All the deets for what is deemed the most visually-pleasing Games ever.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games is revolutionary, to say the least. With the huge investment of luxury brands in the Games, the Paris edition has set it apart with many radical takes. Just think about the Olympic medals being made by French jeweller Chaumet, medal trunks being crafted by Louis Vuitton and VIP lounges being supplied with the cuvées of Moët Hennessy — and you will get a sense of how lavish the 2024 rendition is going to be. The close involvement of LVMH signifies a shift in their approach from niche markets to mass appeal as they embrace the democratisation of luxury. Historically reserved for exclusive events like tennis and equestrian festival, luxury brands are now leveraging mass sports to broaden their reach. Apart from that, the City of Lights also blazes trails with their unconventionality, be it the venue, intiatives or opening ceremony.
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A fashion spectacle
Considering it is being held at the fashion capital of the world, one can expect it to be the most stylish Games ever. Ahead of its commencement, the Paris edition was already on everyone’s lips as Mongolia unveiled their Olympic outfit. Created by the three sisters behind the label Michel & Amazonka, the Mongolian take has captured the netizens’ hearts with its awe-inspiring creation, a masterpiece that seamlessly blends the traditional Mongolian history and contemporary sportswear. The viral moment also owed it to the array of designer uniforms, which are dreamed up by the world’s biggest names, from Berluti and Ralph Lauren to Puma and Lululemon. As for Malaysia, the Malaysian contingent will don “The Malaya” collection designed by homegrown designer Rizman Ruzaini.
The venue
Unlike many other countries that build new infrastructures solely for hosting the Games, Paris veers away from usual routes and put its exisiting attractions to good use. Famous landmarks like Eiffel Tower Stadium, Pont Alexandre III, Place de la Concorde and Palace of Versailles will all be used as the competition venues, allowing spectactors to take in the beauty of Paris while watching the Games.
@nicoldavidsquash A little tour with me around the Olympic Village. Let’s go! 😍 @paris2024 @OlympicMAS ♬ Enjoy the Moment – Zeca Zilocchi
The sustainability
The Paris Olympic Games is touted to be the greenest Games in Olympic history with just half off the carbon footprint of London 2012 and Rio 2016. In an endeavour to keep the emissions low, the Olympic Village has opted for cardboard bed frame, an approach first adopted by Tokyo in 2021. According to the organiser, the beds are made entirely in France and will be fully recycled after the Games. The sustainability effort is also doubled up with a geothermal cooling system, which keeps indoor temperatures at least 6 degrees Celsius cooler than outdoors.
Gender parity
The Paris 2024 Olympics Games takes the lead in the race of gender equality by being the first Olympics in history to achieve numerical gender parity. A total of 5,250 men and 5,250 women will be participating in the world’s largest sporting event. Additionally, local authorities have also committed to christening sporting facilities with the names of female leading figures.
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Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony will be held along the River Seine — for first time ever, an opening ceremony is held outside a stadium. Over 10,000 athletes from 206 delegations will cruise along the iconic river before arriving opposite the Trocadéro, where the Olympic cauldron will be lit. Rumour has it that two of the world’s biggest stars, Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, will be performing a duet of “La Vie en Rose” together at the opening ceremony.
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our June/July 2024 issue.