The Olympic rings will continue to adorn the Eiffel Tower beyond the ongoing Paralympic Games, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said at the weekend. Her stance has triggered a heated debate among Parisians.
ADVERTISEMENTFor Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, there’s no question that the Olympic rings will become a permanent fixture on the city's most emblematic landmark.
"As mayor of Paris, the decision is up to me and I have the agreement of the IOC (International Olympic Committee)...so yes, they will stay on the Eiffel Tower," Hidalgo told French daily Ouest-France on Saturday.
According to the socialist mayor, five lighter rings of the same size would replace those fixed on the French capital's most iconic monument, because the current ones are "too heavy" to stay put for a long time.
Some Paris residents have greeted Hidalgo’s announcement with enthusiasm.
"The Eiffel Tower is very beautiful, the rings add colour. It's very nice to see it like this," a young woman, who called herself Solène, told the France Bleu radio website.
Though Hidalgo claimed that "the French have fallen in love with Paris again" during the Games, and she wanted "this festive spirit to remain", not everyone shares her feelings.
“The Olympics are nearly over, time to move on. Leave the Eiffel Tower alone,” one user posted on X.
"It's a historic monument, why defile it with rings? It was good for the Olympics but now it's over, we can move on, maybe we should remove them and return the Eiffel Tower to how it was before," a local resident named Manon told France Bleu.
In the interview with Ouest-France, Hidalgo also expressed her wish to see the Olympic cauldron stay in the Tuileries Gardens – a decision that rests with President Emmanuel Macron, however, as the site is state property.
Hidalgo, who has been the Paris mayor since 2014, is known for her bold – and sometimes contentious – reforms, including a ban on rental electric scooters last year after a referendum that drew less than 8% of eligible voters.
