Paris 2024 Olympics: A triumph for all

Philippe BertouxThe author is French Ambassador to Korea.The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games have come to an end amidst an atmosphere of global joy and shared pride. This worldwide event not only captivated spectators with the grandeur of competitions in spectacular venues but also highlighted universal values such as inclusion, equity and sustainability. The remarkable athletic performances once again demonstrated the unifying power of sports, even in a world beset by challenges.Paris 2024 captured the attention of the entire world. Billions of viewers across every continent followed the athletes’ breathtaking performances as they pushed the boundaries of human potential. Social media platforms buzzed with passionate exchanges, encouragements and celebrations, underscoring the deep impact of these Olympic and Paralympic Games on global consciousness. The opening and closing ceremonies, staged on the river Seine and at the Trocadéro, Place de la Concorde and Stade de France, iconic locations across the City of Lights and Ile-de-France, encapsulated the magic of the event.The organisation of the Games received universal recognition, praised for both its meticulousness and the boldness of its choices. France leveraged its architectural and cultural heritage to provide athletes, spectators and viewers with unique and spectacular competition venues. Paris, Versailles, Lille, Marseille but also Tahiti in the South Pacific played pivotal roles for these Games, proving that the entire nation — 73 cities indeed — had gathered to make these Games an international celebration. One symbol of this popular celebration was the “marathon for all” which gathered, on August 10, more than 35,000 runners from all over France and the world who followed the tracks of marathoners throughout Paris.In line with France’s constant efforts for the preservation of our planet, the organizers set high environmental ambitions for these Games. The Paris Olympic Committee committed to reduce by 50 % the carbon emission compared to previous editions, through a wide range of measures. The organizers made sure to use existing sport infrastructures in and around Paris as much as possible, tried to reduce waste to the extent possible or offered a fleet of more than 1,000 green taxis among other examples. The French authorities also led a historic effort to clean up the Seine which therefore served as a unique venue for swimming events. This restoration of the river was years, if not decades, in the making and will benefit generations to come.For the first time in history, gender equality was reached for the Olympic and Paralympic Games with an equal number of female and male athletes. In addition to this long overdue achievement, the Games have ensured a balanced coverage of all events, putting everyone in the spotlight, and featured more mixed and women’s events.In the same spirit of inclusivity, both Olympic and Paralympic Games were treated equally by France with only one obsession, the promotion of sport for all. Advancing the rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities was at the core of the organization of our Paralympic Games. France welcomed more than 4,400 para-athletes from all over the world, all eager to compete in the most inclusive and accessible Games ever. More than 2 million tickets were sold for these Paralympic Games in Paris, while 300 hours of television were broadcasted just for the Paralympics. The Paralympic Games thus served as a unique high-profile event to shine a spotlight on this essential issue.After the successful Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games in January and February 2024, the Summer Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games were another example of the excellence of our nations in sport and of our close friendship. The Korean delegations left Paris with an exceptional number of medals, in prestigious sport disciplines, from archery to shooting, fencing or taekwondo. I am pleased to offer my warmest congratulations to the Korean athletes for their incredible performances.The iconic sites of Paris added a historical and cultural value to the prowess of our athletes: Althéa Laurin’s gold medal shone in taekwondo at the Grand Palais, while archers Kim Woojin and Im Si-hyeon memorable gold performance was highlighted by the grandeur of the Esplanade des Invalides.This is not the end of this beautiful story since we will have the honor to welcome the Korean delegation, once again, for the French Alps 2030 Winter Olympic Games!