Events - The Eiffel Tower dons the Olympic rings for Paris 2024

By Mulder, Paris, Tour Eiffel, 08 june 2024

For the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Eiffel Tower has been chosen to sport the famous Olympic rings. On the morning of June 7, 2024, 49 days before the start of the Games, Parisians were amazed to discover these five giant rings installed between the 1st and 2nd floors of the monument.

Called Spectaculars, these rings, emblematic symbols of Olympism, have been installed at iconic locations in host cities of previous editions, such as Tower Bridge in London in 2012, Madureira Park in Rio in 2016, and Odaiba Bay in Tokyo in 2021. For Paris, the Olympic Games Organizing Committee chose the Eiffel Tower to proudly display the Olympic colors throughout the summer. The rings measure 29 meters wide and 13 meters high, and were designed by ArcelorMittal.

The installation of the rings represented a technical feat, taking place over 60 meters above the ground. The operation, meticulously prepared with the Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), required the use of two 500-ton cranes and two 100-ton cranes. The rings, weighing a total of 30 tons, were secured by a team of specialized rope access technicians. The challenge was successfully met during the night of June 6 to 7, under the admiring gaze of many curious onlookers.

The presence of the rings on the Eiffel Tower gives this already iconic monument a new dimension at the heart of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Not only will they be present on medals, podiums, and during the opening ceremony, but the Eiffel Tower will also be at the center of the festivities, visible on commemorative coins and serving as a landmark for several Olympic venues.

The Olympic symbol, measuring 9 meters in diameter for each ring, is made from 100% recycled steel. It will be illuminated in white every night by 100,000 LEDs, adding a magical touch to the Parisian landscape. This exceptional installation, the fruit of two years' work and eight months' production, is a tribute to the ingenuity and grandeur of the Olympic Games.

You can found our selection of photos in our Flickr page

Photos and video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville