The Olympics | A Boon or Burden for Host Economies?

The Olympic Games, an international spectacle of athletic prowess, have long been praised for spurring economic development in their host cities. The increase in visitors, infrastructural improvements, and international attention promote employment growth, economic expansion, and urban revitalisation. However, the economic effects of the Olympics are a double-edged sword, with benefits and drawbacks that have generated continuous discussion.

The increase in tourism is the main advantage of hosting the Olympics. The flood of tourists stimulates local companies, including lodging, dining, and retail establishments, significantly boosting the host economy. For example, according to a Visit Britain analysis, the UK received an anticipated £2.1 billion rise in tourism income during the 2012 London Olympics.

Infrastructural development is also greatly accelerated. Host cities frequently make investments in brand-new stadiums, transit systems, and urban renewal initiatives. Long-term gains from these expenditures may include raising the city's prominence internationally and raising citizens' standards of living. For instance, Barcelona saw a significant makeover in preparation for the 1992 Olympics, which brought life to the city's waterfront and made it a popular travel destination.

There are significant hazards associated with hosting the Olympics in addition to these possible advantages. The expense of holding the Games has increased dramatically in recent years, even bankrupting the host towns. For instance, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics cost Brazil more than $13 billion, which added to the country's ongoing financial difficulties and burdened the city.

The underutilisation of Olympic infrastructure following the Games is another problem. Many expensively constructed venues end up being "white elephants" that consume public funds after the event. Constructed for the 2008 Olympics, Beijing's renowned Bird's Nest stadium is mainly vacant today, serving as a harsh reminder of the financial risks involved in hosting the Games.

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris have been hailed as a sustainable model, with organisers pledging to provide the "greenest" games ever. The city made a commitment to minimise the need for new development by utilising 95% of temporary or existing venues. In addition, by supporting low-carbon mobility and depending on renewable energy, Paris hopes to cut carbon emissions by 50% from the previous games. 

For instance, the 1998 FIFA World Cup led to the construction of the famous Stade de France, which will host the athletic competitions. Meanwhile, beach volleyball will take place against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. This strategy, which was refined from earlier host cities, lowers expenses while simultaneously reducing environmental effects. Paris also extensively used electric vehicles and enhanced public transportation systems, like the extension of the Paris Metro. The city also planned to plant thousands of trees and expand green spaces in the Olympic Village, which will later be converted into a residential area, addressing both environmental and housing needs.

Paris has worked to make sure that athlete lodgings were in line with sustainability objectives. The Olympic Village's accommodations and bedding are made with as little waste as possible in mind. The mattresses that the athletes will sleep on are composed of recyclable cardboard, which has been commended for its comfort and durability despite early doubts. To reduce waste, the recyclable materials used to make the bedding will either be recycled or utilised after the Games.

However, there have been obstacles along the way to sustainability. Although Paris has made progress in lessening the environmental impact of the Games, others contend that the city's lofty objectives could not be met. For instance, there have been delays and cost overruns in the development of the Olympic Village, which has raised questions about the project's financial and environmental effects. For example, it has been claimed that the planned budget of €3 billion has inflated to €4.4 billion, igniting discussions about long-term viability and cost control. 

Despite Paris's success in incorporating sustainability into plenty of activities, some objectives might not be met. While using existing venues is admirable, critics contend that it still necessitates extensive modifications and retrofitting, which may be expensive and carbon-intensive. There have also been problems in the planned cleanup of the Seine River to make it fit for swimming competitions. Despite significant efforts, worries over pollution and water quality have not decreased. 

To reduce carbon emissions, Paris promised to provide food that was 100% produced from sustainable agriculture. A special focus will be on lowering meat consumption. There will be more plant-based alternatives on the menu, which aligns with the growing trend of eating more sustainably. However, this choice has sparked outrage among athletes and authorities, worried about providing high-performance athletes with lower meat alternatives while still satisfying their nutritional demands. Athletes have expressed worries that their performance may suffer due to the reduced availability of beef, underscoring the continuous conflict between ecological initiatives and pragmatic concerns.

Furthermore, several local groups have voiced displeasure with the displacement and gentrification linked with Olympic preparations, despite efforts to promote social inclusion. Protests have been triggered by the demolition of public housing to create room for the Olympic Village, drawing attention to the social costs that frequently go along with such events.

Adding to the controversy, the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic judges and organizers faced severe backlash following the disqualification of prominent athletes like Vinesh Phogat and Jordan Chiles by French Olympic judges. The disqualifications, viewed by many as racist and sexist, sparked a wave of criticism and further strained the relationship between athletes and the organizing committee. The Olympic committees of both nations - India and the United States - appealed to the 'International Olympic Committee' to reform their decision. 

Without a doubt, hosting towns for the Olympics have a chance to present themselves to the world and earn big financial benefits. Long-term difficulties might arise, nevertheless, as a result of the potential for significant monetary and societal consequences, alongside broader challenges of hosting the Olympics, where decisions made in the heat of competition can have far-reaching implications for the event's reputation and legacy. The backlash faced by French Olympic judges in the disqualification of athletes like Vinesh Phogat and Jordan Chiles also serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics at play, where decisions can ripple far beyond the moment, affecting both the events' integrity and the host city’s standing on the global stage.  

With its emphasis on sustainability, the Paris 2024 Olympics provide a promising first step in reducing environmental dangers. Their efforts to host sustainable Olympics must be held as an example for future games, worked upon with more green innovations. However, like with every Olympic Games, the real test of success won't be known until years after the competition, when the city deals with the long-term effects of its heritage.

Bibliography 

"Budget for Paris 2024 Olympics Rises by 10 Percent." France 24, France Médias Monde, 13 Dec. 2022, www.france24.com/en/sport/20221213-budget-for-paris-2024-olympics-rises-by-10-percent.

"Cardboard Beds for Olympic Athletes at Tokyo 2020 Designed to be Recycled." BBC News, BBC, 13 Jan. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51088003.

Fraser, Ian. "The Rio 2016 Olympics - An Economic Disaster." Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 4 Sept. 2016, www.forbes.com/sites/ianfraser/2016/09/04/rio-2016-olympics-economic-disaster/?sh=25a737ba7628.

"How the London 2012 Olympics Boosted the UK Economy." VisitBritain, VisitBritain, 2013, www.visitbritain.org/how-london-2012-olympics-boosted-uk-economy.

"Paris 2024 - Climate Positive." Olympics.com, International Olympic Committee, 2024, www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/paris-2024/climate-positive.