Paris Mayor Wants Olympic Rings to Become Permanent Part of Eiffel Tower

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has sparked a heated debate by saying she wants to keep the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower even after the Summer Olympics are over.

She told the French newspaper Quest last weekend: “The decision is mine, and I have the approval of the IOC (International Olympic Committee).”

“So yes, they (the rings) will remain on the Eiffel Tower,” she said.

This ruling led to the formation of two opposing opinions. Some Parisians supported the decision, while others worried that it would damage the iconic monument of the French capital.

The five rings, the symbol of the Olympic Games, were attached to the Eiffel Tower on July 26 and were expected to be removed again on September 8 during the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

Hidalgo said they wanted to keep the symbol after the Games because the symbol represents the five continents.

She added that each ring is 9 meters in diameter and is too heavy. A lighter version will be made in the future.

The Socialist mayor also claimed that “the French have fallen in love with Paris again” during the Games, and she wanted “this festive spirit to continue.”

Supporters said: “The Eiffel Tower is very beautiful, the rings add colour. It’s very nice to see it like this,” a young woman known as Solène told the website France Bleu.

Manon, a local who decried the idea, called it a bad decision, saying: “It’s a historical monument, why tarnish it with rings? It was good for the Olympics, but now that it’s over, we can move on. Maybe we should remove them and return the Eiffel Tower to what it was,” he told France Bleu.

One of the social media users on the X platform said that Hidalgo should have discussed this properly before making the statement.

Hidalgo, who has been a candidate since 2014, is known for her courage. Being part of the controversy is not new to her.

The Eiffel Tower, built between 1887 and 1889 and named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, is also known by the nickname “La dame de fer” (French for “Iron Lady”). It was built to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution.

(With input from agencies)