The proposal has divided public opinion in the French capital and has been criticized by descendants of the tower's designer, Gustave Eiffel, as well as conservation groups. After initially suggesting that the new rings should be permanent, Hidalgo has proposed that they remain on the city's world-famous symbol until the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
Early Friday morning, workers operating several large cranes removed steel rings weighing 30 tons from between the first and second floors of the tower. These were first installed four months ago, on June 7, and will now be melted down and recycled. The new rings, expected to be paid for by the International Olympic Committee, will be lighter versions of the originals and less prominent, according to Pierre Rabadon, deputy mayor of Paris.
Hugo Staub, a French tourist who was at the tower on Friday, told AFP: “In my opinion, it would be better to put them somewhere else because it is a monument of Paris and it is not right that it becomes an advertising medium for an event that is no longer there. are done.” Culture Minister Rachida Dati, a longtime critic and opponent of Hidalgo, has also cast doubt on the idea, saying the mayor's proposal would need to respect procedures protecting historic buildings.
But some people regret losing a visual reminder of a magical era of Paris and have supported the idea of replacing it. “They were a little big, so it's better to plant smaller pieces that will last for a few years,” said Gabriel, a French volunteer who participated in the games. Gabriel was present at the bottom of the tower on Friday. “It will be symbolic and a great memento.”
After months of disappointment and self-doubt ahead of the start of the Olympics on July 26, Paris and the entire country threw themselves into the spirit of the Games, which have been hailed as some of the best of the modern era. Hidalgo, in power since 2014, also wants to maintain other symbols of the event, such as the innovative cauldron placed in front of the Louvre Museum and the statues of fabulous women placed in the Seine River during the opening ceremony.
Several conservation groups in Paris have urged the leader of the socialist city to prioritize the maintenance of the Eiffel Tower, which is owned and operated by the city, rather than the Olympic Rings. The tower's workers held a five-day strike in February to protest against its dilapidation and to demand additional spending on painting and anti-rust protection.
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