Screenshot 2024 09 07 at 4.25.18 PM

A Five Ring Eye Sore

Despite much public outcry (including that of Gustave Eiffel’s great-great grandson) Paris’ Mayor Anne Hidalgo has decreed that the Olympic Rings placed on the Eiffel Tower for this year’s Olympics will remain on the landmark indefinitely. With the blessing and financial support of the International Olympic Committee, the existing 95-foot-wide, 45-foot-tall, 33-ton rings will be replaced with a lighter version. The opposing view (quite literally) is that it turns the classic piece of architecture into a giant billboard.

An event such as the Olympics can promote the event in the city with all sorts of temporary installations and there were several others. Throughout the years, promotional programs, public service announcements and decorations for various celebrations have been installed for a limited time. Even Christo and Jeanne-Claude famously wrapped the Arc de Triomphe in fabric for an art installation in 2019. However, it was only for 2 weeks and wasn’t even promoting anything.

The notion to co-brand this classic seems like something they would do in Vegas. (Can we keep THAT in Vegas??) How could anyone think this is a good idea? And what’s next? “Welcome to the Coca-Cola Eiffel Tower.”


Posted by: TAWD on September 7, 2024

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