After the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the attention now turns to what will happen to all the equipment and facilities used during the event. In an effort to avoid the monumental waste that has been associated with past Olympics, Paris 2024 organizers have put plans in place to give a “second life” to the equipment used, from tennis balls to beach volleyball sand.
Sustainability director Georgina Grenon explained that before ordering anything, they considered what would happen to each item after the Games. This approach is new for a major global sports event, with the team initially searching for ideas they could adapt from FIFA tournaments or past Olympics before realizing they needed to create their own plan.
One of the first steps was to create an inventory of everything needed for the event, totaling around six million objects. Every time a tender was issued, suppliers were asked to propose a second life for their products. Many items, including office furniture and mattresses made from recycled plastic, will be repurposed for other uses after the Paralympics.
The iconic venues used for the Games, such as the beach volleyball court in front of the Eiffel Tower, will see their materials reused in various ways. Paris 2024 logos will be removed from podiums so they can be used again, while office furniture will be returned to the leasing company to start a second-hand furniture business.
The tennis balls used at Roland-Garros will be donated to French sports clubs, and other sports equipment will find new homes with similar organizations. Grenon notes that plans are in place for 90 percent of the six million items used during the Olympics, with final arrangements being made for the remaining items.
In addition to reusing equipment, Paris 2024 is also providing opportunities for fans to purchase souvenirs from the Games, such as flags used during medal ceremonies or torches used in the relay. Some larger items, such as swimming pools and skateboarding parks, will be moved to a suburb of Paris to benefit the local community.
Overall, the approach taken by Paris 2024 to give a second life to Olympic equipment sets a new standard for sustainability in major sports events. By considering the future of each item before it is even ordered, the organizers have shown a commitment to reducing waste and maximizing the impact of the Games on the community.
