The Paris Olympic and Paralympic 2024 Organizing Committee is extending its circular economy strategy by giving a second life to sports equipment used by athletes during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A selection of 1.2 million sports items, including balls, nets, posts, and floorboards, will be donated to French sports associations and clubs. The remaining equipment will be sold at a series of second-hand fairs in September and October 2024.
The decision to extend the circularity of these items is in line with Paris Olympic and Paralympic 2024’s commitment to a more responsible and circular event model. The strategy is aimed at promoting accessibility to physical activity and sport, particularly for people in areas lacking in sports facilities.
The re-use program will help to reduce waste and encourage a circular economy for the Games. By giving a second life to these items, Paris Olympic and Paralympic 2024 Committee is hoping to create a lasting legacy from the Games and the positive impact it has had on communities around the world.
The second-hand sales are part of a wider strategy to manage the Games’ physical assets and promote their circularity. Paris Olympic and Paralympic 2024 Committee has also committed to finding a second-life solution for the remaining 10% of the furniture managed directly by the Organising Committee. By extending the lifecycle of these items, Paris 2024 hopes to reduce waste and promote a circular economy for the Games.