By Muskan Singh
19-Jul-2024
Did you know? The Olympic Games stay true to their motto - Games Wide Open - to bring sport into the heart of Paris and into the lives of all residents. The "Marathon pour Tous" (Marathon for All) initiative aims to do just that. On 10 August 2024, two race courses from Paris City Hall to the Esplanade des Invalides will be open to the public, in a first-of-its-kind general public event to be held during the Olympic Games.
The Paris 2024 Olympics is all set to be hailed as a watershed event by strongly embracing sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation. This will be a watershed event as they embrace sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation. They will redefine and revolutionise the concept of hosting an Olympic event through green initiatives, gender-balanced competitions, strengthened athlete support, and new sports.
The Greenest Olympic Games Ever
The goal of Paris 2024 is to host the greenest Olympics ever, by significantly lowering the carbon footprint of the competition. For the 2024 Olympic Games, only one new competition venue—the Aquatics Center in Saint-Denis—is being constructed. It runs solely on solar energy and uses natural, bio-based building materials and recycled materials for its interior design. It minimises waste and exemplifies how major sporting events can adopt environmentally friendly practices.
This strategy demonstrates Paris' 2024 commitment to renewable energy and sustainability. Geothermal and solar energy will also be used to power the Athlete's Village, highlighting the trend toward more environmentally friendly energy sources. Paris 2024 intends to serve twice as much plant-based food at the event to further strengthen sustainability. This drastic change caters to the environment and satiates the increasing demand for vegetarian and vegan options.
Non-motorized forms of transport are integral to Paris 2024’s motto of sustainability. All the Olympic venues will be accessible by bike. Is envisaged, a 60-kilometre network of cycle tracks linking all the venues, along with the creation of 10,000 parking spaces. For those who do not own a bike, an additional 30,000 Vélib bikes will be made available. The Seine-Saint-Denis department, the Aquatic Centre, Stade de France, Le Bourget Sport Climbing venue and the Olympic village will benefit from an additional 25km worth of bicycling routes.
A Gender-Balanced Olympics
Paris 2024's powerful dedication to inclusivity and equality is portrayed by the impressive move of making the Olympics gender-balanced with an equal number of male and female athletes. A breakthrough in the history of the Olympics will be attained when athletes from all over the world compete on an equal footing. Leaders across business, politics, and culture are joining hands to make the Olympics in Paris an exhibit of the nation's modernity and commitment to equality.
Mental Health and Cyberbullying Support
Paris 2024 is leading the charge and working to improve the health of athletes. A few of the programs offered in the Olympic Village are free condoms, mental health services, and support against cyberbullying. By doing this, they create a supportive and safe environment and guarantee that athletes have access to the resources they need.
Cyberbullying and mental health are especially important. Paris 2024 seeks to facilitate athletes in realising their full potential by fostering a secure and encouraging atmosphere free from the tensions and anxieties that inevitably accompany intense competition.
Increasing accessibility via Fanzones
Aiming to improve accessibility and engagement for fans worldwide, Paris 2024 plans to set up "Fan Zones" throughout India. There will be live streaming of the Games in these zones, from Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram and from Kolkata to Mumbai, with an emphasis on events involving Indian athletes.
Table tennis, badminton, and archery competitions are among the sports events that will take place in the fan zones besides live screenings. This program brings the thrill of the Olympics to a worldwide audience.
Brand-New Sports Making Their Premiere
The Olympic program in Paris 2024 will add multiple new sports. This year will see the Olympic debuts of sport climbing, surfing, skateboarding, and breaking (breakdancing). These additions attempt to draw in a more diverse and younger audience while simultaneously depicting the way the Games are changing. These dynamic, expressive sports will give the Olympics a new, nuanced contemporary perspective by showcasing the athletes' athleticism and inventiveness.
