Paris.- French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati tempered expectations this Sunday regarding the permanent presence of the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower, contrary to what was announced by the city’s mayor, pointing out that consultations are necessary for heritage conservation.
“The Eiffel Tower, being a protected monument and the work of a prominent engineer and artist, requires authorization for any significant change, which includes an impact assessment in accordance with the French heritage code,” Dati explained via X.
The French official noted that the placement of the five Olympic rings, in honor of the Games in Paris, represented an “exception” under the French regulations adopted for the sporting event.
“But on a temporary basis,” stressed Dati, who served as leader of the opposition to the mayor of Paris, Socialist Anne Hidalgo, between 2020 and 2024. For this reason, the Minister of Culture emphasized that, before proceeding with any decision or announcement, “it is crucial to respect all processes and consultations aimed at heritage protection.”
Hidalgo had stated this Saturday that the Olympic rings would remain on the iconic iron monument, although plans are underway to replace them with identical but lighter ones, in memory of the festive spirit of Paris 2024.
“As mayor of Paris, the decision is mine and I have the backing of the IOC (International Olympic Committee). So yes, they will stay on the Eiffel Tower,” the Spanish-origin official stated in an interview with the newspaper Ouest France.
The mayor also expressed her interest in preserving other temporary elements used in the Games, such as the statues of iconic women placed on the banks of the Seine during the opening ceremony or the balloon that held the cauldron and is still located in the Tuileries Garden.
image credits for this post: Elnacional.com.do
