PARIS: The descendants of Gustave Eiffel, the engineer behind the Eiffel Tower, have vowed to challenge Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s plan to keep the Olympic rings on the tower beyond the Paris 2024 Olympics. The family argues that the rings, which were added as part of the Olympic decorations, disrupt the tower’s historic aesthetics and alter its iconic design.
In a statement, the family association AGDE expressed concerns that the rings create a “strong imbalance” in the tower’s appearance, affecting its “very pure forms” and undermining its established symbol of neutrality and global recognition. They have consulted lawyers to explore options for blocking the extension of the rings’ display.
Hidalgo’s plan involves keeping the multicolored rings on the Eiffel Tower until at least 2028, when the next Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles. However, the descendants suggest that the rings should be removed at the end of 2024, marking the conclusion of the Olympic year.
The Eiffel Tower, completed in 1889 for the Universal Exhibition and initially intended as a temporary structure, is owned by the city of Paris.
