When well-planned and implemented, global sports, business, and cultural events can generate both immediate and long-term benefits for local development. Beyond short-term economic gains through infrastructure investment, job creation, and contracts for local businesses, these events provide a platform for addressing broader social and environmental challenges. This report highlights good practices and innovations from the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games – the biggest event ever to be held in France – that can inspire future global event hosts and be integrated into broader policy areas, such as employment and skills, social inclusion, SMEs and the social and solidarity economy, public procurement and infrastructure, sports and physical activity, the environment, and culture. The report focuses on four areas: i) Committed Games: creating jobs, harnessing the social and solidarity economy, and generating opportunities for SMEs; ii) Responsible Games: enhancing sustainability through infrastructure and public procurement; iii) Inclusive Games: using sport to improve health, education and social inclusion; iv) Iconic Games: Opening the city to greater engagement in culture and sport.
The Legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Abstract
Executive summary
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games - the biggest event ever to be held in France - represented a new model for the organisation of global events, one that was more sustainable, inclusive and useful. As of the bid, the organisers structured their actions to maximise economic, social, environmental and local impacts, in line with existing public priorities, notably inclusion, the green transition and health. The impact and legacy strategy covered access to sport, the mobilisation of public procurement to benefit the social and solidarity economy (SSE) and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME), as well as employment and inclusion. A special effort was made to ensure that the legacy of the Games is passed on to local communities, enabling them to take ownership of the Games’ objectives. The Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OCOG) was also committed to delivering sustainable and useful infrastructure, such as the Olympic and Paralympic Village, which will be transformed into a mixed-use neighbourhood with a low carbon footprint.
The strategy was based on shared governance and a robust monitoring framework. Multi-stakeholder governance brought together the State, local authorities, the sports community, businesses, social economy players and civil society. This governance, as well as the enhanced capacity of the stakeholders to implement policies with a sustainable impact, is an intangible legacy of the Games. A monitoring and evaluation framework was voluntarily put in place by Paris 2024 from the outset. To strengthen this approach, 13 evaluation studies were implemented by the French government to analyse key areas of impact - including employment, sustainability, sport, health, social inclusion and territorial development - with some focusing on short-, medium- and long-term effects.
Paris 2024 has improved international standards. France is the first country to apply the OECD's impact assessment indicators for global events, validated by the IOC and offering a common method for assessing economic, social and environmental impacts. Paris 2024 also contributed to the revision of the ISO 20121 standard on responsible event management, which now includes requirements on responsible purchasing. Paris 2024 also obtained “exemplary” certification under the ISO 20400 standard on responsible procurement, becoming the first organisation in France to achieve this level.
Paris 2024 demonstrated that an event of such scale can serve as a powerful catalyst for employment and inclusion, provided it is underpinned by an informed, co-ordinated strategy rooted in local dynamics. The organisation of the Games took place against the backdrop of labour shortages across several key sectors. In response, co-ordination between public and private stakeholders was strengthened, alongside targeted recruitment and training pathways, as well as tailored employment support mechanisms for the individuals furthest removed from the labour market. This approach not only addressed immediate workforce needs but also helped enhance longer-term pathways to labour market integration.
Beyond the Games, these lessons can inform employment and training policies in France and in other countries grappling with tight labour markets. In addition, to sustain professional opportunities beyond the Games it is essential to continue to strengthen the events sector. Closer and more systematic co-operation among large-scale events - whether sporting, cultural or business - could help establish continuous professional pathways.
The experience of Paris 2024 helped improve access to public procurement for types of businesses that are often under-represented, thereby laying the foundations for a lasting legacy in the area of responsible purchasing policies. Through an inclusive procurement strategy, many contracts were made more accessible to small businesses, social and solidarity economy (SSE) entities, and enterprises engaged in sustainable practices. Early engagement, tailored matchmaking tools, and a clear set of incentives demonstrated strong potential to broaden access to the economic opportunities generated by major projects on a lasting basis. This approach also helped build the capacity of public and private operators in applying social and environmental clauses, while contributing to a shift in procurement practices towards greater transparency and openness. The involvement of these enterprises further enabled local economic benefits, promoted social innovation, and demonstrated the feasibility of impact-oriented public procurement.
Future event hosts both in France and internationally could consider implementing similar strategies. Moreover, there is potential to strengthen the participation of independent MSMEs – as opposed to subsidiaries or subcontractors – in large-scale contracts. There is also an opportunity to reserve a minimum share of suppliers from the SSE in contracts related to public events, while respecting competition rules and State aid directives. Such an approach could also be extended to other areas of government contracting beyond events.
The organisation of major events presents considerable challenges in terms of environmental footprint. Paris 2024, the first Organising Committee to explicitly commit to delivering a more sustainable model, effectively used the tools of public procurement to realise its ambitions. By the end of the Games, Paris 2024 and SOLIDEO (public agency for the delivery of Olympic infrastructure) had succeeded in reducing the carbon footprint of the event by nearly half (47%) compared to the average emissions of the previous editions in London and Rio, despite the record number of spectators. This was achieved in part by significantly increasing the weighting of environmental considerations in procurement decisions. Environmental benefits became a determining factor in awarding contracts, with an average weighting of approximately 20%, and up to 30% in some cases.
This demonstrates that strategic decisions in the design and delivery of infrastructure, goods and services can have a substantial impact on carbon footprint. Events hosts could look to replicate Paris 2024s approach to strategic procurement to help reduce negative environmental impacts.
Paris 2024 Games were mobilised to advance public policy goals in the areas of health, education and inclusion. The tangible legacy of the Games included the improvement of sports infrastructure across the country, encompassing both facilities for high-performance sports and community-based amenities. Additional emphasis was placed on accessibility, inclusion of persons with disabilities, and the promotion of active design principles, contributing to sustainable urban development. Beyond infrastructure, Paris 2024 also supported national and local initiatives to increase physical activity, particularly among children. The 30 minutes of daily physical activity in primary schools is a flagship example of this effort.
Addressing a complex issue such as physical activity requires multi-dimensional policies that are designed for the long term. France’s mobilisation of local stakeholders, targeted financial support, and partnerships among ministries, sport federations and local authorities serve as a good example of co-ordinated action needed to generate meaningful change. However, international experience shows that ensuring continuity in both effort and funding beyond the Olympic period is essential to embed these changes in social practices and territorial planning.
Beyond showcasing cultural excellence - a hallmark of previous host countries - the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad highlighted the intersection between sport and culture. This convergence can help remove barriers and broaden access to both cultural and sporting activities for new and diverse audiences. Institutional co-ordination was strengthened through collaborative efforts across metropolitan, regional and national levels. At the same time, the cultural and creative sectors - still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic - benefited from renewed funding and support for innovation.
Looking ahead, host countries may consider integrating cultural indicators into their legacy strategies to better measure the cross-cutting impact of major events on territories. The IOC, the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage as well as the OECD could play a valuable role by providing guidance and disseminating good practices.
