The rings with the five Olympic colors that have been between the first and second floors of the Eiffel Tower since June were removed on September 27, waiting to be replaced in principle by a more durable structure to remain there until 2028, as wanted the mayor of Paris, Ana Hidalgo.
The latter wants this symbol of Olympism to remain in the emblematic monument of the capital until the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. But the 30-ton steel structure (29 meters long, 15 meters high) was not designed to withstand winter weather. conditions and had to be contractually eliminated before September 30.
The city of Paris, owner of the Eiffel Tower, and the International Olympic Committee, owner of the Olympic logo, have said they are working on building new, lighter and more durable rings.
The old ones, made from recycled steel, will be remelted to produce steel beams that will be used for the construction in Luxembourg of the new headquarters of their manufacturer, ArcelorMittal, the steel company reported on Friday.
At the Eiffel Tower, while waiting for the installation of the new rings, smaller ones were hung on the Iéna Bridge, just opposite, to “make a continuity”according to the city council.
The Socialist mayor’s plan to keep the rings on the Eiffel Tower until 2028 has drawn strong criticism from heritage defenders and descendants of Gustave Eiffel. The latter believe that its maintenance would undermine the work of their ancestor erected 135 years ago, which in their eyes is not intended to show a “advertising poster”the rings being a registered trademark.
The emblem of the Paralympic Games, three red, blue and green crescents, called “Agitos”Also made from recycled steel, it was removed last week from the Arc de Triomphe and handed over to the department of Seine-Saint-Denis. It should be installed in Prisme, a new inclusive sports center, unique in France, scheduled to open this winter, in Bobigny, intended especially for high-level training and para-athlete competitions.
