Paris 2024 Olympics: Transforming France with Social, Economic, and Health Benefits
As the first Games fully aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020, Paris 2024 is demonstrating how hosting the Olympics can provide social, economic, and health benefits to the host country. The legacy of Paris 2024 is already evident throughout France, from increasing sports participation to creating equal economic opportunities and addressing the needs of local communities.
Sport for Health and Education
The "Bouger Plus" (Move More) campaign by Paris 2024 aims to increase sports participation among the French population as part of a broader effort to tackle sedentary lifestyles and obesity. One significant initiative is the implementation of a daily 30-minute exercise period in all French schools. This policy, now being rolled out in all 36,250 primary schools, has led to noticeable improvements in students' well-being, attention, and concentration, with 94 percent of teachers reporting positive impacts.
To further encourage physical activity among young people, schools and higher education institutions can earn the Generation 2024 label. This label recognizes their collaboration with local authorities and sports clubs to promote sports. So far, over 8,700 schools and higher education establishments have received this designation.
In Seine-Saint-Denis, where half of the 11-year-olds cannot swim, Paris 2024 has provided free swimming and water safety lessons to more than 9,400 children since 2020. The "1,2,3 Nagez!" (1,2,3 Swim!) program has expanded nationwide, teaching essential swimming skills to over 26,000 children.
The Terre de Jeux 2024 label encourages collaboration among local authorities, sports clubs, federations, and leagues to promote the Games and increase sports participation. Over 50,000 projects have been facilitated under this initiative.
Paris 2024 also established the first-ever Olympic legacy-focused investment fund, Impact 2024, to support projects promoting health, well-being, education, inclusion, equality, and environmental improvements. With EUR 47 million in funding, the fund has supported more than 1,100 grassroots projects.
Social and Economic Legacy
Under its "Games wide open" slogan, Paris 2024 aims to create equal economic opportunities for everyone, focusing on inclusive, responsible, and sustainable practices. The Social Charter, a first in Olympic history, was signed in 2019 by various stakeholders, focusing on decent working conditions, social inclusion, and ensuring small- and medium-sized enterprises have access to project contracts.
These commitments have resulted in 181,000 people finding employment in Games-related jobs. Additionally, 90 percent of the Paris 2024 suppliers are French, with 78 percent being small- and medium-sized businesses, including over 500 local businesses from the social and solidarity economy (ESS).
Venue Legacy
According to Olympic Agenda 2020, the Games should adapt to the host city's needs. To reduce costs and carbon emissions, hosts are encouraged to use existing and temporary venues and only build new infrastructure where there is a long-term need.
One of the few new venues, the Aquatics Centre, is strategically located in Seine-Saint-Denis, an area with a shortage of sports facilities and a high percentage of children who cannot swim. After the Games, this venue will become a multi-sports facility for the local community.
The Olympic Village, which will host 15,000 athletes from over 200 nations, will be converted into more than 2,800 new homes for the local population. A quarter of these homes will be public housing, and the rest will be affordable rentals for low-income residents. The site will also feature additional offices, shops, restaurants, and leisure centers to help reduce the district's unemployment rate, which currently exceeds 20 percent.
Sport for Health and Education
The "Bouger Plus" (Move More) campaign by Paris 2024 aims to increase sports participation among the French population as part of a broader effort to tackle sedentary lifestyles and obesity. One significant initiative is the implementation of a daily 30-minute exercise period in all French schools. This policy, now being rolled out in all 36,250 primary schools, has led to noticeable improvements in students' well-being, attention, and concentration, with 94 percent of teachers reporting positive impacts.
To further encourage physical activity among young people, schools and higher education institutions can earn the Generation 2024 label. This label recognizes their collaboration with local authorities and sports clubs to promote sports. So far, over 8,700 schools and higher education establishments have received this designation.
In Seine-Saint-Denis, where half of the 11-year-olds cannot swim, Paris 2024 has provided free swimming and water safety lessons to more than 9,400 children since 2020. The "1,2,3 Nagez!" (1,2,3 Swim!) program has expanded nationwide, teaching essential swimming skills to over 26,000 children.
The Terre de Jeux 2024 label encourages collaboration among local authorities, sports clubs, federations, and leagues to promote the Games and increase sports participation. Over 50,000 projects have been facilitated under this initiative.
Paris 2024 also established the first-ever Olympic legacy-focused investment fund, Impact 2024, to support projects promoting health, well-being, education, inclusion, equality, and environmental improvements. With EUR 47 million in funding, the fund has supported more than 1,100 grassroots projects.
Social and Economic Legacy
Under its "Games wide open" slogan, Paris 2024 aims to create equal economic opportunities for everyone, focusing on inclusive, responsible, and sustainable practices. The Social Charter, a first in Olympic history, was signed in 2019 by various stakeholders, focusing on decent working conditions, social inclusion, and ensuring small- and medium-sized enterprises have access to project contracts.
These commitments have resulted in 181,000 people finding employment in Games-related jobs. Additionally, 90 percent of the Paris 2024 suppliers are French, with 78 percent being small- and medium-sized businesses, including over 500 local businesses from the social and solidarity economy (ESS).
Venue Legacy
According to Olympic Agenda 2020, the Games should adapt to the host city's needs. To reduce costs and carbon emissions, hosts are encouraged to use existing and temporary venues and only build new infrastructure where there is a long-term need.
One of the few new venues, the Aquatics Centre, is strategically located in Seine-Saint-Denis, an area with a shortage of sports facilities and a high percentage of children who cannot swim. After the Games, this venue will become a multi-sports facility for the local community.
The Olympic Village, which will host 15,000 athletes from over 200 nations, will be converted into more than 2,800 new homes for the local population. A quarter of these homes will be public housing, and the rest will be affordable rentals for low-income residents. The site will also feature additional offices, shops, restaurants, and leisure centers to help reduce the district's unemployment rate, which currently exceeds 20 percent.
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