“If you want to find happiness in a world where there are so many reasons to be unhappy, come to Paris this summer.”
On the 23rd, about 90 days before the Paris Olympics, Paris Mayor Ahn Hidalgo (65) issued an ‘invitation’ to Korea and the world to the Paris Olympics (opening on July 26). At a luncheon meeting with correspondents from major media outlets in Paris, France, he said, “We will be holding a variety of participatory cultural and sports events in Paris throughout this summer when the Olympic Games are held. Parisians and all people from around the world who visit here will be immersed in the huge festival of the city of Paris.” “I will give you experience,” he declared.
Mayor Hidalgo emphasized, “This Olympics is an Olympics of ecology, solidarity, and culture.” It is an ecological Olympics that minimizes global warming and the impact on the environment, and an Olympics of solidarity in that it pursues the promotion of human rights, peace, and passports based on the Olympic spirit. He particularly emphasized that the Paris Olympics will not be just a sports event, but will be a cultural Olympics, meaning that it will be held in the form of a festival utilizing cultural spaces throughout the city.
-What differentiates the Paris Olympics?
“We set a goal of reducing carbon emissions by half of the 2012 London Olympics. To achieve this, existing facilities were utilized as much as possible, including reusing the swimming pool used 100 years ago during the 1924 Paris Olympics, and construction of a new stadium was minimized. In addition, for the first time in Olympic history, the opening ceremony will be held on the riverside (rather than the stadium), creating a large festival where sports and culture come together. Starting this month, the ‘Cultural Olympiad’ event (ahead of the Olympics) will be held throughout Paris.”
Paris has already entered ‘Olympic mode’. From this month to early September, thousands of performances will be held by artists from around the world throughout the city of Paris. In addition, ahead of the arrival of the torch on July 14, the ‘Olympic Games’ will be held in which representatives from the 20 districts of Paris will participate from the end of June. Representatives from each district will compete in seven ‘mini’ events, including 3-on-3 basketball, table tennis, breakdancing, 60m running, and 50m swimming. In addition, a total of 26 cultural and sporting events and hundreds of side events will be held throughout the summer, including a public marathon held in conjunction with the arrival of the torch.
-What events are held on the Seine River, the symbol of Paris?
“Three open river baths will be built. It is a facility that allows Parisians and tourists to enter the river and swim. On June 23rd, a large-scale water fun event will be held with many celebrities participating. I am planning to jump into the Seine River myself. Invitations were also sent to French President Emmanuel Macron, IOC (International Olympic Committee) President Thomas Bach, and Paris Olympic Organizing Committee Chairman Tony Estange.”
-What do you think about the criticism that Olympic tickets are expensive and participation is low?
“Paris is a city of the ‘middle class’ (la classe moyenne). We pursue an open Olympic event where anyone can participate for free (even if they do not buy expensive tickets). To this end, 26 free ‘fan zones’ will be created in downtown Paris. Here, you can watch and enjoy the game together on a large screen. In addition, medal-winning athletes hold a public parade every day at Champions Park in Trocadero Square, in the 16th arrondissement (across the Seine River and facing the Eiffel Tower), where the cauldron is set up. “It is a place where citizens and tourists can see and celebrate these sports stars in person (for free).”
The average price of a Paris Olympic game ticket is 24 euros (about 35,000 won), but some popular events cost more than 1 million won. The opening ceremony ticket price is 2,700 euros (about 3.96 million won). There was criticism from some French media regarding this as ‘the Olympics of the bourgeoisie (rich people)’.
-There are many conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. How do you prepare for the possibility of terrorism?
“We are doing our best to cooperate with the government, police, and military to ensure that safety issues never limit our freedom. About 64,000 military and police officers will work to ensure the safety of the Olympics. The city of Paris is doing its best to respond to safety issues following the serial terrorist attacks in November 2015. At the time, three weeks after the terrorist attacks, the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) was held in Paris, and in June of the following year, more than 90,000 people gathered at UEFA Euro 2016, which raised concerns, but was held successfully without any problems. “I paid it.”
-Problems such as the water quality of the Seine River and traffic disruption are constantly raised. Some residents plan to leave Paris during the Olympics.
“The French media tends to report the Olympics too negatively. The term ‘Olympic bashing’ is even used. However, Parisians want to participate in the festival called the Olympics rather than trying to escape Paris during the Olympics (as reported in the media). The French still have a real affection, love and attachment to their capital.”
-There are concerns about conflict between Jewish and Muslim groups in Paris, the largest city in Europe, as well as Russian and Ukrainian groups.
“We plan to communicate closely with various foreign communities in Paris and make this Olympics a place of harmony and coexistence. During the torch relay, people representing various classes and groups will appear and show beautiful and touching scenes. After the 2015 terrorist attacks, I felt that an atmosphere of suspicion and defeat was prevalent in our society (which is based on diversity). “Through the Olympics, I want to bring unity to the entire country and instill hope and vitality in the youth.”
☞Mayor Ahn Hidalgo
She is the first female mayor in the history of Paris and one of the leading figures in French left-wing politics. In 2014, she ran for mayor of Paris for a six-year term as a Socialist Party candidate and was elected, and she was re-elected to run until 2026. In 2022, she ran as a candidate for the Socialist Party in the French presidential election. She comes from a Spanish immigrant family and moved to France when she was two years old. She demonstrates her progressive leanings on immigration, women’s and minority rights, and environmental policy.
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