In terms of bragging rights, the winner of the Olympics was once again the United States, which took home the most total medals and tied with China for most gold after two weeks of competitions. But the real winner is France, which put on nothing short of a “soft power” master class with Paris 2024.
As we wrote when the Olympics began, much of what was planned for Paris 2024 was a gamble, with organizers promising a lower-cost, more sustainable endeavor than previous editions of the Games. The International Olympic Committee, in particular, needed Paris 2024 to provide a blueprint for cities that want to host in the future but are skeptical if the cost is worth the benefits.
The Paris Games appear to have delivered on both counts, particularly with the organizers’ decision to utilize the city’s most iconic landmarks as much as possible. There were concerns beforehand that building temporary venues throughout central Paris would make travel a hassle and irk local residents, who would in turn be less welcoming of the Games and the millions of fans they would attract to the city. Instead, though, Paris was overtaken by Olympic Fever, producing an atmosphere of joy and celebration for the full two weeks.