Paris 2024 Olympics: Will the Eiffel Tower Keep the Olympic Rings?

The Eiffel Tower, a global icon and the most visited monument in the world, has recently become a focal point of controversy due to the installation of Olympic Rings for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The descendants of Gustave Eiffel, the tower's architect, have expressed strong opposition to the rings, arguing that their colorful and large presence disrupts the monument's aesthetic integrity. They have organized as l’Association des Descendants du Gustave Eiffel (ADGE) and are prepared to take legal action to ensure the rings are removed after the Olympics conclude in 2024. The rings are strategically placed between the tower's lower tiers, overlooking the Seine River, and have garnered mixed reactions from locals and tourists. While the summer games attracted an estimated 11 million visitors to Paris, many believe the rings should only be a temporary addition. A survey of public sentiment revealed that the majority view the rings as an eyesore, detracting from the tower's historical significance. The ADGE emphasizes the importance of preserving the tower's original design and has stated that the rings create a visual imbalance that alters the monument's pure forms. They also advocate for the tower to remain a platform for supporting various causes, as it has done in the past, including solidarity with Ukraine. As the debate continues, the Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo, has shown interest in keeping the rings until at least the 2028 Los Angeles games. However, the Eiffel family’s commitment to protecting their ancestor's legacy suggests that the future of the rings on the Eiffel Tower remains uncertain.