Games of a new era: IOC Final Report on Paris 2024 examines achievements and lessons learned
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 today delivered its final report during the last day of the IOC Executive Board (EB) meeting at Olympic House, outlining the key insights from Games that were more sustainable, inclusive, youthful and urban than ever before.
“Paris 2024 were the most followed Olympic Games ever. They were Games with the highest marks of appreciation ever given by the stakeholders and the public,” said IOC President Thomas Bach, referring to the Paris 2024 Insights and Audience Report, also released today, which found that five billion people globally had followed Paris 2024.
He went on to explain how these Games were perfectly aligned with the reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020: “In 2014, we had a vision for the future of the Olympic Games. This was established in our Olympic Agenda 2020, and it has one principle at the very top: Olympic Games where the athletes and sport take centre stage. More urban, more youthful, more sustainable, more inclusive. Olympic Games with full gender parity, with the same number of quota places for female and male athletes.
“Paris 2024 was on board with Olympic Agenda 2020 already in the planning phase of the candidature, in seamless cooperation with the IOC. The Organising Committee of Paris 2024, under the great leadership of Tony Estanguet, perfectly assisted by Etienne Thobois and their entire team. They added their creativity, their sense of innovation, their vision of French history and culture, and their great engagement with the French people.
“They prepared the ground for the wonderful excitement we all experienced this summer, and for which you cannot plan. In this way, our Olympic Agenda vision became a reality. Paris 2024 met the expectations of the world. These were truly Olympic Games of a new era. People were longing for something that gives them hope, that gives them joy, that makes them proud. Something they can believe in and something that brings us all together. And this was the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
“I can only say merci beaucoup Paris 2024, and chapeau.”
The Paris 2024 Organising Committee was represented in the meeting by its President, Tony Estanguet, and Chief Executive Officer, Etienne Thobois. Their presentation included the successes and challenges of the Games, their impact, the next steps in the dissolution of the organisation, and the legacy for the Olympic Movement and the host country.
The IOC Final Report on Paris 2024, overseen by the Coordination Commission chaired by Pierre-Olivier Beckers, provides an overview of Paris 2024, including the positive impact and legacy for the host community; achievements in sustainability; engagement; and the experience of the Games. It also describes the key elements of successful Games delivery.
It is the result of multiple streams of activity and evaluations across the Olympic Movement stakeholders, whose representatives also had the opportunity to present their learnings to the IOC EB today.
In addition to telling the story of Paris 2024, the report presents recommendations for how the Olympic Movement can collectively build on this success. Operational data captured through various methods during the Games also played an important part in shaping these recommendations.
Analysis will continue over the course of the first quarter of 2025 as the official evaluation process concludes with Paris 2024’s final report to the IOC Session in March.