PARIS, France — In a move to build on the legacy of the 2024 Olympic Games, President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled plans for an annual summer celebration in the heart of Paris, incorporating one of the event’s most striking visual spectacles—a glowing, tethered balloon.
The initiative will see the illuminated installation return to the Tuileries Gardens near the Louvre each year, transforming the Parisian skyline from June to September. Originally designed as a centerpiece of the flame-free Olympic cauldron, the feature became an unexpected icon of the Games, capturing the imagination of spectators with its nightly ascents.
Macron described the annual revival as “a tribute to the Games and a new Parisian tradition.” The installation will coincide with France’s midsummer music festivities and a new national sports festival set to launch on September 14. The festival, still in development, aims to promote physical activity and honor France’s deep-rooted connection to global athletics.
While the Olympic balloon was initially a symbol of sustainability—using LED lighting and mist instead of fire—its reintroduction will focus on its artistic and cultural significance. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, an enthusiastic supporter of the plan, highlighted its potential to draw both locals and tourists, ensuring that the city’s role as a global sporting hub extends far beyond 2024.
The announcement comes at a time when France is seeking to capitalize on the success of the Games, which boosted national pride and economic activity. By integrating a visual landmark from the Olympics into an annual festival, Paris is not only preserving the memory of its hosting year but also reinforcing its identity as a city that seamlessly blends history, innovation, and spectacle.
