the expectation for

URBAN RENEWAL

after Tokyo 1964

Olympic stadium construction

13 new venues were constructed for Tokyo 1964, as was relatively typical for most Games by this period.

launch of Shinkansen bullet train

Going beyond sports-related construction, however, Tokyo was one of the first cities to invest heavily in public infrastructure as part of its Games plan, inducing much public skepticism at the time. The world's first bullet train was, however, successfully completed on October 1, 1964, nine days before the opening ceremony.

opening of Metropolitan tollway

Tokyo used the opportunity of the Games to create hundreds of new roads, in an attempt to curb traffic and showcase its new modern, mobile landscape after World War 2.

sewage, trash, water

In addition to transportation, Tokyo invested heavily in renovating public infrastructure across multiple urban services, precipitating an infamous toilet revolution.

the expectation for

SECURITY

after Munich 1972

hostage crisis

Disguised as athletes, 8 members of the Palestinian militant organization Black September scaled a fence in the Olympic Village at the 1972 Games, taking 11 Israeli athletes hostage and demanding the release of 236 prisoners in Israeli custody.

German police respond

The Munich Games had been framed as the "Cheerful Games," meant to serve as a contrast to the 1936 Berlin edition, which were shrouded by Hitler's regime. Less than $2 million had therefore been invested in security, with police intended as a presence that would be "unarmed, inconspicuous, and non-confrontational."

the world watches

In the end, no Israeli athletes were saved. The tragedy and failure of security at the Games were televised globally, and marked the first time a terrorist attack was ever broadcast live.

the expectation for

ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATION

after Montreal 1976
and LA 1984

deficit, debt and corruption

The Montreal Games ran a cost thirteen times higher than originally estimated, with a debt that would take the city 30 years to pay off. Increasing security costs, corruption scandals in construction of the main stadium, and poor overall financial management left a sour taste in the city's mouth. Scared off by Montreal's financial disaster, cities bidding for the Olympics subsequently reached a new low.

a new model

However, Montreal's mistakes paved the way for Los Angeles in 1984, which relied on existing infrastructure more than new construction (cutting down on costs), and more importantly pioneered a shift towards commercialization. LA 1984 was the first Games to be privately funded without government assistance, relying instead on revenues from television rights, advertising, and corporate sponsorships.

the thing about profit

An unprecedented surplus inspired a new wind for the Olympic movement, causing many cities to reconsider what the benefits of hosting a Games could be.

a commercial world

A new expectation was thus formed: the Olympics can make money— or at the very least, break even.

the question of

SUSTAINABILITY

at Paris 2024

opening ceremony, then & now

In 1924, the Opening Ceremony of 3,902 athletes took place in a stadium.

In 2024, 10,500 athletes are promised a parade on the Seine River instead, in an effort to show that the Olympics can be seamlessly integrated within the city rather than manifest only as an unwelcome intervention.

clean-up on the river

Mayor Anne Hidalgo and President Emmanuel Macron have also promised to clean up the Seine River for swimming and triathlon events by the start of the Games, and for public use after. It's a highly ambitious proposal, with an estimated price tag of $1.5 billion. A large storage tank and 700m tunnel are currently being built under Austerliz station to capture overflow from rainfall, which is one of the core issues causing contamination in the water.

upstream & downstream

Cleaning up the Seine is a massive undertaking in part because of how antiquated the sewage system in Paris is. The plant at Seine-Valenton takes in the wastewater of 2.5 million people, and is just one of the many sites where renovations are taking place.

an imposition?

Part of renovations requires going door-to-door across various suburbs to reconnect approximately 20,000 homes to the new system, which some homeowners consider to be more than a minor inconvenience.

a century-plus of

accumulation

in space

In 100 years, the distribution of competition venues has evidently spread—

across the city, region and world (surfing events for the Paris 2024 Games will be held in Tahiti).

The larger looming sentiment, however, remains that of mounting expectations.

The Games today

incite more conversation around urban change, security, and cost than on the results of the actual competitions themselves.

sustainability

This year's Games are being packaged as the most sustainable and cost-efficient ever, as Paris hopes to capitalize on the moment of unparalleled visibility, and to inspire a new era in Olympic Games planning.

case in point:

Only 2 of the 35 sports venues in Paris 2024 are newly and specifically constructed for the Games; the rest are temporary or pre-existing structures.