Paris Olympics debate: Can costly symbols find lasting uses?
In connection with the Paris Games, the topic of spending millions on things that will be useless after the Olympics returns like a mantra. However, as the example of London, the host of the 2012 event, shows, with a bit of imagination, that even the Olympic rings can still be used today.
The Olympic Games are the biggest celebration of sports. Thousands of athletes gather in one place, followed by millions of viewers in front of their televisions.
However, it turns out that the cost of organising the Olympics is enormous, and many investments lose their value right after the games. This is the case, for example, with the vast Olympic rings, which are a permanent element of the event but become unnecessary after it ends.
Therefore, it is no surprise that many opponents of hosting the Olympics in a given city point to the unprofitability of such an investment. This is also the case in Paris, where the question of what money is being spent on keeps coming up. However, it turns out that some of the costs may be recovered in unexpected ways.
Benches at the station, recycling, and downsizing facilities
As it turns out, life after the games is well illustrated by the example of London. It was there that almost everywhere you could see elements reminding you of the Olympics held at that time.
Among them, the huge Olympic rings, which could be seen, among others, at St. Pancras International railway station, made a particularly big impression.
And it was these that intrigued internet users. Despite 12 years having passed since the start of the London Olympic Games, you can still find them in the same place. How is that possible? Right after the event, they were taken down and cut into pieces, creating comfortable benches for travellers. This fact, recalled on the occasion of the Paris Olympics, amazed many internet users, which they express in numerous comments.
It was a bit different in the case of the rings hanging on Tower Bridge, as they were recycled.
