffic congestion, security concerns, and the environmental impact of building new venues are significant issues. While Paris has made strides toward sustainability, the sheer scale of the event means that its carbon footprint is still considerable.
Moreover, the financial burden on the host city is immense, and while the government promises long-term benefits, these are often overestimated. History has shown that many Olympic venues fall into disuse, and the projected economic boosts rarely materialize in the way that organizers promise.
In conclusion, while the 2024 Paris Olympics will undoubtedly be remembered for its athletic achievements and cultural celebrations, it’s worth asking: Is there a better way to celebrate sports without such a colossal price tag? The financial strain on host cities, combined with declining viewership and increasing skepticism about the long-term benefits, suggests that it might be time to rethink the Olympic model.
