Eiffel Tower Descendants Oppose Olympic Rings’ Permanent Installation

The descendants of Gustave Eiffel, the legendary engineer who designed the iconic Eiffel Tower, are set to fight against the plan to leave the Olympic rings permanently attached to the monument. The family of the late engineer, who passed away in 1923, believes that the colorful rings will alter the tower’s shape and compromise its neutrality.

According to the family association, AGDE, the rings are "colourful, large in size, placed on the main avenue of approach to the tower, and create a strong imbalance" in the tower’s shape. They argue that this will "substantially modify the very pure forms of the monument." The family has already consulted lawyers to block the change, which they believe will negatively impact respect for their ancestor’s work.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo plans to keep the rings in place until at least 2028, when the next Olympics will be held in Los Angeles. However, the descendants suggest that the rings should only remain until the end of 2024, marking the end of the Olympic year.

The Eiffel Tower, completed in 1889 for Paris’ Universal Exhibition, was originally intended to stand for only 20 years. It is now owned by the city of Paris and attracts around seven million visitors annually, with three-quarters of them coming from abroad. The tower has become a symbol of the city and France, and the family believes that keeping the rings permanently will compromise its neutrality and meaning.

The controversy highlights the ongoing debate about the balance between preserving cultural heritage and accommodating modern events. As the world’s most visited monument, the Eiffel Tower is a symbol of French culture and engineering, and its integrity is crucial to its continued appeal.